The Axelrod Rasbora is a peaceful, active, schooling fish and it's a great addition to densely your freshwater aquarium plants with other small and peaceful species. This tropical aquarium fish is one of the more brilliantly colored species of the genus, especially the male. Interestingly, the fish is not actually a Rasboras type, and is more closely related to Danios, as well as the Galaxy Rasboras type.

Rasbora axelrodi needs a well-established. They will not do well if kept in bright, open spaces, and most fish over 6cm will be large enough to cause stress or eat these little fish. Therefore, the Axelrods Rasbora is only suited to a few aquariums and looks best in heavily planted nano-tanks.

Keeping the Axelrods Rasbora in groups of six or more, included provide soft, acidic water along with a darker substrate or dark areas will make the fish healthy and has a powerful colour. The fish are active and seem to enjoy areas with a little flow as well as quieter spots. However, it is also said to make a croaking noise when shocked or removed from water.
An omnivore, this Rasbora does well on a diet of prepared flake food, as well as freeze-dried bloodworms and tubifex. Whilst the normal colour strain of this fish has a blue upper body and red mid-lower body, there are a number of colour morphs of this species, including blue, red, and green varieties. Males are generally more colourful and may have darker anal fins. Unfortunately, the Axelrod Rasboras breeding habits in the aquarium have not been documented and because this fish needs a specific environment and good water quality to thrive, it is not a beginner species.

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This is still relatively a brand new freshwater fish species, only first discovered in 2006. It was also recently renamed from "Galaxy Rasbora - Microrasbora sp." to "Celestial Pearl Danio - Celestichthys margaritatus." Due to bright coloration and small size, the firework Rasboras type become a perfect addition to a planted nano aquarium.

The Galaxy Rasbora fish was found in a very small high altitude area in Myanmar, and instantly became very popular as an aquarium fish. Unfortunately, over collecting has devestated its environment, and the fish has become very rare in its natural location. Due to problem has advanced so quickly therefore the Practical Fishkeeping Magazine has urged fishkeepers to only purchase the fish if they intend to breed them. However, given demand, it is more likely a case of if mass-scale breeding is not employed, the species is likley to dissapear. Although the tropical fish retailer near you may not know if the fish they stock are captive bred, it is worth asking before purchasing, and certainly avoid any wild caught stocks if possible.


Galaxy Rasbora is similar to other danios in habits and shape. The males are much more brightly colored than the females and have a deeper blue coloration with much more red on the fins. As well as Harlequin Rasboras, Galaxy Rasboras are a shoaling fish, so keep in groups of 6 or more. The fish is generally easy to care for and has no specific requirements. Although they prefer soft, acidic water, they can be acclimated to harder water. Captive bred fish which are a few generations old, may be adaptable to a wider range of conditions. Keep with other small, peaceful, species and provide hiding spots, ideally amongst vegetation. Small live or frozen foods such as daphnia or cyclops will help keep the fish in top condition. Like almost any freshwater aquarium fish, Galaxy Rasbora will be much healthier and happier with live aquarium plants.

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The most interesting types of Rasboras is Harlequin Rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha). The specific name "heteromorpha", was translating from the Greek as "differently shaped". The freshwater tropical fish species native from Southeast Asia is an extremely desirable aquarium addition thanks to its gorgeous metallic coloration and ease of care. It's not difficult to see why so many hobbyists treasure Harlequin Rasbora . A large school of Harlequin Rasboras with the size up to 5 cm fill the upper areas of the aquarium. The movement and color so lively and vibrant that even non-hobbyists marvel at the display.

A member of Cyprinidae family, Harlequin Rasbora is easily identified by its characteristic black "pork chop" shaped patch and beautifully lustrous copper/orange body. The distinguishing triangular patch begins near the dorsal fin and comes to a point near the base of the caudal fin. The patch on the male Harlequin Rasbora is slightly rounded at the bottom with an extended tip. In contrast, the patch on the female Harlequin Rasbora is straight. The female Harlequin Rasbora is also larger than the male.

