Photo: Andrew Bogott (CC BY-SA 4.0) — via Wikimedia Commons
Strawberry Rasbora (Boraras naevus)
A jewel-like nano fish from Thailand — deep red with a bold black spot, peaceful in groups and ideal for planted pico tanks.
Will it live with a Strawberry Rasbora?
We compare each fish against your strawberry rasbora on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.
- Assassin Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy 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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Celestial Pearl Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Celestial Pearl Danio in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Cherry Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Strawberry 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.
- Chili Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium 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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Chili Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Crystal Red Shrimp✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °F)
- Both are peaceful; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dawn Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dawn Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Dwarf Spotted Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Dwarf Spotted Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ember Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Easy 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Ember Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Emerald Dwarf Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 20–24 °C (68–75 °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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Emerald Dwarf Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Exclamation Point Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium 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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Exclamation Point Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Glowlight Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Glowlight Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Gold Ring Danio✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Gold Ring Danio in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Green Neon Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Hard 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Green Neon Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Hummingbird Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 1.8 cm · Hard care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Hummingbird Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Lambchop Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, 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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Lambchop Rasbora in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Malaysian Trumpet Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 21–27 °C (70–81 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–27 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Blue Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 23–26 °C (73–79 °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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Neon Blue Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Green Rasbora✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Neon Green Rasbora in a shoal of 10+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Neon Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 3 cm · Easy 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.
- Both favour the middle of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Neon Tetra in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Nerite Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2.5 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.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ramshorn Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Easy care · 20–28 °C (68–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, and their water overlaps around 23–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Red Lip Nerite Snail✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 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.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Ruby Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 2 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, 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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Ruby Tetra in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Tucano Tetra✅ CompatiblePeaceful · 1.7 cm · Hard care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- Both are peaceful, 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 Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Tucano Tetra in a shoal of 10+ 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 Strawberry Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Black Darter Tetra may hunt Strawberry Rasbora, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Strawberry 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)
- Black Ruby Barb clearly outsizes Strawberry Rasbora and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Strawberry Rasbora is small enough to tempt Black Ruby Barb; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~100 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Strawberry 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 clearly outsizes Strawberry Rasbora and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Black Skirt Tetra may hunt Strawberry Rasbora, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Strawberry 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 (Strawberry Rasbora 5.5–7 vs Blue Turbo Snail 7.5–8.5) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
- Keep Strawberry 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)
- Desert Goby clearly outsizes Strawberry Rasbora and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Desert Goby may hunt Strawberry Rasbora, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Strawberry 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 Strawberry 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.
- Endler's Livebearer⚠️ With cautionPeaceful · 3 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- One likes softer water and the other harder (1–8 vs 10–25 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Endler's Livebearer in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- GloFish Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 21–28 °C (70–82 °F)
- GloFish Tetra is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Strawberry Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Watch for GloFish Tetra picking off any strawberry rasbora small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep GloFish Tetra in a shoal of 6+ 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 Strawberry 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.
- Odessa Barb⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 6 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
- Odessa Barb clearly outsizes Strawberry Rasbora and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Odessa Barb may hunt Strawberry Rasbora, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Keep Odessa Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Pea Puffer⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 2.5 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
- Expect Pea Puffer to harass Strawberry Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora in a shoal of 8+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 3.6 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
- Rainbow Emperor Tetra clearly outsizes Strawberry Rasbora and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Strawberry Rasbora is small enough to tempt Rainbow Emperor Tetra; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Strawberry 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.
- Scarlet Badis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 2 cm · Medium care · 22–27 °C (72–81 °F)
- Expect Scarlet Badis to harass Strawberry Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Keep Strawberry Rasbora 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 is semi-aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Strawberry Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Serpae Tetra may hunt Strawberry Rasbora, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
- Keep Strawberry 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)
- Silvertip Tetra clearly outsizes Strawberry Rasbora and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Strawberry Rasbora is small enough to tempt Silvertip Tetra; only risk it in a densely planted setup with hiding spots.
- Keep Strawberry 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.
- Tiger Badis⚠️ With cautionSemi-aggressive · 4 cm · Medium care · 22–24 °C (72–75 °F)
- Expect Tiger Badis to harass Strawberry Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Watch for Tiger Badis picking off any strawberry rasbora small enough to fit in its mouth.
- Keep Strawberry 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 2 cm): Alligator Gar will treat Strawberry Rasbora as food.
- Alligator Gar is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Strawberry Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Strawberry 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)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 2 cm): Clown Knifefish will treat Strawberry Rasbora as food.
- Expect Clown Knifefish to harass Strawberry 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 Strawberry 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 2 cm): Fire Eel will treat Strawberry Rasbora as food.
- Fire Eel clearly outsizes Strawberry Rasbora and is semi-aggressive; risky unless the tank is big and well-planted.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~380 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Strawberry 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)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 2 cm): Koi will treat Strawberry Rasbora as food.
