Photo: R.workoran, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dwarf rasbora
Boraras maculatus
2 cm
Adult size
40 L
Minimum volume
10
Minimum group
5 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Boraras
- Diet
- carnivore
- Social life
- shoal
In the wild
Overview
Described in 1904 by Georg Duncker from fish caught at Bukit Terah, near Muar in Johor state, the dwarf rasbora is one of the smallest cyprinids in the world: about 2.5 cm. Its Latin name maculatus means “spotted”, for the dark dots on its red body.
Long placed in Rasbora, it has belonged to the genus Boraras since 1993. Its colouring varies between populations, some being clearly redder than others.
- Scientific name
- Boraras maculatus (Duncker, 1904)
- Classification
- Cypriniformes › Danionidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Peninsular Malaysia, southern Thailand, Singapore, eastern Sumatra and Bintan Island
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It is widespread throughout Peninsular Malaysia, as far as southern Thailand, Singapore, eastern Sumatra and Bintan Island.
It lives in the blackwater streams and rivers of peat swamp forests: calm, very soft, acidic water (pH down to 4), stained brown, over a bed of leaves and branches, under the canopy. These habitats are shrinking before plantations and urbanisation.
Behaviour
Very peaceful but tiny and shy, it is best kept in a species tank or with other dwarf species and shrimp. It lives in a shoal: a group of at least 8 to 10 gives it confidence.
A micro-predator, it feeds on worms, small crustaceans and zooplankton. It spawns continuously, a few eggs a day, without caring for them; mature females have rounder bellies, dominant males the most intense colours.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth