Galaxy Rasbora

The vibrant colors and peaceful nature make the relatively small sized Galaxy Rasbora extremely popular.  Adult size 2.5 cm, very peaceful, minimum tank size 40 litres.  Recommended for intermediate (or advanced beginners) aquarists with some experience with maintaining water parameters.

Danio margaritatus, the celestial pearl danio, often referred to in the aquarium trade as Galaxy Rasbora or Microrasbora sp. ‘Galaxy’, is a small cyprinid from Myanmar. It has so far been found only in a very small area near Hopong east of Inle Lake, at an altitude of over 1,000 m.  Discovered in 2006, aquarium hobbyist have quickly adopted and fell in love with these little Danios.

Behaviour

Despite their small size, Galaxy Rasbora, they can help to liven up any planted aquarium. They get along with a wide range of other fish even though they are somewhat timid. They are constantly on the move and exploring the lower portions of the tank.  Try to keep a group of 5 or 6 fish as this will help keep them healthy and active.

Beginners who are looking to keep a school of Galaxy Rasboras must keep in mind their behavior and habitat over all else.

Tank Conditions

In order to replicate their natural environment inside your tank, you’ll need to include plenty of plants, buried in a dark substrate.  Because their natural home is mostly small ponds they are accustomed to a wide variety of aquatic plants. These plants not only help keep the tank clean, they also allow for the fish to hide and even lay eggs.  These hiding places will become increasingly important as you increase the number of males in your tank. Males compete for mates constantly so without places to hide, losing males are subject to extreme harassment often leading to injury and sometimes death.

You should also include plenty of rocks and driftwood to mimic their natural environment.

They don’t need a water flow as they are used to slow moving, or still waters. Lighting wise, keep this moderate, to high.

Compatibility

They are well suited for tanks that are packed with vegetation and other colorful fish that mimic their peaceful nature. It is true that these fish are timid, they work perfectly in communities full of Guppies, Mollies, Corydoras and Tetras.  All of these fish are relatively peaceful and will complement the shy nature of the Galaxy Rasbora.

Because of the shy nature of these fish it is important to keep them around other species of the same size and nature. This will allow for the Galaxy Rasbora to not be eaten by larger fish or be out competed by faster, more aggressive fish.

A great example of a complementing fish is Neon Tetras. They tend to stay towards the surface and bring a good vibrant color to the community. With Tetras on top all areas of the water column will be full of fish.

Fish from the same species or area are also great tank mates as most of them share the same general behavior.

Be aware that Galaxy Rasboras are known for attacking and eating juvenile shrimp. If you have larger, adult shrimp however you should not worry. Once shrimp become adults they are normally left alone.

If you are putting multiple species of schooling fish together then it requires more water per fish. Keep this in mind if you have a smaller tank.

Fish Compatibility Chart for comparison purposes use Danio as rasboras are a type of danio.

Feeding

In their natural habitat, these fish eat many species of algae, plants and zooplankton. They have also been known to eat small invertebrates and worms. These fish are mostly opportunistic feeders which is why their diet is so varied. They will eat dry food such as flakes and pellets as long as it is small enough to fit into their mouth.

Feeding can be problematic if they are too scared to eat. These fish will most likely stay toward the bottom half of the tank so use sinking pellets.  Another option for feeding is using small live or frozen food such as brine shrimp or krill. The krill especially will help with the red coloration of the fins.

Care

Always make sure to monitor the pH and water temperature of the tank. If these are not in the ideal range it can cause stress to the fish, leading to Fin Rot.  Fin Rot is extremely common in aquarium fish and can be caused by poor water quality and damaged fins (fin nippers).  But luckily there are plenty of ways to cure and prevent this from happening.

If you see a fish that has Fin Rot  be sure to increase the amount of water changes you are performing. The use of antibacterial medications or Bio Elite Heal All will help increase the chance of infected fish surviving.

Click for Fish Disease Diagnosis and Treatment at Rebel Pets.