Harlequin Rasboras Aggressive 9/29/11
Hello. I recently added 5 Harlequin Rasboras to my 10 gal tank (which also houses 1 Honey Gourami and 3 Corydoras). 1 of the Rasboras was very tiny and I found it dead the next day. The other 4 were schooling together fine. I then purchased a fifth one because I read they should be kept in groups of 5, although this one is a little bigger than the other 4. Now the fifth one is bullying the others and hovering over the feeding area, and they don't school anymore.
<Do bear in mind that what we call "schooling" doesn't mean they all get along as friends. Within the group there are intense social interactions.
Yes, they need company of their own kind as part of their defence against predators, but each adult is also trying to maximize its breeding potential, with males in particular jostling over their rank in the pecking order. In small groups, this can cause serious problems. Adding more spreads out the aggression, and makes it harder for one individual to be a bully, because he can't physically harass all the members of the group all the time.>
The tiniest one keeps a far distance (smart of him I suspect). So I took the biggest one out to see what would happen, and wouldn't you know it, the next biggest in size started to mildly bully the others. So frustrating!
Should I try to keep all the same size and return the bigger ones, or will they eventually work it out amongst themselves? I've had them for a week.
Thank you in advance, Lorie
<Add another 5 Harlequins, and things should settle down. Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Harlequin Rasboras Aggressive 9/29/11
So you think 5 more is okay in a 10 gal?
<It's not ideal, but may be the best approach here. You will have to keep a close eye on water quality, and ideally, upgrade to a 15 or 20 gallon tank as/when the chance arises.>
I thought maybe returning the 2 bigger ones, but I suppose the 3 left could begin the same behavior?
<Quite so. It's really difficult to predict. Six is often the magic number of specimens in most cases for them to school at all, with 10 being almost guaranteed to calm down even the more waspish schooling fish like Tiger Barbs.>
Thanks for your help too! -Lorie
<Glad to help. Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Harlequin Rasboras Aggressive 9/29/11   10/4/11
Hi Neale, how are you?
<All good!>
Lorie here again with the Harlequin Rasboras. Just wanted to update you on what I decided to do. I ended up returning one of the Rasboras, the smaller one that was keeping his distance. I noticed his tail lost his shape and was just a small white fluffy tail. I believe I received a bad batch of Rasboras, because one died the very next day after I bought them, and now this one developed fin rot or fungus (my water parameters are 0 ammonia and nitrite, 10 ppm nitrate, hard water, 80 F and that's with the heater off).
<I see.>
When I returned him to the store, I noticed another species of fish that had a large white fungus spot on his back, that shared the tank with the Rasboras. This really bugs me, because I returned the fish at night, meaning they had ALL day to notice the sick fish. I don't understand why they don't at least take it out and put it away in the back!
<Fungus isn't a "catchy" disease as such. It's usually in ALL aquaria. If you see a bunch of fish with fungus in one tank, then the most likely explanation is that all the infected fish are being stressed or damaged in the same way.>
I'm sure it's not cost effective for them to medicate, but at least remove the sick ones from the water. Ugh! And the associate that received the fish I returned just left him in the bag on the counter and proceeded to text and play on her cell phone; so I guess she was going to let him just die in the bag :( I'm not buying fish from this chain (PetSmart) anymore. I also noticed another fish being sold as a Harlequin Rasbora; the shape is the same but the coloring completely different. It's blue-ish green, no triangle; is this a Rasbora or another sick fish?
<Difficult to say. There is a Blue Rasbora (Rasbora axelrodi). But this species isn't much traded. Although a wonderful fish, it needs very soft and acidic water to stay healthy, so it's a difficult fish for beginners to keep.>
It was hanging out in the back of the tank and looked off. So back to my tank; then that left me with 4 Rasboras; well I then returned the "bully" Rasbora too, just to test out the dynamics. Well the 3 that are left are getting along well. The only time they really chase each other is when they eat. And 2 of them are showing pre-spawning behavior by swimming together and the male bumping into her; the female is so plump I was really thinking she has eggs in her already. I was thinking of trying to breed them, but from my research, it looks like even if she laid eggs, they'd die in hard water. The smallest of the 3 keeps his distance in the back of the tank at times; I hope he's just taking a breather and another problem isn't ensuing. I'm keeping my eye on him. But otherwise they will school and they all eat really well, so I think I'm going to keep it at 3 for now.
