
You can feed the fish with plant foods, namely:
- white bread;
- dandelions;
- scalded lettuce;
What do harlequin rasboras eat?
The main thing to watch out for is the size of the food. Harlequin rasboras have small mouths, so they’ll only be able to eat small particles. In the wild this means they’re restricted to foods like plant detritus, small insect larvae, and eggs.
Are harlequin rasbora good fish to own?
Now that you know the fundamentals of Harlequin Rasbora care it’s time for you to pick some up! These fish are a joy to own and provide endless entertainment without even trying. Trust us, you’ll get sucked into watching your tank quite a bit.
What do you feed a red rasbora fish?
Rasbora can also be given dry and frozen food. The feed should be poured into the aquarium in small portions so that the fish have time to eat it until it settles to the bottom. Frozen food helps in improving their color and they become more active.
How many harlequin rasboras can you keep together?
Harlequin rasboras are schooling fish, so they do best in groups of six or more. Ideally, you’ll keep more of them together, though, as small schools stress them out.

How often should you feed harlequin rasboras?
three times a dayA quality tropical fish flake food is sufficient for daily feeding. To maintain a harlequin rasbora's coloring, supplement with live or freeze dried worms and brine shrimp several times a week. Feed a school of rasboras three times a day, only as much as they will eat completely with in three minutes.
What do you feed rasboras?
What do Rasboras Eat? Most rasboras are considered micro-predators, meaning they feed on small insects, zooplankton, worms and tiny crustaceans in nature. They will thrive on Aqueon Tropical Flakes, Color Flakes, Tropical Granules and Shrimp Pellets.
What food do Harlequins eat?
Harlequin rasboras have small mouths, so they'll only be able to eat small particles. In the wild this means they're restricted to foods like plant detritus, small insect larvae, and eggs. Their omnivorous diet means they are opportunistic; they eat whatever comes their way.
What do harlequin rasbora fry eat?
They have very similar tastes with frozen food, and greedily accept frozen daphnia and brine shrimp. They can even be fed larger frozen foods like blackworms and blood worms, and they will usually figure out how to eat them after a few minutes of struggling.
Can harlequin rasboras eat betta food?
Flake, dried, frozen and live food can all be used. It's also important to know that Harlequin Rasboras are shoaling fish, so you should keep at least 8 together at as time.
How long can harlequin rasboras go without food?
Overview chart for individual fasting tolerances of popular freshwater fishType of fish:Period it can safely live with no food:Platiesbetween 10 and 14 daysMolliesup to 2 weeksAngelfishup to 1 weekRasborasup to 1 week15 more rows•Apr 13, 2020
Can rasboras eat bloodworms?
Since the rasboras dont feed off the surface as much as the rest of the tank, I deliberately drop a few bloodworms in the filter current so they can pick em off.
Do rasboras like light?
These plants exist in the rasbora's natural habitat, and both prefer subdued lighting, as does the rasbora. The live plants will give areas for your fish to shelter. Establish both planted areas and open areas for swimming between the plants. Use a dark substrate (either gravel or sand) and keep the tank lighting low.
Why are my harlequin rasboras dying?
Dirty Water & Dirty Tank One of the most common causes for rasboras death is dirty water and a dirty tank. First off, you need to have a good aquarium filter. First off, this means that your aquarium filter should be able to process at least 3 times the total amount of water in the tank per hour.
How many harlequin rasboras should I get?
eight to 10 individualsThe harlequin rasbora is a shoaling fish; it should be kept in schools of eight to 10 individuals. Schools of even larger numbers make for a beautiful display. You can keep harlequins with any fish as long it's not large and predatory. It will not nip at or quarrel with any other species.
Do harlequin rasboras need heater?
Water Temperature The harlequin rasbora lives in a tropical climate where the water is warm. Extremely high or low temperatures are not good for the fish as it lives in water where the temperature is between 73 to 82 F.
How many harlequin rasboras Can I put in a 5 gallon tank?
Harlequin Rasbora (Rasbora heteromorpha) This makes Harlequins less than ideal for a 5 gallon tank but, with frequent maintenance and water changes, a small school of no more than 4 fish can be kept happily.
