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Trigonostigma (Rasbora) heteromorpha
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Overview:
A beautiful and peaceful schooling fish, the Harlequin Rasbora will
make a great addition to any community tank. Its' Coppery color catches
the light and provides a stunning display.
Quick stats:
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Listed tank sizes are the minimum
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| Size: |
1 3/4 inches (5cm) |
| Tank: |
20 inches |
| Strata: |
Top, middle |
| PH: |
5 to 7 |
| Hardness: |
Soft to medium |
| Temperature: |
73° to 82° f (22 to 25°C) |
Classification:
| Order: |
Cypriniformes |
| Suborder: |
Cyprindei |
| Family: |
Cyprindae |
| Genera: |
Trigonostigma |
Common name:
Harlequin Rasbora, Red Rasbora, and Harlequin
Image gallery:
Additional
species photographs
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Distribution
Thailand, Eastern Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula
General Body Form:
Different from most other Rasbora species, the Harlequin is stocky and
tall with a convex belly area. Males are more slender than the females.
They can reach a length of around one and three quarter inches (4.5cms)
Coloration:
Perhaps the most characteristic feature of this species is the triangular
shaped, Blackish Blue marking, which begins wide in the center of the
body and becomes narrower as it extends back to the start of the Caudal
fin. In the females the lower front of the Triangle is often indistinct,
while in the males it has a sharp edge that extends down toward the
belly area. The dorsal fin is a Red color with a yellow tip. The upper
and lower tips of the Caudal fin are a bright Red with the inside rays
being a pale Yellow. The Base coloration of the body is a silver color
and the sides range from a Pink all the way to a Copper color.
Maintenance:
All Rasbora species are peaceful and unaggressive and can be kept with
fish of similar temperament. They are strong swimmers and in nature
prefer to be in small schools. They like to stay in the upper areas
of the aquarium. Your tank should provide plenty of open space for swimming
as well as some dense plantings to serve as shelter. The water temperature
should be kept around 76f. Rasboras prefer soft water and if possible
you should use a peat filter bag in your filter, (Tetras will benefit
also ) They will eat flake, frozen as well live food.
Biotope:
Still, usually clear waters in Southeast Asia
Breeding:
Many species of Rasbora will breed without too much difficulty, spawning
freely in soft, neutral or slightly Acidic water. Unfortunately Rasbora
Heteromorpha is not one of these. The water should be very soft with
a hardness of 1.5 to 2.5 DH and a Ph of around 6.0. A long breeding
tank is also beneficial with a dark substrate. The mating consists of
the pair lying upside down under a leaf or similar with the male curling
his tail around the female. It may take several days in the spawning
tank before mating takes place. The parents will eat their own eggs
so it is very important to remove them from the tank right away. After
the parents are removed you should carefully lower the water to a depth
of four or five inches. The eggs will hatch in 24 to 30 hours and in
three to five days the fry become free swimming. The young should be
fed on baby brine shrimp and other small foods. Growth is fairly rapid.
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