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Scissortail Rasbora
Rasbora trilineata
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Cypriniformes›Cyprinidae
📍 Malay Peninsula, Borneo & Sumatra
Elegant, slender rasbora named for its forked tail that snaps open and closed like scissors while swimming. The tail lobes bear black-and-white markings. A fast-moving, peaceful schooling fish.
Care Guide
Diet
Scissortail Rasboras are omnivores that thrive on a varied diet of high-quality flake foods, micro pellets, and small frozen foods like brine shrimp and daphnia. Feed small portions once daily, offering only what they can consume in 2-3 minutes. Supplement occasionally with vegetable matter such as blanched spinach or algae wafers to ensure balanced nutrition.
Behavior
These elegant, fast-moving fish are highly active schooling species that spend most of their time in the mid-water column darting around the tank. They are peaceful and social, displaying their characteristic scissor-like tail snapping behavior while swimming, especially when excited or during feeding. They should never be kept alone and become stressed without a school of at least 8 individuals.
Breeding
Breeding Scissortail Rasboras in captivity is difficult and rarely achieved in home aquariums. They require very specific conditions including slightly acidic, soft water, dense vegetation for egg scattering, and careful separation of fry. Most specimens in the hobby are wild-caught or commercially bred in specialized facilities.
Tank Mates
Peaceful bottom-dweller with identical water parameter requirements; won't compete with mid-water rasboras
Similar size, temperament, and water preferences; excellent community fish pairing
Compatible schooling fish with matching peaceful nature and mid-water swimming zone
Peaceful invertebrate that occupies different ecological niche; ensure adequate hiding spots
Gentle bottom-feeder that complements rasboras without territorial conflict
Peaceful mid-water dweller; monitor for aggression as some individuals can be territorial
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, flashing against objects, lethargy
Raise temperature gradually to 28-29°C, perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) or commercial ich treatment; continue for 10-14 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, fin loss
Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, reduce stocking density, treat with antibacterial medication if severe; ensure pristine water conditions
Neon Tetra Disease
Loss of coloration, spinal curvature, lethargy, erratic swimming behavior
No cure exists; isolate affected fish to prevent spread, maintain excellent water quality, remove diseased individuals humanely
Bacterial Infection
Cloudy eyes, open sores, torn fins, behavioral changes, loss of appetite
Perform 50% water change immediately, treat with broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, maintain optimal water parameters and temperature
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Quick Facts
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- diet
- omnivore
- maxSize
- 5 inches
- minTankSize
- 30 gallons
- temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)
Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C