Quick Stats
Scientific Name: Trigonostigma heteromorpha Common Name: Harlequinn Rasbora Care Level: Easy Temperament: Peaceful/Timid Diet: Omnivorous Temperature: 75–81 °F (24–27 °C) pH: around 6.4–7.0 Color Form: Silver Body with a Black Patch and Orange Fins Lifespan: 5-8 Years Size: Up to 2 inches Family: Cyprinidae Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons Tank Set-Up: Freshwater with Plants and Open Swimming Space Compatibility: Peaceful Community Aquarium.
Appearance & Habitat
Harlequin Rasbora has a bright appearance, but to make them feel good in the aquarium, it is best to buy several at once, since in nature, they swim in schools.
Harlequin Rasbora Care and Maintenance
Rasboras are unpretentious fish; they quickly adapt to new conditions. At the same time, they can be kept in small aquariums with a volume of at least 40 liters. There should be a shelter in the aquarium, as these little inhabitants love to hide.
Harlequin Rasbora Feeding
Rasboras are not picky about food, so any kind of food is suitable for them, but their diet should be varied. In nature, this species feeds on insects, larvae, and worms, so that the inhabitants of the aquarium are also happy to eat live food.
Harlequin Rasbora Breeding
Taking care of rasboras is quite simple, but it is challenging to breed this species at home. First of all, you should prepare a spawning aquarium. The water in it should be very soft, with a temperature not lower than +28 ° C.
Diseases and their Treatment
Harlequin rasboras are not demanding in care, but if you do not follow the simple rules of its maintenance, then it can become sick. The water temperature mustn’t be lower than +25 ° C. If this aquatic inhabitant stays in cold water for a long time below +20 ° C, then fungal diseases can affect him.
Harlequin Rasbora: Origin And Appearance
In the world of fish, harlequin rasboras are quite common in fish stores and aquarium supply outlets. They tend to be reasonable in price and are actually in high demand, due to their popularity with many aquarists.
Best Tank Mates For Harlequin Rasbora Fish
Small and peaceful is the way to go when adding other fish to your harlequin rasbora tank, including these fish that make great tank mates in particular:
Final Thoughts
As a lovely little fish with a bright, cheerful nature, and no propensity to stirring up trouble in the tank, it’s no wonder that harlequin rasboras are very popular among a variety of aquarists.
Where are harlequins native to?
Often referred to as harlequins, they are one of the most popular rasbora species for home aquariums. This species is native to Asia and is commonly seen around Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
How big do rasboras grow?
These rasboras rarely grow larger than 2 inches. Since they’re small you can comfortably fit quite a few in one tank. Their body has a tall mid-section but narrows towards the mouth and forked caudal fin. The rear half of the body has a black patch that narrows with the body and stops at the caudal fin.
How to keep a fish healthy?
They need to be kept healthy and the conditions in the tank need to match what they’d be used to in the wild. A slightly warmer temperature (around 80°F) will help to encourage spawning. Your fish will need nutritional foods full of protein too; daphnia and bloodworms are good options. Keep two females for every male.
What fish are good for a clown?
Small peaceful fish are ideal. Cherry Barbs, Corydoras Catfish, Danios, Dwarf Gourami, Guppies, Hatchetfish, Mollies, Platies, Tetras and Zebra loaches are just a few good options. Aquarium invertebrates are growing in popularity all the time.
What is the black patch on a Harlequin?
This black patch is what gives this fish it’s name, being similar to the black patterns found on a classic harlequin outfit. The rest of the body is silver, with tinges of orange.
Do Harlequins move around?
When you have a group, you’ll see some shoaling behaviors. The harlequins will move around together , sometimes displaying some interesting behaviors. On their own they are quite shy, but when they form part of a group, they come alive and you’ll notice they are much happier and content.
Can you care for shoaling fish?
These small shoaling fish are easy to care for, so you shouldn’t have many problems. They can be looked after by people of experience levels. This makes them perfect for beginners starting a community aquarium. A small group adds some color and shoaling behaviors to the middle levels of the tank.
Harlequin Rasbora Behaviour: What to Expect
The first principle of keeping this fish healthy is to understand its basic features and behavioral patterns.
How Does A Harlequin Rasbora Look Like?
Harlequin rasboras look orange but that’s only a gradient on their silver body. The orange hue runs down from dorsal fins and fades away around the mid-region. A little bit of the orange gradient runs from its tail too, but just as well, it fades off beautifully into the rest of the colors.
