Rasbora - Dwarf Maculata (Boraras maculatus)

The Maculatus is a dwarf Rasbora very peaceful, schooling fish that is best kept in groups of 5-10. A great fish for a Planted Nano Aquarium. A popular aquarium fish suitable for community tanks, it is a small peaceful shoaling species that reaches to a length of 5 cm and can be found in peat swamp forests and forest streams in Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra and southern Thailand. 

It can be easily identified from the black triangular patch on its side. They should be kept in schools of 8-10 and in an aquarium with other peaceful fish. They are quite visually stunning in a group. 

In the aquarium, it looks best under subdued lighting and in a densely planted aquarium. It thrives in soft, slightly acidic mature water with pH between 5 to 7 and dH betweem 5 to 12. Breeding the fish requires a species tank containing plants with large leaves. The fish swim upside-down to spawn and lay eggs on the underside of the leaves.

Temperature: 20 – 28 °C

pH: 4.0 – 6.5

Hardness: 18 – 90 ppm

Stomach analyses of wild specimens have revealed it to be a micropredator feeding on small insects, worms, crustaceans and other zooplankton.

In the aquarium it will accept dried foods of a suitable size but should not be fed these exclusively. Daily meals of small live and frozen fare such as Daphnia, Artemia and suchlike will result in the best colouration and encourage the fish to come into breeding condition.