Photo: The Man On The Street at English Wikipedia (CC BY 3.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Rummy Nose Rasbora (Sawbwa resplendens)
A jewel-toned nano cyprinid from Myanmar's Inle Lake — the males flash a scarlet snout and crimson-tipped fins that rival any tetra.
Will it live with a Rummy Nose Rasbora?
We compare each fish against your rummy nose 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)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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 24–26 °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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Black Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 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 Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Black Phantom Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Blue Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–26 °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 Rummy Nose 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 23–26 °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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Emperor Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Flame 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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Glowlight 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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Gold Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °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 Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Gold 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 Rummy Nose 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 20–26 °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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Lemon Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 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 Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Lemon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Marbled Hatchetfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium 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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Otocinclus✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 21–26 °C (70–79 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 21–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra✅ CompatibleSemi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Peaceful + Semi-aggressive, but with no direct clash here; 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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Red Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Rosy Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °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 Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Rosy Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Sparkling Gourami✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 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 Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Strawberry Betta✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °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 Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Threadfin Rainbowfish✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 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 Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Threadfin Rainbowfish in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tiger Otocinclus✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 22–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tiger Otocinclus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- X-ray Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4.5 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 22–26 °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 Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep X-ray Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Yellow Phantom Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 23–26 °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 Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Yellow Phantom Tetra 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)
- Different pH ranges (7–8 vs 3.5–6.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rummy Nose Rasbora 8–16 vs Black Darter Tetra 0–5 dGH).
- Expect Black Darter Tetra to harass Rummy Nose Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cardinal Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rummy Nose Rasbora 8–16 vs Cardinal Tetra 1–6 dGH).
- Keep Rummy Nose 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.
- Cherry Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Adult Cherry Shrimp might survive with Rummy Nose Rasbora, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
- Keep Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Cherry Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Chocolate Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 5 cm · Hard care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7–8 vs 4–6); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rummy Nose Rasbora 8–16 vs Chocolate Gourami 0–5 dGH).
- Keep Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Chocolate Gourami in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crimson Red Betta⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Rummy Nose Rasbora 7–8 vs Crimson Red Betta 4–6.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (8–16 vs 0–5 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Fire Red Licorice Gourami⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3.5 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- pH preferences only just meet (Rummy Nose Rasbora 7–8 vs Fire Red Licorice Gourami 4–6.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (8–16 vs 0–4 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Rummy Nose Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ghost Shrimp⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Adult Ghost Shrimp might survive with Rummy Nose Rasbora, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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.
- Humpbacked Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 5 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Humpbacked Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Rummy Nose Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~80 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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 Rummy Nose 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.
- Purple Tetra⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
- Different pH ranges (7–8 vs 5.8–6.8); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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.
- Serpae Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Easy care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Serpae Tetra and Rummy Nose Rasbora are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add rummy nose rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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 Rummy Nose Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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)
- pH preferences only just meet (Rummy Nose Rasbora 7–8 vs Spotfin Betta 4–6.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (8–16 vs 0–5 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Expect Spotfin Betta to harass Rummy Nose Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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)
- Expect Striped Red-Eye Puffer to harass Rummy Nose Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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 Rummy Nose Rasbora are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add rummy nose rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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)
- Different pH ranges (7–8 vs 4–6.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
- Water hardness preferences differ (Rummy Nose Rasbora 8–16 vs Wine Red Betta 0–4 dGH).
- Wine Red Betta and Rummy Nose Rasbora are close in size, but the aggressive one tends to dominate — add rummy nose rasbora in a group to spread the pressure.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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 4 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Rummy Nose Rasbora as food.
- Expect Alligator Gar to harass Rummy Nose 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 Rummy Nose 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 4 cm Rummy Nose Rasbora whole.
- Clown Knifefish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Rummy Nose Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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)
- Size gap is too large (100 vs 4 cm): Fire Eel will treat Rummy Nose Rasbora as food.
- Fire Eel is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Rummy Nose 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 Rummy Nose 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 4 cm Rummy Nose Rasbora whole.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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)
- Size gap is too large (120 vs 4 cm): Redtail Catfish will treat Rummy Nose Rasbora as food.
- Redtail Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Rummy Nose Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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 4 cm Rummy Nose Rasbora whole.
- Spotted Gar clearly outsizes Rummy Nose Rasbora and is aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Rummy Nose 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)
- Rummy Nose Rasbora is bite-sized to a 300 cm predatory wels catfish — it will be eaten.