Water Conditions in Tank (Harlequin Rasbora Care)
These small freshwater fish are accustomed to living in shallow water with an abundance of plant life.
Harlequin Rasbora Tank Mates
Rasboras are schooling fish, so they like to swim around with a lot of tank mates. Don’t keep them on their own because they will become shy and reclusive. While they look to be around many types of fish, you still will need to be meticulous when choosing their company.
What Do Harlequin Rasboras Eat?
Thankfully, harlequin rasboras aren’t fussy eaters. They are omnivorous, so they will eat pretty much anything starting with zooplankton, worms, crustaceans, and small insects that are edible. All you have to do is make sure that the food isn’t toxic for them.
Diseases That Affect The Rasboras
Rasboras are hardy fish from the streams, rivers and swamps, so they don’t get sick easily. Here are some of the diseases that might inflict suffering on your beloved fish.
Conclusion
To watch your Harlequin Rasboras live their best life, make sure you keep them with friendly tank mates. Remember to give them proper sustenance, remove any excess leftover from their waters, and do remember to clean the entire tank every 2 to 3 weeks. May your beautiful Harlequin Rasboras live long and keep many more of your guests in awe!
How to take care of a Harlequin Rasbora?
How to Take Care of Harlequin Rasboras. Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup. Tank/aquarium size. The small body of a harlequin rasbora allows you to keep them in a wide variety of tank sizes. Although these fish are small, as for all fish they should not be kept in bowls, vases, or any spherical-shaped aquaria.
What to feed a Harlequin?
Foods like daphnia, mosquito larvae, bloodworms, brine shrimp and algae wafers can be used for supplementation purposes. A good quality commercial pellet, granule, or flake should be fed as the main diet. You can split the feeding amount to two portions a day for adult harlequins and once a day for juveniles.
What is a Harlequin Rasbora?
Harlequin Rasboras (Trigonostigma heteromorphia) is an excellent shoaling fish suited to community tanks. They are attractive fish that grows quite large, but they also add vivid colors to the center of your tank. They make great fish for beginners and their care is straightforward. Harlequin rasboras are not as demanding as other types ...
How big can a Harlequin grow?
They only grow to a maximum size of 2 inches, making them perfect for nano tanks over 15 gallons in size. They appreciate a variety of live plants in their freshwater tank and do best when kept with a heater. Harlequins can tolerate a variety of water temperatures from as low as 20°C to 32°C.
How long do harlequins live?
They are part of the Cyprinid fish family and live between 5 to 8 years depending on the level of care they receive. They are commonly referred to as harlequins and inhabit blackwater habitats like swamps, rivers, and streams found in South East Asia. Harlequins are suitable for all levels of aquarists.
What pH do Harlequins need?
Harlequins require a pH between 6.0 to 7.8. Substrate. Fine gravel and aquarium sandis ideal for the bottom of a harlequins tank. A 1-inch layer is perfect to provide a breeding ground for beneficial bacteria.
How to keep a Harlequin healthy?
Ensure that your fish feels safe by growing a variety of live plants around the tank, but do not overcrowd it. They should have a large group to form a shoal, this is one of the most important requirements to keep a harlequin healthy. Treat them for disease with good medications if they do develop an illness.
What should a goal be when putting together a landscape for a Harlequin Rasbora?
When you are putting together the landscape of the tank, a goal should be to replicate the natural habitat of the Harlequin Rasboras. The closer you can match that habitat the happier and healthier they will be.
Where do Harlequin Rasboras live?
They are native to Asia and most often they are seen in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. They live in a variety of streams, rivers, and swamp forests that are similar to the blackwater rivers of South America.
How long do rasboras live?
With proper care and good genetics, the average lifespan of a Harlequin Rasbora can be upwards of five to eight years. On average they will live at least six years. Compared to other species of fish, Harlequin Rasboras have significant variance in potential life spans.
What is a Harlequin?
Harlequins are small fish that are easy to care for. It is a peaceful breed of fish that isn’t aggressive or will nip at the fins of other fish. This is a great choice for those who are getting into the hobby and want a fish that won’t cause them too many troubles.
How to keep fish from getting sick?