<Fair enough.>
On another note, I have a Honey Gourami. I've had her for 2 1/2 months. She is very active and inquisitive and has a hardy appetite, but I've noticed recently she will hang out by the HOB filter flow and breathe air. She didn't do this is the past. I thought maybe it was a nitrate problem but they were below 10 ppm, ammonia and nitrite still 0. She still investigates the tank and nibbles on the plants and decor; I even caught her chasing a peppered Cory all through tank over a pellet! Never saw her do that before!
So I don't know if I should be concerned; I know they are air breathers, but she didn't show this behavior until a few weeks ago.
<Various factors affect how often Gouramis gulp air, including water temperature. The warmer it is, the more air they need. If the fish is otherwise happy, I wouldn't worry much.>
Physically she looks beautiful, and otherwise acts perfectly normal. Any thoughts? I just want to say too, I appreciate all the patience you have for answering all of our beginner questions over and over again. I find your input extremely informative and helpful! Thank you, Lorie
<Thanks for the kind words. Cheers, Neale.>

Help: Shyness of Blue Rams and Harlequin Rasbora temp compatibility
Temp Compatibility For Ram Tankmates  9/1/11
Sorry for the long-winded title!
First, I'd just like to say that I am incredibly impressed with your site.
It is one of the most detailed, comprehensive Aquarium sources I've ever come across. Thank you for making it so easily accessible to hobbyists that didn't have this sort of stuff available ten to twenty years ago.
It's truly a godsend.
< Thank you for your kind words.>
Anyway, I'm starting my tank back up again, and luckily it was already cycled by four Harlequin Rasbora. It's been up and running for about two years. I've kept Blue Rams in the past, however have never been truly successful with them. This time I'm determined. I've been reading about them constantly. One thing that I know I never accounted for before was temperature. I would always keep them around 77F to make the community happy. Not this time. As soon as I got them into the tank, the water went up to 80F. My question is will this temperature be ok for the Harlequin Rasboras already in there?
< They should handle 80 F with no problem.>
I plan to get 4 more of them, 6 Cory cats, and a Dwarf Gourami too.
Would all of these fish be ok at this temperature?
< All of these fish would be fine at that temp.>
The Harlequin's seem ok right now, schooling back and forth like they always do. I know the blue rams would like a temp closer to 82F, but I want to make it comfortable for the community, so would 80F be ok for the aforementioned fish?
< When you increase the water temperature the oxygen carrying capacity of the water goes down. Increase the aeration to compensate for the increased temps and everything should be fine.>
Secondly, my rams are so shy! I find it adorable, however I'd love to see them come out and swim around the tank when I'm around. When I watch the tank form across the room (it's a 30g in my bedroom), they're picking through the sand happy as can be, swimming with the Rasboras, and seem generally carefree. However, as soon as I move or approach the tank, they flee and hide behind the many artificial plants I have in the tank. Will this get better in time, and is there anything I can do to speed it up?
< When you get the additional fish they will come up to the top of the tank to be fed. This will get the rams to also see you as the food monitor and they will soon learn to come out to be fed. Too.-Chuck>They seem to be eating, not as much as I'd like, though, but they do seem to be eating (I'll be picking up some live or frozen blood worms at the LFS next week on my trip there).
Thanks for any help, and more importantly thanks for hanging in there while reading this email. I know I tend to drone on. Thanks again! Charles
re: Help: Shyness of Blue Rams and Harlequin Rasbora temp compatibility
Rams Start to Color Up    9/2/11
Thank you so much for the prompt reply! I'm relieved I can keep them all together. I have two more quick questions, if you don't mind. The two Rams I have are about 1.25" to 1.5" long, I wouldn't think they are much larger than that. I know they can reach about 3", but mine are much paler than pictures I see online. They have colored up some, but is it possible that their color will intensify once I start feeding them frozen food and they get older?
