The Strawberry Rasbora is a type of Rabora that looks similar to the Chili Rasboras but can be identified by the much more dominant black spot on its side. This distinctive marking is more prominent on the female Strawberry Rasbora.
Many Boraras (micro rasboras) are coming into the market, often all sold under the same or similar name. It can be easy to misidentify one of these nano fish, and they do share the vibrant red of other Rasboras. Much like other Rasboras, the Strawberry Rasbora is a peaceful nano schooling fish.
| Scientific Name | Boraras Naevus |
| Common Name(s) | Strawberry Rasbora |
| Origin | Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Sumatra, and surrounding areas |
| Temperature Range | 68 – 82.4° F (20° – 28° C) |
| Water Parameters | pH: 4.0 – 7.0 (acidic water preferred) KH: 3 – 12 dKH |
| Size | About 0.7 inches |
| Diet | Omnivorous / prefers Carnivorous |
Table of Contents
Strawberry Rasbora Facts
- These nano-schooling fish can be found mainly in Thailand’s swamps and rice paddies north of Surat Thani Province. They have also been found in locations within the lower Tapi river drainage on the Gulf of Thailand.
- The scientific name Boraras Naevus comes from the Latin word naevus, meaning ‘spot, mark on the skin, blemish.’ It is in reference to the distinctive black spot the Strawberry Rasbora has on its side.
- Likes to inhabit shallow, small, clear bodies of water such as swamps and marshes.
- Often the Strawberry Rasbora is mistaken for the Chili Rasbora, which is similar in size and nature.
Strawberry Rasbora Care
The Strawberry Rasbora is described as a hearty and lively fish. They thrive best in an aquarium environment resembling their native habitat. Its natural habitat typically has slow water flow and contains acidic water rich in tannins and leaf litter.
They typically keep to the top and middle of their aquarium. Like all nano schooling fish, it requires a clean environment that is heavily planted with a dark substrate. Floating plants are a wonderful addition to their tank setup, providing places to hide and spawn their eggs.
These nano-schooling fish are best kept in an aquarium set up that only houses Strawberry Rasboras or other peaceful fish of roughly the same size. They should not be kept with tank mates that will outcompete them for food during feeding.
Strawberry Rasbora Size
Strawberry Rasbora are very small. A fully mature Strawberry Rasbora is only about 0.7 inches in size. In fact, most of these specimens will not reach the full 1-inch size, even as a healthy adult. Strawberry Rasboras are one of the smallest fish in the aquarium hobby, making them great for nano tanks.
Tank Size Requirements
The minimum size tank a Strawberry Rasbora should be kept in are 5 gallons, adding an additional gallon for every fish added. They are nano-schooling fish, meaning they must also be kept in groupings of 6 or more. Keeping them in groupings of 15 or more is ideal. These active little fish have a temperature requirement of 68 – 82.4° F.
It is always a good idea to monitor the temperature of your aquarium. However, an aquarium heater is recommended for the larger Rasbora tanks to keep them at a comfortable temperature. Strawberry Rasboras prefer more acidic water. Their natural water supply is slow flowing and rich in tannins and leaf litter. It also has a more low light level.
Tank Mates
Strawberry Rasbora can be in the same tank as other small fish of roughly the same size. Once it reaches full maturity, Strawberry Rasbora will be approximately 0.7 in length. It is important to observe your fish in their tank to note any behaviors that may cause concern later. The ideal tank mate of the Strawberry Rasbora should not be one that will out-compete it for food.
Aquarists have also kept Strawberry Rasboras in tanks with dwarf shrimp and other invertebrates.
Food and Diet
Strawberry Rasbora are described as micro predators that will thrive on a more carnivorous diet. Tubifex or bloodworms cut in bite-size pieces are a good choice for feeding, and they will also enjoy microworms and freeze-dried Artemia. In an aquarium setup, they will adapt to feeding well.
They will also readily eat dry or frozen foods, but keep in mind that they will need small enough pieces to fit in their tiny mouths. They will thrive with a high-quality, varied diet and even be more vibrant in color.
Breeding
Strawberry rasbora males are usually slimmer and tend to display a deep saturated red when in breeding form. The female Strawberry Rasbora are bulkier, have more round bellies, and have a dull coloration.
Strawberry Rasbora scatters their eggs around their tank. The breeding pair will lay a small number of eggs on a daily basis if there is enough vegetation in their tank. Both the male and female Strawberry Rasboras will eat their own eggs if they spot them, but unlike other Rasboras, they won’t go out of their way to hunt them.
If your tank is densely planted, there is a good chance that some will hatch and make it into the school with the others.
For additional success in breeding the Strawberry Rasbora, 2 to 3 pairs can be placed in a separate tank where they can be conditioned for optimal spawning results. Remember to place something in the bottom of the tank for the eggs to drop through. This gives the egg a better chance of making it to fry.
Raising the temperature slightly, adding Java Moss, and shading their tank will also create a welcoming environment for spawning.
After the initial spawning session, expect the Strawberry Rasbora eggs to hatch around the second day. The fry will survive on their yolk sacs for another 24 hours or so. After this period of time, they will be able to eat and require microscopic food. In a week to 10 days, you can easily feed them newly-hatched Artemia and microworms.
Diseases
When it comes to disease in fish, the Strawberry Rasbora can be affected by a wide variety of ailments. Like with all fish, it is better to set them up in the proper environment and monitor them than it is to cure any ailment they might develop later on.
Some sicknesses and diseases the Strawberry Rasbora can be affected with are:
- Fin and tail rot
- Columnaris
- Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia
- Dropsy
- Pop-eye disease (a.k.a exophthalmia)
- Cloudy eyes
- Mouth fungus
- Furunculosis
- Fish fungus / fungal infections
- Gold dust disease
- Ich
- Anchor worms
- Fish lice
- Hole in the head (caused by parasites)
- Swim bladder disorder
- Tumors
- Gill parasites
- Internal parasites
- Ammonia poisoning
- Slime disease
Tips for keeping your aquarium happy and healthy:
- Maintain your tank’s water parameters. An imbalance in their water parameters causes most diseases and illnesses.
- Setting up a good aquarium filtration system is key, especially in a larger tank. Partial water changes are a must for the Strawberry Rasbora.
- Provide them with a balanced diet and a healthy variety of foods.
- Don’t overfeed your fish. If you notice leftover food, removing it from their tank water is better than letting it sit in there.
With the numerous diseases and sicknesses that can affect the Strawberry Rasbora, it is better to ensure and maintain the optimum setup of their environment and monitor their care. Furthermore, the treatment process for these small fish is very delicate. With proper care and setup, the Strawberry Rasbora can live for up to 8 years!
Strawberry Rasbora vs. Chili Rasbora
There are many different types of Rasboras in the wild, and they are being sold online. All Rasboras are similar in appearance and size. Knowing which type of Rasbora you have in your aquarium is important. Not all of them behave the same and may have different needs.
Strawberry Rasboras have a distinctive black spot on their sides. In female fish, this central black spot is larger. They still have the vibrant red of other Rasboras, which is more prominent in the males during spawning time.
Chili Rasboras have a distinctive black line that runs laterally on their sides and a very distinctive red color. The red on these fish also deepens in color during spawning in males, but the females have a dull color to their bodies.
These similar fish have been mistaken for one another in the past. These beautiful markings make Rasboras a very popular fish in aquariums all around the world!
