Harlequin Rasboras

Harlequin Rasboras are a captivating small fish that has very few specific care needs and they aren’t very demanding. They’re easy to care for, and as long as they’re fed a simple diet, and their tank is kept clean, they’ll thrive. The perfect match for a beginner.

This striking fish, when added as part of a group, will add a vibrant splash of color to your tank. It is recommended keeping a group of 8 to 10 Harlequin Rasboras together. Since these are shoaling fish that do best in a larger group you need at least 2 per gallon of aquarium water. Try to get as big a group as possible but make sure that there’s still plenty of space to swim freely.

Harlequin Rasboras species is native to Asia and is commonly seen around Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Here they inhabit rivers, streams and swamp forests which resemble the blackwater habitats of South America.

Family: Cyprinidae

Compatability:

You can add a large group to an established community tank as well. The best Harlequin Rasbora tank mates are small and non-aggressive (don’t consider anything else).

Here are a few common species that do very well with these fish:

Rummy Nose Tetra
Neon Tetras
Dwarf Gouramis
Cherry Barbs (and other small barbs)
Danios
Apistogramma
Cory Catfish
Honey Gourami
Other Small Types Of Rasboras
Bolivian Ram
Mollies
Kuhli Loach

Bettas: allows a few extra gallons if you want to keep Harliquin Rasboras with Bettas.  Monitor their intereactions.

This is not a complete list just bear in mind when experimenting that bigger fish could see your Harlequins as food, especially if there are not enough of them to form a good school.  You should avoid most species that are larger than double the harlequin’s size as they will probably view them as a snack. Cichlids are likely to do this, especially the larger ones.

Appearance:

The appearance of the Harlequin Rasbora takes on a diamond-like shape with an exaggerated taper to their tail.  The name Harlequin Rasboras comes from the bold patch of black on their bodies. Every fish of this species has a wedge-shaped marking. It’s reminiscent of the triangular patterns found on old-school jester costumes.  They are usually have a distinct light pink or orange hue, but he exact shades vary from specimen to specimen. The color covers most of the body including the head but it is usually more concentrated on the top of their bodies while the bellies tend to be light white.  The color is often found on some fins as well.

Harlequin Rasbora color doesn’t stop with the body. Usually, it can be found on some fins as well. For many specimens, the dorsal and caudal fins take on a richer color than the rest of the body. It stands out against the more muted tones of their scales.

Feeding:

Harlequin rasboras are omnivores and are not usually picky eaters. In the wild, they eat insect larvae, plant detritus, and other small fish eggs. Basically, they are opportunistic and will eat anything that comes their way.

In an aquarium, they will accept flake or frozen commercial foods. They do well on a diet that includes some variety, including live foods, such as Daphnia, mosquito larvae, and brine shrimp.

Feed your fish twice a day only giving them as much as they can finish in a few minutes.  Be sure to remove any leftover food to prevent excess decay in the tank and keep it clean.

Tank setup:

Your tank setup should contain areas of thicker, live aquatic plants and have 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.
The soft, acidic water and low lighting of blackwater aquariums are perfect for harlequin rasboras.

Filtration:

To mimic the fish’s natural habitat of slow-moving waters, your filter should provide a mild current with sufficient filtration and water turnover to keep the aquarium clean.
You may add some leaf litter to the top of the tank or a few floating plants to further mimic their natural habitat.