Edit Rasbora sarawakensis

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Name

Scientific name

Rasbora sarawakensis

Described by

Not recorded

Family

Cyprinidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 7 credited

Summary

Rasbora sarawakensis is a small rasbora endemic to Borneo, found in Sarawak and the neighbouring Indonesian province of West Kalimantan. It…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

50mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 60 cm, Minimum depth 38 cm, Minimum height 30 cm, Water movement Low: still or sluggish water

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 22–26°C, pH 6–7.5

Hardness

2–12dGH

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

Endemic to the island of Borneo. Although the name may suggest otherwise it is not only found in Sarawak state (Malaysia) but also ranges into neighbouring Wes…

Habitat

Mostly inhabits slow-moving forest streams with thick marginal vegetation. These are often shaded by the dense rainforest canopy above. The substrate is most o…

Aquarium size

A tank measuring 60 ∗ 38 ∗ 30 cm/~68 litres is big enough to house a small group of these.

Maintenance

Choice of decor is unlikely to be critical although other small rasboras tend to show better colouration when maintained in a well-planted set-up with a dark s…

Water conditions

Temperature: 22 – 26 °C pH: 6.0 - 7.5 Hardness: 2 - 12°H

Diet

Probably feeds mostly on invertebrates both aquatic and terrestrial in nature as with similar members of the genus. In the aquarium it should accept dried food…

Behaviour and compatibility

This species should make an ideal addition to a peaceful community of Southeast Asian/Indian species such as other similarly-sized Rasbora, Puntius, botiid/cob…

Sexual dimorphism

Mature females should be noticeably rounder-bellied and probably a little larger than males.

Reproduction

We're not sure if it has been bred in the hobby although it should certainly be possible. Like most cyprinids this species is an egg-scattering, continuous spa…

We're not sure if it has been bred in the hobby although it should certainly be possible. Like most 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 and we suggest beginning with an approach that has proven successful for other small members of the genus. The adult group can still be conditioned together but one or more long, shallow, say 18" x 10" x 10"/45cm x 20cm x 20cm/29.5 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 for other species. The water itself should be of slightly acidic to neutral pH with a temperature towards the upper end of the range suggested above. An internal 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 probably occur before a female is spent of eggs.

The adults will likely 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 in Rasbora eggs 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.

Web address

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

Journal or publisher

Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Notes

R. sarawakensis is poorly-documented in the aquarium literature and we're not even sure if it has been exported for the hobby although it may be worth looking …

References

4 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