Photo: Pseudogastromyzon (Public domain) — via Wikimedia Commons
Eyespot Rasbora (Brevibora dorsiocellata)
A tiny blackwater schooler with a striking iridescent eye-spot — one of the most characterful nano fish for soft, planted tanks.
Will it live with a Eyespot Rasbora?
We compare each fish against your eyespot rasbora on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- African Dwarf Frog✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Amapá Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–25 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Amapá Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blackwing Hatchetfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blackwing Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blue Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Emperor Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–25 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Blue Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cardinal Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cardinal Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Clown Killifish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Clown Killifish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crimson Red Betta✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–25 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Emperor Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Red Licorice Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–25 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Flame Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–25 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Flame Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ghost Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–25 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Ghost Shrimp in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–25 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–25 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Golden Dwarf Barb✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Golden Dwarf Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Jelly Bean Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 20–25 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Jelly Bean Tetra in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Marbled Hatchetfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Marbled Hatchetfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Northern Glowlight Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Northern Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Otocinclus✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 21–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Phoenix Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Phoenix Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Purple Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Purple Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pygmy Corydoras✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.2 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Pygmy Corydoras in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Red Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 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 Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Red Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tailspotted Oto✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3.5 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–25 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tailspotted Oto in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Darter Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Hard care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Ruby Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Expect Black Ruby Barb to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Ruby Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Black Skirt Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Black Skirt Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Eyespot Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Skirt Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Turbo Snail⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Eyespot Rasbora 6–7 vs Blue Turbo Snail 7.5–8.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Desert Goby⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Expect Desert Goby to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Chain Loach⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Chain Loach in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Eastern Betta⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Eastern Betta to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Eyespot Rasbora is small enough to tempt Eastern Betta; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Humpbacked Tetra to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Humpbacked Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Morse Code Corydoras⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °F)
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Morse Code Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Rainbow Emperor Tetra to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rainbow Emperor Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Serpae Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Serpae Tetra and Eyespot Rasbora are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add eyespot rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Serpae Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Silvertip Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Expect Silvertip Tetra to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Silvertip Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotfin Betta⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Spotfin Betta and Eyespot Rasbora are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add eyespot rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Striped Red-Eye Puffer and Eyespot Rasbora are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add eyespot rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Badis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–24 °C (72–75 °F)
- Tiger Badis and Eyespot Rasbora are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add eyespot rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wine Red Betta⚠️ With cautionAggressive · 5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Wine Red Betta and Eyespot Rasbora are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add eyespot rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ 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 3.5 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Eyespot Rasbora as food.
- Expect Alligator Gar to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ 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 3.5 cm Eyespot Rasbora whole.
- Expect Clown Knifefish to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Eel⛔ Not recommendedSemi-aggressive · 100 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Eyespot Rasbora is bite-sized to a 100 cm predatory fire eel — it will be eaten.
- Fire Eel is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Eyespot Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ 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 3.5 cm Eyespot Rasbora whole.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
- Redtail Catfish (120 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3.5 cm Eyespot Rasbora whole.
- Expect Redtail Catfish to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
- Spotted Gar (90 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3.5 cm Eyespot Rasbora whole.
- Expect Spotted Gar to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
- Wels Catfish (300 cm) is big enough to swallow the 3.5 cm Eyespot Rasbora whole.
- Wels Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Eyespot Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommendedAggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
- Eyespot Rasbora is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
- Expect Wolf Cichlid to harass Eyespot Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Eyespot Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ 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.
Eyespot Rasbora care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Max size
- 3.5 cm (1.4 in)
- Min tank size
- 60 L (15.9 gal)
- Temperature
- 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- pH
- 6–7
- Hardness
- 0–10 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- 8+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Origin
- Southeast Asia — Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Borneo; peat-swamp forest streams
What is an Eyespot Rasbora?
The Eyespot Rasbora (Brevibora dorsiocellata), also sold as the Hi-spot or Emerald Eye Rasbora, is a diminutive cyprinid reaching about 3.5 cm (1.4 in). Its signature feature is a vivid iridescent blue-green spot at the base of the dorsal fin — a flash of colour that becomes spectacular when a large school moves together under dim, planted-tank lighting. Despite its small size, it is an active, perpetually busy fish that fills the mid-water of a soft-water nano or community setup with constant movement.
