Photo: Factumquintus at German Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Clown Rasbora (Rasbora kalochroma)
One of the largest rasboras in the hobby — a boldly spotted, salmon-pink shoaling fish that makes a striking centrepiece in a planted Asian biotope.
Will it live with a Clown Rasbora?
We compare each fish against your clown rasbora on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- African Butterfly Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Badis✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bearded Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bolivian Ram✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Brilliant Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Brilliant Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Bristlenose Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Burmese Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 8 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Betta✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 20–27 °C (68–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Giant Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Giant Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keyhole Cichlid✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Kuhli Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Leopard Frog Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 25–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Molly✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Murray River Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 11 cm · Easy care · 15–26 °C (59–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Murray River Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Porthole Catfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Rubbernose Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Striped Eel Loach✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Thick-lipped Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 9 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Zebra Pleco✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 10 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 26–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Afra Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Clown Rasbora 5.5–7 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Afra Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Clown Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Afra Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Auratus Cichlid⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 11 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (5.5–7 vs 7.6–8.8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Expect Auratus Cichlid to harass Clown Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~190 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Auratus Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Boesemani Rainbowfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 11 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (5.5–7 vs 7.5–8.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Boesemani Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Convict Cichlid⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Convict Cichlid and Clown Rasbora are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add clown rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Daffodil Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Different pH ranges (5.5–7 vs 7.8–9); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Daffodil Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Clown Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Electric Yellow Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Clown Rasbora 5.5–7 vs Electric Yellow Cichlid 7.8–8.9) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Expect Electric Yellow Cichlid to harass Clown Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Golden Vampire Pleco⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 11 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
- Golden Vampire Pleco and Clown Rasbora are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add clown rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~120 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Golden Wonder Killifish⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Golden Wonder Killifish is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Clown Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Johanni Cichlid⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (5.5–7 vs 7.8–8.6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Expect Johanni Cichlid to harass Clown Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Johanni Cichlid in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Kribensis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Kribensis and Clown Rasbora are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add clown rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Paradise Fish⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 16–26 °C (61–79 °F)
- Paradise Fish and Clown Rasbora are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add clown rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rosy Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Expect Rosy Barb to harass Clown Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rosy Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rusty Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (5.5–7 vs 7.8–8.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Rusty Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Clown Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~150 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Different pH ranges (5.5–7 vs 8–9); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Tanganyikan Butterfly Cichlid is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Clown Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~130 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Topaz Cichlid⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 10 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Expect Topaz Cichlid to harass Clown Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Upside-down Catfish⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~115 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Size gap is too large (250 vs 10 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Clown Rasbora as food.
- Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Clown Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Clown Knifefish (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 10 cm Clown Rasbora whole.
- Clown Knifefish clearly outsizes Clown Rasbora and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Fire Eel (100 cm) is big enough to swallow the 10 cm Clown Rasbora whole.
- Fire Eel is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Clown Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Koi⛔ Not recommendedPeaceful · 90 cm · Medium care · 4–28 °C (39–82 °F)
- Koi (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 10 cm Clown Rasbora whole.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Size gap is too large (120 vs 10 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Clown Rasbora as food.
- Expect Redtail Catfish to harass Clown Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Clown Rasbora is bite-sized to a 90 cm predatory spotted gar — it will be eaten.
- Spotted Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Clown Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Size gap is too large (300 vs 10 cm): Wels Catfish will treat Clown Rasbora as food.
- Expect Wels Catfish to harass Clown Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Clown Rasbora is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
- Expect Wolf Cichlid to harass Clown Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 110 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Clown Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.
Clown Rasbora care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Max size
- 10 cm (3.9 in)
- Min tank size
- 110 L (29.1 gal)
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- pH
- 5.5–7
- Hardness
- 1–10 dGH
- Lifespan
- 5–8 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- 6+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Danionidae
- Origin
- Southeast Asia — Borneo and Sumatra (blackwater peat-swamp streams)
What is a Clown Rasbora?
