Rasbora – Scissortail Rasbora

Description

• Temp: 73 – 77°F/22 – 25°C
• pH: 5.0 – 8.0  (6.5 – 7.5 ideal)
• Hardness: 2 – 12°H
• Max Length recorded: 6?/15cm which is significant as it is usually sold at a much smaller size and rarely much larger than 1.25″ in most aquariums.  Would be sweet to see some in nature that large though!

Native to  river basins in Laos, Thailand and Cambodia also extending into the Greater Sunda Islands of Sumatra and Borneo.  Wild caught fish are increasingly hard to come by in the hobby as it is easier to produce this fish commercially.

Habitat:  An easily adaptable fish, the scissortail rasbora prefers swiftly-flowing water with substrates of large stones, boulders, smaller stones, sand or gravel and more blackwater with peat and fallen driftwood to mimic it’s native waters.

Although the water they thrive in tends to be clear with a pH between 6.5 & 7.5 at our farm, they will also live in water that is stained brown due to the release of tannins released by decomposing organic matter that can become very soft and acidic with pH 4.0 – 6.0!  Such native environments are often dimly-lit due to the tree canopy above in nature.

Choice of décor is not as critical as water quality and the amount of open swimming-space preferred with a retreat of plants in the back for refuge.  A well-planted tank is crucial for best results.  Your aquarium would look superb designed to resemble a flowing river with substrate of variably-sized rocks, gravel and some large smooth river stones and driftwood branches.

Plant Choices:  Java fern, Bolbitis or Anubias species which can be grown attached to wood are ideal. Vesicularia dubyana (Java moss) and Cryptocorynes.

The markings on the tail fin give the illusion of a cutting motion like a pair of scissors.