To encourage spawning, you need to put them in a separate dimly-lit tank of soft water whose temperature should be 80° F (26° C), pH level at 5.3-6, and general hardness within 1.5-2.5 dGH. Male harlequins are more slender than females and exhibit a rounded extension at the bottom edge of the distinctive black wedge covering the posterior of the fish. Add these fish to your tank and you will be rewarded with unique shoaling behaviors and strong colors. Of the more than five dozen species of rasbora, the harlequin is arguably the most popular of them all. Thread starter Mr-Furious99; Start date Jul 29, 2019; click to enter! The Harlequin Rasbora (Rasbora heteromorpha) is an extremely desirable aquarium fish and no doubt the best known of all the rasboras.. Harlequin Rasboras belong to the Cyprinidae family of carps and was originally given the scientific name Rasbora heteromorpha but is now known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as Trigonostigma heteromorpha, or the harlequin fish. Thanks to their stunning appearance and hardiness, they’re a great fish for aquarists of any skill level. Most of the time you … You could use gravel instead; this choice is not that important because they will rarely stray down to the bottom of the tank. You don’t need any specialist equipment; the filter outlet creates a strong enough current and most commonly sold aquarium lights are suitable. Thanks, Robert. supports HTML5 video. A large group could compete with some of the most attractive fish in the aquarium industry.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'fishkeepingworld_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_2',124,'0','0'])); Do you have a group of these shoaling fish? Shoaling fish are very popular for home aquariums because of their fun group behaviors and striking colors. The pH of the water should be slightly acidic, in the range of 6.0 to 6.5. Just avoid too fine sand substrate for any nano species. For the first 5 weeks I had them they stayed in the top third of the tank and now I noticed one started swimming down to the bottom half of the tank and they other 4 seemed to follow him and today most of the day they have been hanging exactly in the middle of the tank … The Harlequin rasbora is one of the hardiest rasbora species kept in aquariums and it will adapt to a variety of different conditions. This species looks similar to Rasbora espei and R. hengeli. At 10cm/ 4” in total length and, with a habit of displaying between males, this rasbora does much better in a tank of at least 120cm/4’ in length. Here, you can find out everything you need to know about keeping fish and aquarium maintenance. They tolerate a wide range of conditions, are peaceful community fish, and eat various foods. This means you’re free to pick other similar fish to keep as tank mates. I’m planning on using real plants and will have an algae eater (tbd as I’m still researching). Newly hatched brine shrimp are one of the few foods small enough to give them. Males tend to have slightly larger black patches and a more rounded section where the anal fin attaches. 8. They stay small, bring color to the tank and are very peaceful fish. You can keep 3 or 4 Guppies, or 2 – 3 Rasboras in a 10 gallon, depending on which species you’d like. Description. The larger the group, the better their displays will be. It is however best kept in pH 6-7.8 and the water should be soft to medium hard (max 15°dH). You can keep harlequins together; in fact you should keep them in groups of at least four. Robert Woods is the creator of FishKeeping World, a third generation fish keeper and a graduate in animal welfare and behavior. He is also a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America and the Nature Conservancy. The species became a favourite among hobbyists after its introduction in the early 1900s. After cleaning the tank, you might see an improvement in your fish. M. Mr-Furious99 New Member. Temperature should be kept at 76F. The average lifespan of the Harlequin Rasbora is between 5 and 8 years. Live foods in particular make feeding times interesting by introducing movement. Schools of even larger numbers make for a beautiful display. Rosy Barbs are a great choice, they are active, colorful and peaceful. I have had mine for almost two weeks and two days after I got them they began trying to spawn. Therefore, they can thrive in most substrates such as rocky, gravel, plant. An aquarium intended to house harlequin rasboras should be planted with live plants. Harlequin Rasboras are a great example of an easy shoaling fish to add to your tank. This shoaling species loves to be in large groups. This is a great fish for a smaller-sized community tank as it is peaceable with most other species. I have 2 males and 6 females and the males just chase all the females and will sometimes try to wrap their tail around the females under the broad leaf plant but no eggs have been laid. In the wild a harlequin rasbora’s habitat can vary from rivers, all the way to peat swamp forests. The rest of the body is silver, with tinges of orange. This makes them perfect for beginners starting a community aquarium. If a fish isn’t getting all the nutrients they need from their diet, they will be too weak to fight off disease. They are a striking fish which, when added as part of a group, will add a vibrant splash of color to your tank.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'fishkeepingworld_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_6',152,'0','0'])); This captivating small fish has very few specific care needs and they aren’t very demanding. This species is quite timid so may become stressed if they’re chased by overactive fish. 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