The Clown Rasbora (Rasbora kalochroma) is a large, boldly patterned shoaling fish from the blackwater peat-swamp streams of Borneo and Sumatra. Reaching up to 10 cm (4 in), it is one of the biggest rasboras regularly available in the hobby — noticeably larger than cherry rasboras or harlequin rasboras, and closer in scale to many barbs. Its salmon-pink to orange flanks are marked by two crisp, oversized black spots — one at mid-body and one near the tail base — a pattern striking enough to justify the “clown” name.
In a well-planted biotope with amber-tinted water, a shoal of six or more creates genuine visual impact: the fish school loosely in the middle zone, turning together and catching the light. Care is rated medium — not because the species is delicate day-to-day, but because it demands soft, acidic water chemistry that many household tap supplies cannot provide without preparation. Keepers who sort out water quality from the start will find these fish robust, long-lived (5–8 years), and among the most attractive mid-size community fish available.
Where does the Clown Rasbora come from?
Wild Clown Rasboras are native to blackwater peat-swamp forest streams in Borneo and Sumatra — habitats defined by water coloured deep amber by dissolved tannins and humic acids leaching from submerged leaf litter and peat. These streams are extremely soft, often acidic to pH 4.0–6.0 in the wildest reaches, warm, and dimly lit by a closed forest canopy.
The species’ uncompromising need for soft, acidic conditions is a direct product of this origin. Fish kept in hard, alkaline water develop chronic osmotic stress that shortens lifespan and suppresses colour over time. Recreating the blackwater environment — even partially, with RO water blended down and supplemented with Indian almond leaves, peat filtration or a commercial blackwater extract — produces fish that are noticeably more vivid and active.
What tank size and setup does the Clown Rasbora need?
A minimum tank of 110 litres (30 gallons) is needed for the recommended group of six, and longer is better than taller — a 120 cm (4 ft) footprint allows the fish to develop their natural, fluid schooling behaviour across open midwater space. Individual Clown Rasboras swim actively; cramped quarters produce skittish, stressed fish that lose colour.
For planting and decor, lean into the blackwater biotope:
- Substrate: dark sand or fine gravel amplifies colour and reduces startling reflections.
- Cover: dense planting around the sides and back (Cryptocoryne, Vallisneria, floating plants to diffuse light), with open midwater swimming lanes.
- Tannins: dried Indian almond leaves or alder cones. Replace every few weeks as they break down.
- Flow: moderate, not turbulent — a spray bar angled along the glass works well.
- Lighting: subdued or diffused. Floating plants (frogbit) soften overhead light effectively.
What water parameters does the Clown Rasbora need?
| Parameter | Target range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) |
| pH | 5.5–7.0 |
| Hardness | 1–10 dGH |
| Ammonia / nitrite | 0 ppm |
| Nitrate | < 20 ppm |
Soft, acidic water is the non-negotiable requirement. Most municipal tap water in temperate regions runs pH 7.2–8.0 and 10–25 dGH — well outside range for this species. The standard fix is reverse-osmosis (RO) water blended with dechlorinated tap to reach a target hardness of 3–6 dGH and pH 6.0–6.8, then supplemented with blackwater additives.
Temperature tolerance is reasonably broad (23–28 °C / 73–82 °F), so a standard tropical heater set to around 25 °C (77 °F) suits most situations. Stability — avoiding sudden swings of more than 1–2 °C — matters more than hitting a precise number. Always cycle the tank fully before introducing fish.
What do Clown Rasboras eat?
Clown Rasboras are omnivores and adaptable feeders. In the wild they take small invertebrates, insect larvae and plant matter; in the aquarium they accept a wide diet:
- Staple: high-quality tropical flake or small-to-medium pellets.
- Enrich with: frozen or live bloodworms, daphnia, and brine shrimp to keep colour vivid.
- Occasional: blanched greens or spirulina-based foods for the plant component.
Feed once or twice daily — only what the fish consume in two to three minutes. Overfeeding in a blackwater tank fouls water quickly. Fast the tank one day per week to prevent digestive issues.
Are Clown Rasboras peaceful — and what fish can live with them?
