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Freshwater   Fishes

Mosquito rasbora
(Boraras brigittae)

Mosquito rasbora

Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)

Names

Scientific name
Boraras brigittae
Rasbora urophthalma
Rasbora urophthalma brigittae

Common name
Mosquito rasbora
Mikrorasbora (DE)
Schwanzfleckenbärbling (DE)

Origin

what are its countries of origin?

Origin: Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Borneo, Sumatra
Biotope: Asian

Dimorphism

what are the physical differences between males and females?

Females are stockier and slightly longer than males. It is noted that males are more colorful than females. They also have a white spot with a black area on their dorsal fin.

Group

Group

Cyprinidae

Volume

what is the minimum volume for this species?

60 L / 13 imp gal / 16 US gal for 1

Parameters

what are the water parameters for the maintenance of this fish?

T°: 25 à 28°C or 77 to 82°F
pH: 4 to 7
Hardness: 3 to 8°dGH

Difficulty

Difficulty

Easy

Size

what is the maximum size of this fish?

2 cm (0.8")

Longevity

what is the average Longevity of this fish?

5 years

Living zone

in which area of the aquarium does this fish live?

Middle and top

Individuals

sociability of the species

10 or more

Food

How to feed the Mosquito rasbora?

Food

How to feed the Mosquito rasbora?

To properly feed your Mosquito Rasbora, you will have to consider the size of its mouth. On the other hand, it is not very difficult: it is an omnivorous fish that easily accepts all types of food.

For example, you can offer artemia, daphnids, micro-worms or cyclopes (live or frozen), which you can fill with small freeze-dried foods.

The whole thing is to vary its meals as much as possible: this encourages good health, better coloring and breeding!

Behavior

What kind of behavior does the Mosquito rasbora have?

Behavior

What kind of behavior does the Mosquito rasbora have?

It is one of the quietest and most peaceful of the Rasbora family. It is even shy, fearful and extremely sensitive!

If they are kept in a specific tray that suits them, the different members of the group will scatter in different places to go about their business: congratulations! Your fish will be perfectly comfortable in your aquarium! In case of other fish, they will evolve preferably in a shoal and will not move away from each other.

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Mosquito rasbora?

Cohabitation

Who can live with the Mosquito rasbora?

Boraras brigittae is very gregarious and absolutely needs to live in a group. Thus, you will in any case compose a shoal of at least 10 individuals, or even more if your volume allows you. It is an essential condition for the well-being of your fish, which will show a behavior close to nature, and its beauty!

Even if this little fish does not pose a problem of character or incompatibility of mood, it is necessary to be very careful with the species with which it is associated. Indeed, its small size limits its roommates because of the problem of predation. Moreover, its timid nature prevents the association with species too turbulent (Barbus), too big (Blue Gourmis/pearl/moon...) or too aggressive (betta splendens). For all these reasons, we recommend the maintenance of this beautiful species in specific aquarium.

However, for community maintenance, here is a (non-exhaustive) list of species that may be associated with it:
Otocinclus
Corydoras pygmaeus
Sphaerichthys
Parosphromenus deissneri
Trigonostigma
Microdevario
Sundadanio
Eirmotus
Danionella

Add freshwater shrimp and molluscs to this list.

Beware of maintenance with other Boraras because there is a risk of hybridization between the species of this family.

Breeding

How to breed the Mosquito rasbora?

Breeding

How to breed the Mosquito rasbora?

Given its size, the breeding of this rasbora can be tricky but remains feasible.

Prepare a small aquarium of twenty liters (or more):
small filter on peat (not too much current)
immersion heater (temperature at 26°C or 79°F)
a lot of Java moss on the ground (no need for substrate)
some broad-leafed plants like cryptocorynes
floating plants to sift the lighting (pistia stratiotes for example)
parameters identical to those of the main aquarium

Let this tray work for some time so that the microfauna settles in the foam (infusoria).

Isolate two or three couples in this aquarium. For this, choose females with very round belly and beautiful colored males. Acclimate them carefully without stressing them and feed them with live or frozen prey. The laying should take place the next day. For safety, remove them after 3 days. Even if you do not see anything, it is very likely that the laying has taken place!

Oviposition comprises about 50 eggs and the incubation lasts 48 hours. When the fry begin to swim, it is lucifuge (fears the light): be careful not to expose your aquarium to too much brightness, or even better: sift the walls as much as possible! Unfortunately, the death rate is quite high.

The fry will start to eat thanks to the microfauna contained in the Java moss. Their growth is fast enough and they can reach their parents in just 2 months.

Make the first water change after 15 days after hatching.

Fry food: paracemie then after 6 to 10 days, nauplies artemia or cyclops.

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Mosquito rasbora?

Its aquarium

Which aquarium for the Mosquito rasbora?

Boraras brigittae aquarium

Even if it is very small, this rasbora will need a little room to swim at ease. Go on a bare minimum of 60 liters or 13 Imp Gal or 16 US Gal.

In the wild, it lives in very black stagnant waters (this is due to the decomposition of plants in the water and tannins). The water is sweet and acidic. Even if there is tolerance in our acclimated fish, they will still be more comfortable in a water with ph close to 4 (must never exceed 7), a hardness less than 10 °dGH and a temperature around 26/27°C or 79/81°F.

To reproduce some elements of its natural biotope (just a few elements, because the natural environment of Rasbora Brigttae is not very aesthetic), strew the soil of dried oak leaves (lowers the pH) and filter on peat. Sift the lighting strongly by adding floating plants (this parameter must be taken into account when choosing your plants, they should not need a lot of light). Plant your aquarium enough to provide plenty of reassuring hiding spots, but still leave room for swimming.

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Boraras brigittae aquarium

Despite its size, it is an excellent mosquito hunter.

Yours photos!

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