FishTankChili rasbora care: tank size, temperature and tankmates
One of the smallest fish in the hobby, under an inch and bright red. Chili rasboras suit nano tanks and planted shrimp tanks.
Quick facts
| Type | Rasbora |
|---|---|
| Adult size | About 0.8 inches |
| Smallest tank | 5 gallons |
| Temperature | 72–82°F |
| Keep | 8 or more |
| Watch for | So small that bigger fish may eat them. |
How to keep them
Keep 8 or more with dense plants. Their mouths are tiny, so crush flakes or feed micro foods.
Like every fish, they need a cycled tank, a heater set inside their range, and a weekly water change of about 25%. Test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate before you add them. New to this? Start with how to cycle a fish tank.
Tankmates
Good tankmates
Neon tetra · Cardinal tetra · Ember tetra · Rummynose tetra · Black skirt tetra · Serpae tetra · Harlequin rasbora · Zebra danio · Cherry barb · Tiger barb · Platy · Guppy · Endler's livebearer · Molly · Swordtail · Betta (male) · Honey gourami · Dwarf gourami · Pearl gourami · Corydoras (bronze or peppered) · Pygmy corydoras · Kuhli loach · Otocinclus · Bristlenose pleco · Cherry shrimp · Amano shrimp · Nerite snail · Mystery snail · Glowlight tetra · Black neon tetra · Lemon tetra · Congo tetra · Lambchop rasbora · Gold barb · Rosy barb · Dwarf neon rainbowfish · Sparkling gourami · German blue ram · Bolivian ram · Cockatoo dwarf cichlid · Kribensis · Clown loach · Hillstream loach · Siamese algae eater · Ramshorn snail
Possible, with care
- White cloud mountain minnow: They only share 72°F. A good heater and thermometer are a must.
- Ghost shrimp: Ghost shrimp may grab baby shrimp and tiny fish. Adults are usually fine with plenty of moss.
- African dwarf frog: Frogs may snap up very small fish like these. Add the fish as adults and keep plenty of plants.
Avoid
- Angelfish: Adult angelfish eat fish as small as chili rasboras.
- Fancy goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish. Goldfish eat anything that fits in their mouth.
- Common goldfish: Goldfish need cool water and grow big and messy. Keep them with other goldfish, not tropical fish. Goldfish eat anything that fits in their mouth.
Not sure about a mix? See the tankmate answers or the stocking ideas by tank size.
Tankmate questions: Can bettas live with chili rasboras? · Can cherry shrimp live with chili rasboras?
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