Edit Rasbora kalochroma

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Name

Scientific name

Rasbora kalochroma

Described by

Not recorded

Family

Cyprinidae

Common names

Clown Rasbora

Photograph credits

All 4 credited

Summary

The clown rasbora, Rasbora kalochroma, is a cyprinid from the peat swamp blackwaters of Peninsular Malaysia, Borneo and Sumatra. Its patter…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

100mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 45 cm, Minimum height 45 cm

Water

Water conditions

23–28°C

Hardness

2–10dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not recorded

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Indonesia, Malaysia

Writing

Etymology

Not written yet

Distribution

Native to Peninsular Malaysia and the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo and Sumatra. In Peninsular Malaysia it has been collected from the states of Selangor, Te…

Habitat

Inhabits black water streams and rivers associated with ancient forest peat swamps. The water is stained brown due to the release of tannins and other chemical…

Aquarium size

An active species and a group will need a tank measuring at least 120 ∗ 45 ∗ 45 cm/~243 litres.

Maintenance

Choice of decor is not as critical as water quality although this species does look particularly effective in a well-planted tank with a dark substrate. To see…

Water conditions

Temperature: 23 – 28 °C pH: 5.0 - 7.5 Hardness: 2 - 10°H

Diet

Probably feeds mostly on invertebrates both aquatic and terrestrial in nature as with similar members of the genus. In the aquarium it's easily-fed but for it …

Behaviour and compatibility

This species is very peaceful indeed making it an ideal resident of the well-furnished community tank. As always when selecting a compatible community of fish …

Sexual dimorphism

Mature females are noticeably rounder-bellied and often a little larger than males.

Reproduction

Like many small cyprinids this species is an egg-scattering, continuous spawner that exhibits no parental care. That is to say when the fish are in good condit…

Like many small cyprinids this species is an egg-scattering, continuous spawner that exhibits no parental care. That is to say when the fish are in good condition they will spawn often and in a densely-planted, mature aquarium it is possible that small numbers of fry may start to appear without human intervention.

However if you want to increase the yield of fry a slightly more controlled approach is required. The adult group can still be conditioned together but one or more long, shallow, say 30" x 12" x 12"/75cm x 30cm x 30cm/71 litre containers should also be set up and half-filled with water. These should be very dimly lit and the base covered with some kind of mesh of a large enough grade so that the eggs can fall through it but small enough so that the adults cannot reach them. The widely available plastic 'grass'-type matting can also be used and works very well with the addition of a few clumps of java moss or other fine-leaved plant also highly recommended. The water itself should be of slightly acidic pH with a temperature towards the upper end of the range suggested above. A small power filter can be added initially and this should be positioned so that the flow is directed down the full length of the tank.

When the adult fish are well-conditioned and the females appear full of eggs one or two pairs should then be introduced to each container. Spawning can be initiated by adding small amounts of cool water every few hours in such a way that the tank is gradually topped up and feeding small amounts of live and frozen foods. Several spawning events will usually occur before a female is spent of eggs.

The adults will eat any eggs they find and are best removed after a couple of days at which point the power filter should be switched for a mature sponge-type unit in order to avoid fry being sucked into the mechanism. Incubation is temperature-dependant to an extent but usually takes between 18 and 48 hours with the young free-swimming 24 to 48 hours later. Initial food should be Paramecium or similar introducing Artemia nauplii and/or microworm once the fry are large enough to accept them.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Notes

R. kalochroma exhibits variable patterning across its range according to locality with some forms possessing a line of spot-like markings connecting the two da…

References

6 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References