- One likes softer water and the other harder (1–8 vs 9–18 dGH) — a compromise, not a perfect match.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~3800 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Strawberry 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)
- Strawberry Rasbora is bite-sized to a 120 cm predatory redtail catfish — it will be eaten.
- Redtail Catfish is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Strawberry 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 Strawberry 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)
- Size gap is too large (90 vs 2 cm): Spotted Gar will treat Strawberry Rasbora as food.
- Spotted Gar clearly outsizes Strawberry 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 Strawberry 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 2 cm Strawberry Rasbora whole.
- Expect Wels Catfish to harass Strawberry Rasbora at times; give dense cover and watch them at feeding.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Strawberry 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)
- Strawberry Rasbora is bite-sized to a 72 cm predatory wolf cichlid — it will be eaten.
- Wolf Cichlid is aggressive and may chase or nip the smaller Strawberry Rasbora — plant heavily and break up sight lines.
- Your 75 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
- Keep Strawberry 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.
Strawberry Rasbora care specs
- Care level
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Max size
- 2 cm (0.8 in)
- Min tank size
- 20 L (5.3 gal)
- Temperature
- 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
- pH
- 5.5–7
- Hardness
- 1–8 dGH
- Lifespan
- 2–4 years
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Swim level
- Middle
- Group size
- 8+ (shoaling)
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Origin
- Thailand — slow, peat-stained lowland streams and swamps in the Malay Peninsula
What is a Strawberry Rasbora?
The Strawberry Rasbora (Boraras naevus) is a micro-cyprinid from the slow, tannin-stained lowland waterways of Thailand and the northern Malay Peninsula. At a maximum of 2 cm (0.8 in), it is among the smallest fish in the freshwater hobby yet one of the most striking: a translucent body is overlaid with a vivid orange-red flush and each fish carries a single crisp black spot midway along the flank. The epithet naevus is Latin for birthmark, referencing that spot; “Strawberry” captures the ripe, saturated colour.
It is a shoaling species that fades and hides when kept in small numbers; in a group of eight or more in a well-planted soft-water tank it is one of the most rewarding nano fish in the hobby.
Where do Strawberry Rasboras come from?
The natural range centres on Thailand — peat-swamp forests and slow lowland streams — extending into the upper Malay Peninsula. These habitats are dimly lit, heavily vegetated and carry very soft water darkened brown by decaying leaf matter. pH commonly sits between 4.5 and 6.5 in the wild, though aquarium-bred fish tolerate a broader range up to 7.0.
The species is adapted to stable, mineral-poor water and is notably less tolerant of hard or fluctuating conditions than a general community fish. Understanding the habitat makes the chemistry requirements feel logical rather than arbitrary.
What size tank does a Strawberry Rasbora need?
The minimum for a shoal of eight — the smallest group in which the species behaves naturally — is 20 litres (5 gal). That said, water stability in a tank this small is genuinely challenging: small volumes swing in temperature and chemistry faster than a mature filter can buffer. A 30–40 L (8–10 gal) nano tank is a more comfortable target and still fits on a desk.
A longer-than-tall footprint gives the shoal horizontal swimming space and suits the standard low-profile planted-tank layout. Because the fish occupy the middle column, a lid is advisable — small fish jump through any open gap.
What water parameters do Strawberry Rasboras need?
- Temperature: 23–28 °C (73–82 °F). The species tolerates the cooler end in a well-established tank; breeding usually happens at the warmer end, around 26–28 °C (79–82 °F).
- pH: 5.5–7.0. The sweet spot for colour and health is 6.0–6.8; above 7.0 the fish often appear faded and are more susceptible to disease.
- Hardness: 1–8 dGH (very soft to soft). Hard tap water is a common source of failure with this species — if your tap exceeds 8 dGH, blend with reverse-osmosis or deionised water.
Blackwater additives make a visible difference: a handful of dried Indian almond (ketapang) leaves on the substrate, or a small bag of aquarium peat in the filter, releases tannins and humic acids that buffer pH and replicate the fish’s natural chemistry. Colour deepens noticeably in conditioned water. Weekly water changes of 20–25% are essential, but match the temperature and parameters of new water precisely — sudden swings are more damaging than minor ongoing imperfection.
What do Strawberry Rasboras eat?
Boraras naevus is a carnivore that feeds on zooplankton, micro-invertebrates and tiny insect larvae in the wild. In the aquarium, the limiting factor is mouth size: at 2 cm the gape is tiny, and standard-sized pellets or flake are simply too large for many individuals to take comfortably.
Suitable staple foods include micro pellets (0.5 mm or smaller), baby brine shrimp (freshly hatched or frozen), micro worms, daphnia and finely crushed flake. Frozen or live daphnia and baby brine shrimp elicit strong feeding responses and support conditioning for breeding. Feed small amounts once or twice daily — what the shoal can consume in two to three minutes — and remove any uneaten food promptly, as water quality is critical at the parameters this species requires.