By cleaning the water, feeding your fish nutritionally balanced food, and keeping them low stress, it is very unlikely they will get sick. If you act quickly, the fish can be saved. The infected fish needs to be moved to a hospital tank. This tank’s water needs one teaspoon of salt per gallon of water.
Do Harlequin Rasboras need live plants?
Harlequin Rasboras need live plants in their tanks. They also require open areas that they can easily swim around in. For example, plants from the Cryptocoryne allow ample room for this if planted correctly. This plant is also a great choice because it comes from the waters that Harlequins are native to.
Can rasboras be kept in a tank?
While Rasboras are often kept separated in a species tank, they can be placed in a tank with other fish. They are known for being a peaceful species that enjoy tank mates of fish species that are around their size. They are not known to nip on the tails of other fish or show any regular signs of aggression, if anything, they are more likely to be targeted by the aggression from another fish.
How hard is water for a Harlequin Rasbora?
Water hardness: 2 to 15 KH (the lower the better) In order to maintain consistency in your tank, we recommend performing regular water tests. This will ensure that your Harlequin Rasboras don’t go through any unexpected water changes that can impact their health.
What is the appearance of a Harlequin Rasbora?
The appearance of the Harlequin Rasbora is where these fish stand out most. The species takes on a diamond-like shape. They are considerably girthier in the center of the body. The head and backend taper to a smaller point. The tail, in particular, has a more exaggerated taper to accent the tail.
Why are Harlequin Rasboras so dark?
Their environments in the wild are pretty unique. The waters are very dark. This is a result of decaying leaves and high concentrations of humic acid.
How long do Harlequin Rasbora live?
Lifespan. The average lifespan of the Harlequin Rasbora is between 5 and 8 years. Most will live until they’re about 6 years old, with good care and genetics determining if they will hit the upper end of that range. This variance in potential lifespan is fairly significant compared to other freshwater species.
Can you toss a rasbora in an old tank?
However, that doesn’t mean that you can just toss them in any old tank! Like any other species, Harlequin Rasboras have their preferences and ideal conditions that help them thrive. To help your fish reach their full potential in your care, you need to follow the basic guidelines below.
Can you put shoaling fish in a large group?
But these are shoaling fish that do best in a larger group. Be mindful of your tank size and try to get as big of a group as possible. Just make sure that there’s still plenty of space to swim freely. You can add a large group to an established community tank as well.
Can you toss Harlequin Rasbora in a tank?
These fish are quite tolerant and have no problem dealing with slight fluctuations in temperature. However, that doesn’t mean that you can just toss them in any old tank!

Harlequin Rasbora: Origin and Appearance
Best Tank Mates For Harlequin Rasbora Fish
- Small and peaceful is the way to go when adding other fish to your harlequin rasbora tank, including these fish that make great tank mates in particular: 1. Corydoras Catfish. 2. Danios. 3. Dwarf Gouramis. 4. Guppies. 5. Hatchetfish. 6. Loaches (including Kuhli and Zebra Loaches). 7. Mollies. 8. Other Rasbora Species. 9. Platies. 10. Small Barb Spe...
FAQ
- Harlequin rasboras are delightful little fish, and have many great qualities that make them good tank mates and overall pets. However, other aquarists sometimes have queries beyond the typical fish specifications— so let’s dive into common questions about harlequin rasboras and how to keep them. What Fish Can Live With Harlequin Rasboras? As previously mentioned, because of t…
Final Thoughts
- As a lovely little fish with a bright, cheerful nature, and no propensity to stirring up trouble in the tank, it’s no wonder that harlequin rasboras are very popular among a variety of aquarists. And given their low-maintenance needs and ability to live happily in a communal tank with the right species for company, you can hardly go wrong by adding a school of these shimmering fish to y…
Harlequin Rasbora Facts & Overview
Appearance
Harlequin Rasbora Care & Tank Requirements
Tank Mates
Diet and Feeding
- In the wild, the omnivorous harlequin rasbora eats small insects, worms, crustaceans, and zooplankton. In the aquarium, these fish need a balance of high-quality pellet and flake food, supplemented with an occasional live brine shrimp, Daphnia, or bloodworm. Harlequin rasboras thrive on a varied diet that meets their nutritional needs. These fish d...
Breeding
Should You Get A Harlequin Rasbora For Your Aquarium?