This species belongs firmly in the blackwater specialist category. It comes from shaded peat-swamp forest streams in Southeast Asia where the water is stained brown with tannins, very soft, and clearly acidic. Matching those conditions in the aquarium is the central challenge of keeping it well — get the water right and it is a rewarding, relatively hardy fish; keep it in hard or alkaline water and it slowly declines.
Where do Eyespot Rasboras come from?
Wild populations are distributed across the Malay Peninsula (including Singapore), Sumatra, and Borneo, with records extending into southern Thailand. They inhabit shallow, slow-moving or still forest streams, backwaters and peat swamps — heavily shaded environments with leaf-litter beds, submerged roots, and water darkened by humic acids. Water in these habitats is extremely soft and acidic (pH often 4.5–6.0 in the wild), low in dissolved minerals, and warm but stable.
Captive-bred stock tolerates somewhat less extreme conditions than wild fish, but the soft, acidic preference is non-negotiable. A blackwater setup — dark substrate, driftwood, dried leaves, subdued lighting, and gentle filtration — produces the best colour, health and natural behaviour.
What size tank does an Eyespot Rasbora need?
The minimum practical tank for a proper school is 60 litres (16 gal). This gives a group of 8–12 fish enough open swimming space while leaving room for the dense planting and décor they need to feel secure. A longer, shallower footprint — something in the 60–75 cm (24–30 in) range — suits their mid-water, horizontal schooling style better than a tall tank.
Use a low-flow filter — a sponge filter or a small hang-on-back with a spray bar pointed at the glass replicates the near-still conditions of forest streams. Heavy planting with fine-leaved plants (Java fern, Cryptocoryne, mosses), a dark substrate, Indian almond leaves, and driftwood complete the picture. Floating plants that diffuse overhead light are worthwhile — this species is noticeably bolder and more colourful in lower light.
What water parameters does an Eyespot Rasbora need?
- Temperature: 20–25 °C (68–77 °F). This is cooler than many tropical community tanks; keep that in mind when choosing tank-mates.
- pH: 6.0–7.0. Aim for the softer end (6.0–6.5) for best long-term health and any breeding attempts.
- Hardness: 0–10 dGH. Soft water is the most critical parameter — very hard water will cause steady deterioration over time.
Regular water changes with RO or rain water (remineralised lightly) reliably hold these values. Adding alder cones, Indian almond leaves or driftwood lowers pH gently and adds the tannins that mimic the natural habitat. Swings in water chemistry are as harmful as the wrong value — test pH and hardness monthly.
What do Eyespot Rasboras eat?
Eyespot Rasboras are omnivores with a bias toward small invertebrates in the wild. In the aquarium they accept a wide range of foods, provided the particle size suits a 3.5 cm (1.4 in) fish:
- Staple: High-quality micro-pellets or crushed nano flake.
- Variety: Frozen or live baby brine shrimp, micro worms, daphnia, and finely chopped bloodworm — especially important for conditioning breeding pairs.
- Feeding frequency: Two small meals a day; feed only what is eaten within two minutes — uneaten food in a low-flow tank fouls water quickly.
Standard community flake can be too large; crumble it finely or switch to a dedicated nano formula. Varied diet supports colour and immune health.
How do Eyespot Rasboras behave — and what fish can live with them?
Eyespot Rasboras are peaceful, mid-water schoolers with no territorial or aggressive tendencies. In groups below 6 they become shy and hide; a group of 8 is the minimum and 12 or more is noticeably better.
