Scissortail Rasbora (Rasbora trilineata)

Common Name:

Scissortail Rasbora.

Other Name:

Three-lined Rasbora.

Scientific Name:

Rasbora trilineata.

Family:

Cyprinidae.

Distribution:

Basins of Chao Phraya/Mekong Rivers, Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra.

Size:

Approx 5-6 inches.

Diet:

Feeds mostly on small invertebrates in the wild. In the aquarium, it will take small live foods as well as prepared aquarium fare.

Water Temperature:

72-77 degrees Fahrenheit (23-25 degrees Celsius).

Water Chemistry:

Though soft water is preferred for breeding, hard water is definitely within the realm of possibility for captive care. They may live in pH between 5.0 (at which Randy Carey managed to breed them) and 8.3 though 6-7 would be ideal.

pH:

5.0-8.3 (acclimation required to reach the extremes of this range).

Life Span:

5-10 years.

Description:

These fish are elongated, silvery and replete with a reddish-lateral line. Their fins are mostly clear, except for the deeply bifurcated caudal fin, which has stripes, which alternate between the body color and a deep black.

Behaviour:

These are peaceful fishes that do well in schools and love open swimming areas. The caudal striping lends itself to the optical illusion of bizarre movement of the caudal fin.

Sexing:

Elson and Lucanus state that the usual methods of using heft to sex rasbora-type species is not applicable here. I cannot find a method of sexing at present.

Breeding:

According to Brittan and Randy Carey, the adults spawn like Tiger Barbs (egg-scattering) and the young may be treated like Neon fry (attaching to vertical surfaces, being easily startled, living off their egg yolk for a couple of days). Thankfully, these fry are a little bigger and will take brine shrimp nauplii once the egg yolk has been consumed.

Lowering pH while softening water can trigger spawning.

Minimum recommended tank size:

55 gallons for full-grown small schoal.

Tank levels:

Top-Mid.

Natural Conditions:

Open, slow-flowing areas of rivers and still waters.

Miscellaneous:

Though among the easiest cyprinids in terms of breeding and keeping, there is, within the hobby literature, a real dearth of relevant information on their captive care. The Brittan book is the only one, which I have found that discusses them at length.