The Harlequin Rasbora does best in an established planted aquarium with open areas for swimming. The Harlequin Rasbora should be kept in schools of 8-10 individuals and housed with other small, peaceful fish. The tanks should be decorated with plenty of room to swim and hide; plants can be used as shelter too. This beautiful freshwater tropical fish for aquascape will benefit from soft water. The mild nature of the Harlequin Rasboras makes it a great community fish.


For Rasbora heteromorpha generally spawns on the undersides of broad-leaved plants. A breeding tank with shallow, warm, acidic, soft water with broad-leaved plants should be set up. To encourage spawning, pair a young (9-12 months old) female Harlequin Rasbora with a two-year old male and offer live food items. After spawning, remove the parents and keep the aquarium dark until the eggs hatch (after about 24 hours). Feed the fry infusoria.

Omnivore, in the wild the Rasbora harlequin feeds on aquatic invertebrates and small insects in captivity it will accept almost everything offered, flake food, frozen food and freeze-dried food. Feeding should be provided at least two times a day.

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Rasboras are members of a group of small minnow-type fish belonging to the Family Cyprinidae. Currently the genus Rasbora contains around 70 species, which can be found in parts of Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra and southern Thailand), and Africa. Rasboras inhabit streams and other watercourses characterized principally by low mineral content, high concentrations of dissolved humic acids, a consequence of those waters flowing through peat swamp forests. The waterlogged soils of these forests inhibit the complete decay of leaf litter, and result in the formation of peat, which leaches humic acids and related compounds into the watercourses flowing through these forests. The conditions thus resemble those found on a different continent, namely the blackwater habitats of South America.


These colorful, hardy fish fare best in groups of six or more fish. Rasboras are rewarding fish when maintained in the planted community aquarium, displaying beautiful coloration, and unique color patterns. Most of the rasboras are small, up to 10 cm long. They share the same family with many popular aquarium fishes such as the goldfish, koi, barbs, tetras and danios. Rasboras are the ideal fish for the community aquarium as most are small, peaceful, colorful and easy to care for.

In their natural environment many come from soft, slightly acid water. In an aquarium they are tolerant of most aquarium conditions as long as the water is well-filtered and partial water changes are conducted regularly. Rasboras are considered very hardy fish and can tolerate a wider pH range of 5.5 to 7.8, and hardness ranges from zero to 15°dH. The temperature range for Rasboras is around 22°C to 27°C.

They are fast and active shoaling fish, and should be kept in a group comprising a minimum of six individuals, though shoals of larger numbers are preferable not only from the standpoint of the well-being of the fish, but from an aesthetic standpoint - a large shoal of Rasboras presents a striking vista even to non-fishkeepers, and their active disposition in the water adds to the spectacle. Being a peaceful species, the Rasboras may be maintained in a community aquarium setup with other similarly sized and peaceful aquarium fishes, including many of the small Tetras, Danios, Pencilfish, Corydoras, Plecos and others.


An aquarium intended to house Rasboras should be well planted with some open areas for swimming. Most Rasboras are egg-scattering spawners, however, in some types of rasboras species (such as Harlequin Rasbora), they will deposits adhesive eggs on the underside of the leaves of plants such as Cryptocoryne and Aponogeton, these being among the plants that inhabit the Rasbora's native waters.

The female will swim in an inverted position beneath a chosen leaf, rub her belly along the leaf in preparation for spawning, this action seemingly encouraging the male to join in spawning. When the male joins the female, he adopts a similar inverted position alongside her, and as the female extrudes her eggs and attaches them to the underside of the leaf, the male curls his tail fin around the body of the female and with a trembling motion, emits the sperm that will fertilize the eggs.

The freshwater fishes repeat this course of action over a period of 2 hours or more, during which a large and well-conditioned female may deposit as many as 100 eggs. The lifespan of Rasboras has not been systematically determined, but individuals in the aquarium can be expected, with good care, to live for 5 to 6 years.

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