Harlequin

Raspora heteromorpha

Family: Cyprinidae

Origin: Southeast Asia

Length: 2" in the wild

Food: Flake, Tubifex, Bloodworm

pH range: 6.0 to 6.5

Temp range: 72º - 78º F

Aquarium Adaptability: Acclimates well and hardy.

Suitable For: Community tank, peaceful. Live planted aquarium

Aquarium Size: 20+ gallons, Optimum water quality, subdued light.

Harlequin Rasbora. Different from most other Rasbora species, the Harlequin is stocky and tall with a convex belly area. Males are more slender than the females. They can reach a length of around one and three quarter inches (4.5cms) Perhaps the most characteristic feature of this species is the triangular shaped, Blackish Blue marking, which begins wide in the centre of the body and becomes narrower as it extends back to the start of the Caudal fin. In the females the lower front of the Triangle is often indistinct, while in the males it has a sharp edge that extends down toward the belly area. The dorsal fin is a Red colour with a yellow tip. The upper and lower tips of the Caudal fin are a bright Red with the inside rays being a pale Yellow. The Base coloration of the body is a silver colour and the sides range from a pink all the way to a copper colour. All Rasbora species are peaceful and non aggressive and can be kept with fish of similar temperament. They are strong swimmers and in nature prefer to be in small schools. They like to stay in the upper areas of the aquarium. Your tank should provide plenty of open space for swimming as well as some dense plantings to serve as shelter. The water temperature should be kept around 76f. Rasbora's prefer soft water and if possible you should use a peat filter bag in your filter, (Tetras will benefit also ) They will eat flake, frozen as well live food. Many species of Rasbora will breed without too much difficulty, spawning freely in soft, neutral or slightly Acidic water. Unfortunately Rasbora Heteromorpha is not one of these. The water should be very soft with a hardness of 1.5 to 2.5 DH and a Ph of around 6.0. A long breeding tank is also beneficial with a dark substrate.

The mating consists of the pair lying upside down under a leaf or similar with the male curling his tail around the female. It may take several days in the spawning tank before mating takes place.

The parents will eat their own eggs so it is very important to remove them from the tank right away. After the parents are removed you should carefully lower the water to a depth of four or five inches. The eggs will hatch in 24 to 30 hours and in three to five days the fry become free swimming. The young should be fed on baby brine shrimp and other small foods. Growth is fairly rapid.

Of the more than five dozen species of Rasbora, the Harlequin is possibly the most popular of them all. Often referred to as the Red Rasbora, the body is a reddish copper colour which is accented by a striking black wedge covering the rear half of the body.Rasboras are a true freshwater fish, and are never seen in brackish waters. They can be found throughout the lowland waters of South Eastern Asia, where the water is soft and acidic. Harlequins prefer an environment with areas of dense vegetation, an open area for swimming, a dark substrate, and subdued lighting.