How do Strawberry Rasboras behave — and what fish can live with them?
The Strawberry Rasbora is entirely peaceful. Males briefly splay fins and posture at one another but there is no real aggression. The shoal occupies the middle column in a loose group, spreading out when settled and retreating to dense cover when startled. Floating plants to diffuse surface light shorten the settling period considerably.
Compatible tank mates must suit both the fish’s tiny size and its strict chemistry needs. The best companions are:
- Other Boraras species (e.g. Chili Rasbora, B. brigittae) — same parameters, complementary colours.
- Pygmy corydoras (Corydoras pygmaeus, C. hastatus) — peaceful bottom-dwellers that tolerate soft water.
- Ember tetras (Hyphessobrycon amandae) — viable at shared soft-water parameters.
- Adult dwarf shrimp — classic pairing; the fish ignore shrimp above juvenile size.
Avoid anything exceeding 4–5 cm as an adult — even peaceful species that size can accidentally swallow a 2 cm fish during feeding.
For a full ranked list of compatible and incompatible species, see Strawberry Rasbora tank mates.
How do you tell male from female Strawberry Rasboras?
Sexual dimorphism is subtle but consistent in mature fish. Males are slimmer and display more intense, saturated red-orange colouration — the red deepens in good water and with good feeding. Females are slightly larger-bodied and develop visible abdominal fullness when carrying eggs. The black flank spot is present in both sexes and is not a useful differentiator.
Juveniles are difficult to sex until roughly four to five months of age; at that point body shape is more reliable than colour alone.
How do Strawberry Rasboras breed?
Breeding Boraras naevus is rated hard and demands precise conditions, but it is possible in the home aquarium. The species is an egg-scatterer without parental care; adults will eat their own eggs and fry if given the opportunity.
To encourage spawning, condition the group on live or frozen daphnia and baby brine shrimp over two to three weeks, gradually raising temperature to 26–28 °C (79–82 °F) and ensuring pH sits at 6.0–6.5. A dedicated breeding vessel of 10–20 L planted with java moss or fine-leaved plants provides egg-catching surfaces. Spawning typically occurs in early morning; eggs are scattered across plants and the substrate.
Remove adults within 24 hours. Eggs hatch in roughly 24 hours at 27 °C; fry are tiny and require infusoria or commercial first-fry foods for the first week, then freshly hatched brine shrimp nauplii. A sponge filter is essential — any stronger flow will kill fry.
What are common diseases in Strawberry Rasboras?
The most common health problems are tied directly to water quality or chemistry mismatch:
- Ich (white spot): Triggered by temperature swings during water changes. Prevention: stable heat and parameter-matched new water.
- Fin damage and bacterial infection: Follow from persistent hard or poor-quality water. Weekly water changes at correct softness are the cure.
- Velvet (Oodinium): A fine golden-dust sheen. Quarantine all new arrivals and avoid cross-contaminating tanks.
- Stress-related decline: The most common presentation — fading colour, poor appetite, early death. Almost always caused by groups below eight, hard water, or unsuitable tank mates. Entirely environmental in origin.
Quarantine all new fish for three to four weeks in a separate, similarly conditioned tank before introducing them to the display.
Health note: medication dosing and disease diagnosis are beyond the scope of a care profile. For sick fish, confirm the symptoms against a reputable veterinary or fish-health source before medicating, and match any treatment to the soft-water conditions this species requires.
How long do Strawberry Rasboras live?
In good conditions a Strawberry Rasbora lives 2–4 years. Hard water, undersized groups or unstable temperatures push the outcome toward the shorter end; stable blackwater parameters and a varied diet reach the upper end. The two-year mark in genuinely good conditions is more meaningful than four years of marginal survival — invest in correct chemistry from the start and the payoff is a jewel-bright shoal that earns every litre of space it occupies.
Frequently asked questions
How is the Strawberry Rasbora different from the Chili Rasbora?
Both are Boraras pygmy rasboras, but they are distinct species. Boraras naevus (Strawberry) carries a single prominent black spot on the flank and tends toward a broader, more even orange-red flush, while Boraras brigittae (Chili) shows a bold red lateral stripe extending into the caudal fin. They share the same care requirements and can be kept together in a species-appropriate nano tank.
Can Strawberry Rasboras live with shrimp?
Yes — their tiny adult size (under 2 cm) means they pose virtually no threat to adult dwarf shrimp such as cherry or crystal red shrimp. Very small shrimp juveniles could theoretically be taken, but in a planted tank with cover this is rarely a problem. The combination of Boraras rasboras with a shrimp colony is a classic nano planted-tank setup.
What you need to keep a strawberry rasbora
The baseline is a heated, filtered 20 L+ tank: a reliable heater to hold 23–28 °C (73–82 °F), a gentle filter that won't batter a strawberry rasbora in the current, and a tight-fitting lid. Cycle the tank fully before adding any fish.
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