Chili Rasbora: One of the Smallest Fish in the Hobby

In this guide

Overview

The chili rasbora, Boraras brigittae, is a tiny, intensely red fish from the peat swamps of Borneo, rarely exceeding two centimetres, making it one of the smallest fish commonly available in the aquarium trade. Despite its size, a well-kept group displays an almost glowing red colour that makes it a favourite for nano and planted aquascapes.

Because it is genuinely so small, it is one of the very few fish that can be kept in a proper shoal in a tank as modest as thirty litres, provided the rest of the setup is calm and appropriate.

Tank and water requirements

A group of ten or more, given how small each individual is, fits comfortably in a thirty to forty litre tank. Chili rasboras come from very soft, acidic blackwater and show their best colour and confidence in a similarly soft, tannin-stained setup with driftwood and dense planting, though they can adapt somewhat to harder Indian tap water with patience.

A tightly covered tank with gentle filtration flow suits this shy, delicate fish far better than a boisterous, high-flow community setup.

Diet and behaviour

Very fine flake or micro pellet food is essential given the tiny mouth size, alongside appreciated feeds of baby brine shrimp or micro worms. Overfeeding with food too large to eat is a common and avoidable mistake.

Chili rasboras are peaceful and shy, and do best in a species-only nano tank or alongside equally tiny, calm tankmates such as ember tetras, never with anything large enough to see them as a snack.

Buying tips

• Priced around forty to ninety rupees per fish in India, reflecting the more specialised sourcing needed for a genuine nano species
• Best suited to a dedicated nano or planted tank rather than a general community setup with larger fish
• Usually sourced from specialist aquascaping shops rather than general pet shops

Article content © Ravi Teja. All rights reserved.