< As your fish become more comfortable in their surroundings they will get more color. Older fish have more color than younger fish.>
Also, my two Rams often square up with each other when they run into one another. Sometimes they'll even lip-lock. However, their coloring reminds me much more of a female than a male. Could these two females be showing territorial behavior like the males do? Or are they just males who haven't quite colored up yet? Thanks so much.
Charles
< Rams are very territorial like many cichlids. Their behaviour could be related to spawning but most likely just establishing territories.-Chuck>
re: Help: Shyness of Blue Rams and Harlequin Rasbora temp compatibility   9/3/11
Thanks again for the fast reply! Well, it appears I have another problem.
Today I went to the LFS and picked out 6 green aeneus Cory cats. Upon putting them in the 36"x12"x18" aquarium, both of the rams have been non-stop harassing the Cory's.
<Yes, very common. Would have warned you of this! I've mentioned several times on this site that Mikrogeophagus don't always cohabit with catfish, and in any case, Mikrogeophagus ramirezi needs much warmer water than (most) Corydoras prefer. Paul Loiselle describes one situation where the Ram Cichlids bite the eyes off the poor Corydoras!>
The LFS, a forum I go to, and you guys all said they would be fine together,
<Not me!>
so this is very shocking to me. Will this stop in time, or is it something I should be worried about? What should I do? Thanks so much.
<Your cichlids view the Corydoras as threats to their brood, and are acting accordingly. There's no solution beyond separating them. Cheers, Neale.>
re: Help: Shyness of Blue Rams and Harlequin Rasbora temp compatibility
Upper Tank Mate Recommendations  9/4/11
Sorry for the double email, but I've decided that I'm going to be taking the Cory cats to the LFS tomorrow and try to exchange them for a different fish. I want a top dwelling fish. What do you think would go good in a 30g (36" x 12") with 2 German Blue Rams and 8 Harlequin Rasbora? I'm trying to balance out the look of the tank. Thanks for any help!!
< South American hatchet fish or splashing tetras are always found not too far from the surface.-Chuck>

Stocking established 60L tank    7/5/11
Hi Crew,
<Duncan>
Yet another question from me, hopefully short and sweet.
<Ok!>
Would it be reasonable to add 5 Harlequin Rasboras (enough for this shoaling spp?) to my established tank? Details are:
<Should school, be fine>
Tank: 60L rectangular (60cm X 30cm X 35cm), 2 months old, small internal power filter (quoted 300L/hr max) with sponge and ceramic media.
Temp: 27-28 deg C.
Water parameters: pH 7.2, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, don't measure nitrate (will soon), GH 4.
Water change regime: 30% weekly (too much?), including gravel vacuum (half each week) and squeeze of filter sponge in tank water (looking after the precious bacteria!).
Stock: 7x Melanotaenia praecox, 2x Atyopsis spp shrimp.
<Oh! Well, this system is already a bit full. I would not add more beyond the Rasboras>
Sorry if this is all sounding a bit familiar, but I figure you guys answer enough emails for someone to say "hey remember me..." and then expect you guys to remember their set-ups as well as their personas!
<Understood>
Anyways, 5 Harlequin Rasboras - yay or nay??
<Yay, with the proviso that you either get another, larger system, or stop at their addition>
Cheers,
Duncan.
<And you, Bob Fenner>
Re: Stocking established 60L tank   7/5/11
Thanks a lot Bob for your quick reply!
<Certainly welcome Duncan>
I was definitely going to stop at the addition of the Rasboras - they would complete my tank, as it were.
<I see>
BUT you mention that the system is "already a bit full". I would prefer to not get the Rasboras if they are pushing it even a little - I believe the welfare of the fish should take precedence over everything else.
<Mmm, well; now that you've granted me another opportunity to "spout off" (akin to a baleen whale if you can imagine), I would like to add that you might consider some other livestock that would occupy another "niche", area of the tank. The Rainbows and Rasboras are both mid-water species...
perhaps something more toward the bottom, or surface... that can/will handle the commotion of the Melanotaeniids>
I know you said yay, but I really want to be sure, and I trust WWM over any other source of info.