The strict water-chemistry requirement narrows compatible tank-mates considerably. The best companions share the soft, acidic, cooler end of the tropical range:
- Rasboras: Chili Rasbora (Boraras brigittae), Kubotai Rasbora
- Small tetras: Ember Tetra, Green Neon Tetra
- Corydoras: Pygmy Corydoras, Hastatus Corydoras
- Dwarf cichlids: Small Apistogramma (pair in a larger tank)
- Gouramis: Chocolate Gourami
- Shrimp: Caridina shrimp (Crystal Red, Crystal Black)
Avoid livebearers, boisterous or large fish, and fin-nippers. See the full compatibility guide at Eyespot Rasbora tank mates.
How do you tell male from female Eyespot Rasboras?
Sexual dimorphism in this species is subtle. Females develop a noticeably rounder, deeper belly when in breeding condition — most visible when viewed from above. Males remain slimmer and more streamlined throughout. The iridescent dorsal spot is present in both sexes and is not a reliable indicator.
Outside of breeding condition the difference is hard to spot; the easiest approach is to buy a group of 10 or more from the same batch and let the sex ratio sort itself.
Can you breed Eyespot Rasboras?
Breeding is rated hard and remains relatively uncommon in hobby tanks. The key requirements are:
- Very soft, acidic water — pH 6.0–6.5, hardness as close to 0 dGH as practical (RO water with minimal remineralisation).
- A separate, shallow breeding tank of about 20–30 L (5–8 gal), heavily planted with fine-leaved plants and Java moss.
- Conditioning: Feed live or frozen foods (baby brine shrimp, micro worms) to both sexes for two to three weeks.
Spawning is egg-scattering among fine plants. Adults show no parental care and will eat eggs, so remove them after spawning. Eggs hatch in roughly 24–36 hours; fry are tiny and need infusoria or commercial first foods before graduating to baby brine shrimp nauplii. Rigorous water-quality management throughout the fry-rearing phase is essential.
What diseases are common in Eyespot Rasboras?
Eyespot Rasboras have no unusual disease susceptibilities, but their blackwater origins make them sensitive to poor water quality. The most common problems are:
- Ich (white spot): Usually triggered by a temperature drop or a badly matched water change. Prevent by maintaining stable temperature and acclimatising top-up water carefully.
- Velvet (Oodinium): A golden-dust sheen on the body, common in newly imported fish stressed during transit. Quarantine all new arrivals for two to four weeks before adding them to the display tank.
- Bacterial infections and fin rot: Almost always secondary to poor water quality. Regular partial changes with correctly parameterised water are the best prevention.
- Wasting / failure to thrive: Fish kept in hard or alkaline water long-term gradually lose colour, become lethargic and stop feeding. This is a husbandry failure, not a disease — the fix is correcting the water chemistry.
Health note: disease diagnosis and medication dosing are beyond the scope of a care profile. For sick fish, confirm the diagnosis against a reputable fish-health or veterinary source before medicating. Blackwater fish like Brevibora dorsiocellata can be sensitive to standard dose rates — always research species-specific tolerance before treating.
How long do Eyespot Rasboras live?
A well-maintained Eyespot Rasbora lives 3–5 years. That lifespan is only achievable in consistently correct water — soft, acidic, cool-end tropical, stable. Fish kept in hard or warm water may survive short-term but rarely reach their potential lifespan, and colour fades noticeably within months.
The combination of a large group (12+), correct water chemistry, varied diet and low-flow planting does more for longevity than any single factor. Get those fundamentals right and this small fish repays the effort with years of animated schooling and the occasional flash of that brilliant dorsal-fin eye-spot.
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep Eyespot Rasboras with other fish?
Yes, but choose tank-mates carefully. They need soft, acidic water, so they suit fellow blackwater species — Chili Rasboras, Ember Tetras, pygmy Corydoras, Chocolate Gouramis, and small Apistogramma. Avoid hard-water fish like mollies or livebearers, which require incompatible chemistry.
How many Eyespot Rasboras should I keep?
A minimum of 8, though 12 or more dramatically improves their confidence and natural shoaling behaviour. In a small group of fewer than 6, they tend to hide and show little of their best colour.
What you need to keep a eyespot rasbora
The baseline is a heated, filtered 60 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a eyespot rasbora in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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