- Wels Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Rummy Nose 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 Rummy Nose 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)
- Rummy Nose Rasbora is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
- Expect Wolf Cichlid to harass Rummy Nose 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 Rummy Nose 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.
Rummy Nose Rasbora care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Max size
- 4 cm (1.6 in)
- Min tank size
- 60 L (15.9 gal)
- Temperature
- 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- pH
- 7–8
- Hardness
- 8–16 dGH
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- 8+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Origin
- Myanmar — endemic to Lake Inle and surrounding waters
What is a Rummy Nose Rasbora?
The rummy nose rasbora (Sawbwa resplendens) is a tiny cyprinid endemic to Myanmar’s Lake Inle basin. Adults reach around 4 cm (1.6 in). What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in visual impact: mature males carry an intense scarlet snout and matching red-tipped fins on an almost translucent silver body. In a shoaling group under good lighting the effect is striking.
Sawbwa resplendens is monotypic — the sole species in its genus. It is rated Medium difficulty: straightforward if you match its specific requirements, unforgiving if you don’t.
Where does the Rummy Nose Rasbora come from?
This species is a strict Lake Inle endemic. Lake Inle sits at roughly 900 m elevation in the Shan Plateau of Myanmar — a shallow, reed-fringed highland lake fed by cool springs. The water is naturally hard, neutral to slightly alkaline, and holds a stable cool temperature year-round: conditions very different from the warm, soft, acidic streams associated with most other nano cyprinids in the hobby.
The trade relies largely on captive-bred specimens, which has relieved pressure on wild populations, but the lake itself faces habitat degradation, making Sawbwa resplendens a species of conservation concern.
What size tank does a Rummy Nose Rasbora need?
The minimum practical footprint for a shoal of eight is 60 litres (16 gal). A longer, shallower tank is preferable to a tall one — this species occupies the middle column and benefits more from horizontal swimming room than depth.
Aquascape with a dark substrate (fine sand or small gravel) and dense planting along the sides and rear, leaving an open swimming channel in the centre. Floating plants or broad-leaved stems that cast dappled shade suit the fish well. Against black sand the males’ scarlet markings look almost luminous; on pale gravel the fish appears washed out.
Filtration should produce gentle flow — a sponge filter or canister with a spray-bar is ideal. Strong currents stress this fish and can prevent it from feeding. Keep the surface gently broken to maintain dissolved oxygen, and prioritise excellent mechanical filtration and regular water changes over raw flow rate.
What water parameters does a Rummy Nose Rasbora need?
The chemistry requirements are the most important factor separating successful keepers from frustrated ones:
- Temperature: 20–26 °C (68–79 °F). The cooler end of this range is normal and healthy; sustained temperatures above 26 °C cause chronic stress, and anything approaching 28 °C can be fatal. A fan or chiller may be necessary in summer in warm climates.
- pH: 7.0–8.0. Neutral to moderately alkaline — the opposite of most nano fish in the hobby.
- Hardness: 8–16 dGH. Moderately hard, reflecting the mineral-rich spring-fed water of Lake Inle.
Do not attempt to keep this species in soft, acidic blackwater conditions. The chemistry is genuinely different, and mixing the two is a recipe for a stressed, pale, short-lived fish. Cycle the tank fully before adding the shoal, and maintain it with consistent weekly water changes of around 25–30%.
What do Rummy Nose Rasboras eat?
Sawbwa resplendens is an omnivore, picking at invertebrates, zooplankton and algae in the wild. In the aquarium it accepts a varied diet readily:
- Staple: High-quality micro-pellets sized for nano fish, introduced at mid-water to match its middle-column feeding zone.
- Supplement: Micro-frozen foods — baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops — two to three times per week. These visibly intensify the males’ red colouration.
- Variety: Finely crushed flake or nano wafers round out the diet.
Feed small amounts twice daily and remove uneaten food promptly. With larger or faster tank-mates present, ensure the shoal gets its share at each feeding.
How does a Rummy Nose Rasbora behave — and what are good tank mates?
This is an almost entirely peaceful, shoaling species. In groups of eight or more it is lively, open-water swimming and relatively bold; in smaller numbers it tends to become shy and huddle in cover. The minimum group size of 8 is a practical floor — 12 to 15 individuals produces even better shoaling behaviour and a more impressive display.