Thanks so much, and you guys and girls are the greatest, at least in the fish-keeping world!
Duncan.
<Thank you for your kind, encouraging words. BobF>

Rasboras, hlth.   3/6/08 Hello Neale, I have a question about one of my harlequin Rasboras. About 6-7 months ago I bought 6 harlequin Rasboras for my 20 gallon planted tank. About 4 months ago I noticed that one of my Rasboras has a big white spot on the forehead. Now this fish is very dull in color and very skinny. It eats well but looks like it has difficulty to swim. All other 5 Rasboras look very well: bright colors, strong swimmers. I have also in the tank school of cardinals(9 fishes) that are doing great. Do you have any idea what is that? Thank you for your help Mark <Hello Mark. Identifying diseases like this is very difficult without a photo. It could be something as harmless as a cyst, or more dangerous, like a tumour or parasite of some sort. Given the fish has lived for several months already but is noticeably less active than the others, I'd tend towards thinking this is some sort of tumour or perhaps a viral infection. It isn't likely to spread so there's no reason to isolate it. My guess is that it will eventually die, perhaps because the infection will spread to other parts of the body, much like cancers in humans. Anyway, if you want to send a photo, please do. Cheers, Neale.> Fish illness, Rasboras  -12/14/07 Hello, I am a bit puzzled since not sure if I should be concerned or not about my juvenile harlequin Rasboras. I originally bought 6 baby Rasboras for my cycled but new (1 month) old 10g tank. Now it has been a total of 1.5 months that I had them, 3 died right away and 3 were left. Out of the 3 one of them had a white colored anal fin even from the time I brought it back from the LFS (didn't notice until a few days after). I thought it was fin rot so treated the tank with Jungles fungus eliminator for 2 weeks. <Mmmm...> It neither went away or got worse. The fish is acting and swimming normal and eats fine. The other Rasboras and tankmates are unaffected. Recently within the past week the whiteness has spread to the pelvic fin. It is not cloudy nor appearing as a cotton fuzzy growth. Its like the entire fin is actually opaque white made up of white pigment (e.g. not just a surface coloring). The finnage is smaller than it should be, yet has not progressed to complete deterioration. One side of its body looks like it has cloudy streaks or haze on it. He does not scratch or have trouble breathing, I don't think its Trichodina nor fungus... <... not so sure> is there something else it could be or is it Trichodina or Costia and they take a long time to develop? <Yes, could be> Is this contagious? How should I treat? He is acting normal otherwise... <Could be catching... depending on what "it" is... Do you have a microscope? Can be blindly treated for with protozoacides...> Tank: 4 Neons 2 Rasboras 4 baby Corys 10gallons pH 7.8 <High...> ammonia 0 nitrite0 nitrate15 weekly 30% water changes Temp 74 <A bit low> thanks so much cheers t <Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwmaintindex.htm the sixth tray down... on FW Disease... There is not much, enough here to "go on" to suggest much in the way of specific treatment... If it were me/mine, I'd likely start working on lowering the pH of the water through modifying the change-out water (over time that is), and raise the temperature to the upper 70's F... and leave all else as it is. Bob Fenner>

Photosensitive Harlequin Hi folks <Denis> I was wondering if you have ever come across a photo-sensitive fish?  One of my harlequins has developed a strange habit of hanging around with slightly clamped fins near the surface while the aquarium lights are on.  When the lights are switched off he moves around and feeds as normal.  This has been going on for around a week. The other harlequins are perfectly healthy and behaving normally.  The tank is 180 litre and very lightly stocked with currently only 4 panda Corys, 4 harlequins and one female blue ram.  The tank is at 79 degrees and  PH is about 6.9 and I am doing 10% water changes weekly.  I recently have added a small amount of peat into the filter to soften the water.  Any suggestions welcome.  Thanks for your time. best wishes Denis Donoghue <I have seen such behaviour before... in both marine and freshwater fish species... Wonder what, if any survival value it may portend? Bob Fenner> Lamb chop Rasbora - a Harlequin Look-Alike Hello WWM Team, <Hi Craig, Sabrina here, today> Hope you can help me. I recently bought fish labeled Harlequin Rasbora. The problem is, I know what a Harlequin looks like and the reason I bought these fish was they are a Rasbora I have not seen before. I am hoping you can identify them for me. <Will gladly try!