Rasbora lacrimula (“Red Cherry Rasbora”)

Imported on October 17, 2025 — shipping begins on October 26, 2025

Important note: these fish are WILD caught, please proceed with caution.

Rasbora lacrimula (“Red Cherry Rasbora”)

Rasbora lacrimula is a small, active schooling species native to the Mahakam River drainage in East Kalimantan, Borneo. It inhabits calm, tannin-rich forest streams and blackwater pools under dense canopy. Adults display a slender, silvery body with a vivid cherry-red stripe along the flanks and a distinct teardrop-shaped black mark at the base of the tail. Despite their delicate appearance, these rasboras are fast, agile swimmers that dart and shimmer through the water in tight schools.

Size:
Up to approximately 3–4 cm total length (≈ 1.2–1.6″).

Water parameters:
Soft, acidic, blackwater conditions are ideal.
pH 4.5 – 6.8
GH ≤ 5 °d
KH ≤ 2 °d
TDS < 150 ppm
Provide gentle to slow flow, dark substrate, and leaf litter to simulate natural habitat. Stable, clean water is essential.

Temperature:
22 – 26 °C (72 – 79 °F); best results at 24 – 25 °C for long-term health and coloration.

Food:
Omnivorous micro-predator; feed a varied diet of high-quality micro-pellets, crushed flakes, and live or frozen foods such as daphnia, baby brine shrimp, and cyclops. Regular feeding of live foods helps maintain vivid red coloration and activity.

Important note:
Keep in a school of at least 8–10 individuals — they are highly social and display their best colors when moving together.
Provide dense planting, floating cover, and subdued lighting to mimic their forest-stream habitat.
They move very fast and need open swimming space despite their small size.
Avoid strong currents or turbulent flow, as they originate from slow-moving waters.

Tankmates:
Excellent for peaceful community aquariums with other small, calm soft-water species such as Boraras, Trigonostigma, Sundadanio, or small gouramis.
Avoid larger or aggressive fish that may intimidate or outcompete them.

Breeding:
An open-water egg scatterer. Condition adults with live foods, then introduce to a separate breeding tank with soft, slightly acidic water, fine-leaved plants, or spawning mops.
Spawning usually occurs in the morning; eggs fall among plants or substrate.
Remove adults after spawning to prevent egg predation.
Eggs hatch in 24–48 hours; fry become free-swimming after another 1–2 days.
Feed infusoria or liquid fry food initially, then baby brine shrimp or microworms as they grow.