Because it is timid and occupies the middle column, tank-mate selection should prioritise:
- Other Lake Inle species where possible — Microdevario spp. and small danionins that share the same water chemistry are natural partners.
- Peaceful hillstream or cool-water nano fish that tolerate neutral-to-alkaline, moderately hard conditions.
- Nerite snails and dwarf freshwater shrimp (cherry shrimp coexist well, though very small fry or eggs may occasionally be taken).
Avoid: nippy or fast-moving fish that outcompete it at feeding, any species requiring soft/acidic water, and anything large enough to view it as a snack. Two males of this species display to each other but rarely cause injury.
For a full list of tested pairings, see Rummy Nose Rasbora tank mates.
How do you tell male from female Rummy Nose Rasboras?
Sexual dimorphism is pronounced in adult fish and is the primary visual distinction:
- Males: Vivid scarlet snout and matching red tips on the dorsal, ventral and caudal fins. Body is slender and almost translucent silver with an iridescent sheen along the lateral line.
- Females: Drabber overall — the red snout and fin tips are faint or absent, replaced by a pale wash. The body tends to be slightly deeper and rounder, especially when carrying eggs, which is the most reliable secondary indicator alongside the lack of bright red markings.
Young fish of both sexes look similar until they reach sexual maturity, so purchasing a mixed group and allowing them to pair naturally is the practical approach for breeding attempts.
Can you breed Rummy Nose Rasboras?
Breeding is rated Hard and is uncommon in the hobby. A dedicated tank of around 30–40 L with a sponge filter, the same cool alkaline parameters, and fine-leaved plants or a spawning mop is the standard setup. Condition breeders with live and frozen foods over several weeks. The species is an egg scatterer that does not guard its spawn, so remove parents immediately after to prevent predation. First foods for the tiny fry must be correspondingly small: infusoria, commercial fry powder, or freshly hatched brine shrimp nauplii. The young are highly sensitive to any ammonia spike, so immaculate water quality is non-negotiable throughout the fry stage.
What diseases affect Rummy Nose Rasboras?
As a delicate highland species, Sawbwa resplendens is most vulnerable to:
- Ich (white spot): Stress or a temperature drop opens the door to Ichthyophthirius. Treat early; be cautious about raising temperature as a treatment aid given this species’ low heat ceiling.
- Velvet (Oodinium): A dusty gold sheen on the body, often introduced via new fish or plants. Quarantine all additions before adding them to the display.
- Bacterial infections and fin deterioration: Almost always a sign of deteriorating water quality — address the root cause first.
- Emaciation / internal parasites: Newly imported fish occasionally carry internal parasites; a quarantine period before introduction is good practice.
The most effective prevention across all of these is stable, cool, clean water — consistent temperature, a cycled filter, and regular partial water changes.
Health note: medication dosing and disease diagnosis are beyond the scope of a care profile. For sick fish, confirm symptoms against a reputable veterinary or fish-health source before treating.
How long does a Rummy Nose Rasbora live?
With appropriate care, Sawbwa resplendens lives 3–5 years in captivity. The lower end is typically the result of chronically elevated temperatures, undersized groups or poor water quality. Fish kept in cool, clean, alkaline water in a shoal of eight or more, fed a varied diet and housed in a well-planted tank, routinely reach the upper end of that range. Because this species is often sold as young adults, you may have the full span ahead from the day of purchase — good reason to get the setup right from the start.
Frequently asked questions
Is the rummy nose rasbora the same as the rummy nose tetra?
No — they share the same striking red nose, but they are unrelated. The rummy nose tetra (Hemigrammus rhodostomus) is a South American characin; Sawbwa resplendens is an Asian cyprinid from Myanmar. They also prefer different water chemistry — the rasbora likes neutral-to-alkaline, harder water, while the tetra prefers soft, acidic conditions.
How sensitive is Sawbwa resplendens to temperature?
Quite sensitive. As an Inle Lake endemic it is adapted to cool, clear, well-oxygenated water. Temperatures above 26 °C cause chronic stress, and sustained heat above 28 °C can be fatal. Avoid placing the tank near a heat source, and consider a small fan on warm days.
What you need to keep a rummy nose rasbora
The baseline is a heated, filtered 60 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 20–26 °C (68–79 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a rummy nose rasbora in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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