Fishes / Habitat
The harlequin rasbora, Trigonostigma heteromorpha, is instantly recognisable by the black, triangular patch covering the back half of its body, sitting against a pinkish orange front half. It comes fr
The harlequin rasbora, Trigonostigma heteromorpha, is instantly recognisable by the black, triangular patch covering the back half of its body, sitting against a pinkish orange front half. It comes from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Sumatra and reaches around four to five centimetres.
It has been a mainstay of the community aquarium hobby for decades, valued for its calm temperament and the striking, almost geometric look of its markings, which show up especially well against a planted background.
A group of eight or more does well in a tank of forty litres upwards. Harlequin rasboras come from soft, acidic blackwater in the wild but have proven adaptable to a wider range of conditions in the aquarium, including moderately hard Indian tap water once settled.
A well-planted tank with subdued lighting and some open swimming space suits them, and they tend to stay closer to the middle of the water column rather than hugging the surface or the substrate.
A varied diet of small flakes, micro pellets and occasional live or frozen food such as daphnia keeps them in good colour and condition. They are entirely peaceful and shoal tightly, making them a reliable, low-drama choice for a community tank.
They mix well with other calm, similarly sized fish such as small tetras, corydoras and dwarf gouramis.
Article content © Ravi Teja. All rights reserved.
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