Clown Rasboras are peaceful throughout their lives and pose no threat to similarly sized or smaller tankmates. They do best with fish that share their blackwater chemistry requirements. Good companions include other rasboras (harlequin, lambchop), cherry barbs, corydoras catfish, dwarf or chocolate gouramis, and kuhli loaches.
Avoid fin-nipping species — nippy tankmates like tiger barbs will quickly shred fins. Also avoid fish requiring hard, alkaline water; shared chemistry is the foundation of a stable community tank.
For a full compatibility reference, see Clown Rasbora tank mates.
How do you tell a male Clown Rasbora from a female?
Sexing Clown Rasboras requires a trained eye, but differences are consistent in adult fish. Females are noticeably deeper-bodied — particularly visible from above — and tend to be slightly larger. Males are slimmer and display more vivid colouration: the salmon-pink body tones are more intense and the black spots appear bolder.
The dimorphism is most obvious in a group kept in good condition. Fish in suboptimal water flatten out in colour, making sexing harder. Outside of breeding, both sexes school together comfortably with no territorial aggression.
How do Clown Rasboras breed?
Clown Rasboras are rated hard to breed in captivity, and successful spawning reports are uncommon. The main barriers are very soft, acidic water (pH 5.5–6.5, hardness 1–4 dGH) for successful fertilisation, several weeks of conditioning on varied live and frozen foods, and a spawning trigger — typically a gradual water-level drop followed by a top-up with slightly cooler, softer water to simulate seasonal rainfall.
Eggs are scattered among fine-leaved plants; parents show no parental care and will eat eggs if not removed. Fry are tiny and require infusoria or liquid fry foods before graduating to baby brine shrimp. A dedicated breeding tank is essential.
What diseases are common in Clown Rasboras?
Clown Rasboras kept in correct water conditions are generally hardy, with most problems tracing back to poor chemistry or water quality.
- White spot (ich / Ichthyophthirius): the classic white-spot infestation, often triggered by a sudden temperature drop or the stress of new-fish introduction. Maintain stable heat and quarantine new additions for two to four weeks.
- Velvet (Oodinium): a fine, dusty golden sheen on the body, sometimes mistaken for a lighting effect. Hard to spot early; a torch shone at a low angle reveals the dusting. Proper quarantine and stable conditions prevent introduction.
- Fin rot: ragged, receding fin edges almost always signal a water-quality problem. Address ammonia, nitrite or low pH first.
- Fungal infections: opportunistic, appearing on wounds or stressed tissue. Good water quality and avoiding physical injury are the primary prevention.
Health note: this profile covers prevention and identification only. If a fish is displaying disease symptoms, consult a reputable fish-health resource or aquatic veterinarian before treating. Medication doses and treatment protocols are beyond the scope of a care guide.
How long do Clown Rasboras live?
With appropriate care, Clown Rasboras live 5–8 years — a respectable lifespan for a mid-size community fish. Reaching the upper end depends almost entirely on water-chemistry management: fish kept in soft, acidic conditions from the start maintain better body condition, stronger immune function, and more vivid colouration throughout their lives.
Many trade specimens are wild-caught and may arrive stressed. Careful acclimation into well-prepared blackwater and a few weeks of quiet settling-in establishes the foundation for a long, healthy life.
Frequently asked questions
What water conditions does the Clown Rasbora need?
Soft, acidic blackwater is essential — pH 5.5–7.0, hardness 1–10 dGH, and tannin-stained water mimicking peat-swamp streams. Hard, alkaline tap water straight from the tap suits them poorly and causes chronic stress. RO water blended with tap, or a blackwater extract, is the reliable route.
How big does a Clown Rasbora get?
Up to 10 cm (4 in), making it one of the largest rasboras commonly available. Its size means a group of six needs a tank of at least 110 litres (30 gallons) with good open swimming space in the centre.
What you need to keep a clown rasbora
The baseline is a heated, filtered 110 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 23–28 °C (73–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a clown rasbora in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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