The chili rasbora is a tiny, beautiful fish. These schooling fish are great fish to spice up almost any nano aquarium. Even if it’s only a 5 gallon tank.
In this care guide, I’ll show you almost everything you need to know to start keeping these beautiful, little fish!
Appearance
The chili rasbora is very small. Because of this they really don’t need a large tank at all.
They are red in color and a red and black stripe on the side of their body. Sometimes you may see a chili rasbora with a black dorsal fin as well.
Usual Behavior
Saying that these fish are schooling fish, they should be in a school of at least 6 individuals.
If they aren’t in a school, they could get stressed which just isn’t healthy for them, so be sure to get a school!
They aren’t known to be super aggressive. So, you don’t really have to worry about these fish picking on any of your other fish.
Lifespan
Although you wouldn’t think that these fish live that long, they actually do.
In fact, they can live for up to 8 years! That’s longer than a betta fish!
Size
These fish are super tiny. In fact, they don’t even get an inch long!
Because they are so tiny, you can actually keep a large amount of them in a small tank.
Chili Rasbora Care
Make sure to care for these fish properly so they can live a long life.
Remember that for some fish, the healthier they are, the more colorful they are.
Tank Size
Because of their extremely small size, they can easily live in a 5 gallon aquarium.
You could keep a school of about 10 in a 5 gallon tank. Remember you can still overstock the tank, so make sure to get the right amount of fish for your tank.
Tank Mates
Some suitable tank mates for these fish include:
- Neon tetras
- Other rasboras
- Dwarf gourami
- Cherry shirmp
Diet
Saying that these fish are so tiny, finding food that can actually fit in their mouth can be a challenge.
These little guys are omnivorous which means they will eat meat and vegetables. But don’t feed them steak or anything though. 😉
You can feed your chili rasboras small bloodworms, fry food, baby brine shrimp as well as flake food. Just make sure that you crush the flakes into tiny pieces.
Water Parameters
You need to make sure that the water parameters are in the ideal range.
If the water parameters are off, it could cause your fish to stress which will make them susceptible to disease. Make sure to keep the water parameters in following range.
- pH: 4.0-7.0
- Temperature: 68-83°F
- Water hardness: 1-10 dKH
Possible Diseases
Here are some of the diseases that chili rasboras can get.
- Ich
- Cotton Mouth Disease
- Fungal infections
Typical Price
The online stores I visited sold them for 5-6 dollars an individual.
Remember that you could pay more or less per individual. It really depends on where you buy them.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about chili rasboras.
Do Chili Rasboras Jump?
They are considered non-jumpers, but owners have said they do regardless. So, be sure to have a lid on the tank just in case.
Are Chili Rasboras Hardy?
According to tankarium.com chili rasboras are are. But, other websites claim that they aren’t.
Are Chili Rasboras Fin Nippers?
Chili Rasboras aren’t really known to be fin-nippers and they’re pretty peaceful in general.
Breeding Chili Rasboras
Breeding Chili Rasboras is actually pretty easy. In fact, they usually don’t their eggs and you could even keep some fry in your main aquarium!
Chili Rasboras will breed frequently once they’re mature so it shouldn’t be that hard to breed them.
Once they lay the eggs, they usually hatch in 36-72 hours. When they fry hatch, feed them fry food from the pet store or infusoria.
Are Chili Rasboras For Me?
If you want a small, beautiful fish that doesn’t need a large aquarium, then perhaps the chili rasbora is for you!
If chili rasboras aren’t for you but you like their color, I recommend getting ember tetras.
Check Out These Articles:
- The Best Fish For One Gallon Bowls
- Goldfish Tank Size – What’s The Best Tank Size For A Goldfish?
- PetSmart Vs. Petco – Which Place Is Better To Buy Fish?
- Emperor Tetra Care – Tank Size, Diet, Price & More!
- 5 Best Fish For A 5 Gallon Tank
Resources
Tankarium
Chili Rasbora – Size, Tank Mates, And Care Guide
Perfect Fish Tank
Fun Fish Tank