> They have the same colouring as the Harlequin with some changes. The blue triangle is evident as in the Harlequin, however, the same blue is also displayed in a very thin line along the anal area. The iridescent orange is a definite mark confined to the edge of the triangle and then extending past the triangle towards the gill in a definite half-circular mark. The remainder of the body colour is golden  .The body is far more slender than the Harlequin and the fins are all translucent, unlike the Harlequin which are reddish/orange. The eyes are also golden and not orange...any ideas?  Craig <This sounds unmistakably like the "Lamb chop" Rasbora, Trigonostigma espei.  The "Harlequin" Rasbora, Trigonostigma heteromorpha, as you've mentioned, is quite a bit more common in the US, but the lamb chops do show up a lot.  T. espei will only grow to about half the size of T. heteromorpha, and is a touch more sensitive as well.  More info from FishBase on the harlequin:  http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Trigonostigma&speciesname=heteromorpha  and on the lamb chop:  http://filaman.uni-kiel.de/Summary/SpeciesSummary.cfm?genusname=Trigonostigma&speciesname=espei .  Be sure to make use of all the links throughout those pages if you wish to learn more detail on the fish, there is a lot of info there!  Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Rasboras, hlth.   3/6/08 Hello Neale, I have a question about one of my harlequin Rasboras. About 6-7 months ago I bought 6 harlequin Rasboras for my 20 gallon planted tank. About 4 months ago I noticed that one of my Rasboras has a big white spot on the forehead. Now this fish is very dull in color and very skinny. It eats well but looks like it has difficulty to swim. All other 5 Rasboras look very well: bright colors, strong swimmers. I have also in the tank school of cardinals(9 fishes) that are doing great. Do you have any idea what is that? Thank you for your help Mark <Hello Mark. Identifying diseases like this is very difficult without a photo. It could be something as harmless as a cyst, or more dangerous, like a tumour or parasite of some sort. Given the fish has lived for several months already but is noticeably less active than the others, I'd tend towards thinking this is some sort of tumour or perhaps a viral infection. It isn't likely to spread so there's no reason to isolate it. My guess is that it will eventually die, perhaps because the infection will spread to other parts of the body, much like cancers in humans. Anyway, if you want to send a photo, please do. Cheers, Neale.>

A question about harlequin Rasbora hi, one of my harlequin Rasboras died overnight (why do they always die overnight..?)  without a mark on him that I could see, except maybe the area around his gills was a little red.  what might cause that? this fish has been well established and healthy since late January or February.   I did recently add six cardinal tetras to the tank a week, week and a half ago of which two died in the first couple days (poor little guys) and were removed promptly, and the rest seem to be on their way to being well adjusted.    None of the other fish in the tank (5 additional harlequins and three Scissortails, and two Otos and a Cory) seem to be unhealthy in any way. pH reading is very slightly low (maybe 3-4 tenths off at the most, the color is 'between' two readings) - maybe from fish waste?  I haven't done a water change recently. But the pH is usually too high anyway (8.4).  The fish that have been there for a while seem to be completely well adjusted to it though so I don't think high pH would've killed the Rasbora. Well, any suggestions of what I could look into would be much appreciated, I really don't like my old fish dying suddenly :( < Most of the fish you are keeping come from soft acidic water from rainforests. At the high pH you are running it is hard for these little fish to adapt. I don't think your cardinals will last too long at that high a pH. The high pH will not kill your fish off directly but they are definitely being stressed to the point that they are breaking down. Start looking at some websites and articles to bring down the pH of the water to at least the 7 range with 6 being better. I would start by looking at Marineland.com and look at Dr. Tim's library. These articles are very informative and will give you some direction.-Chuck> thanks, ~Anna ps: mailing a separate email with a question for your freshwater snail folks.

Harlequin Rasboras & schooling at diff. ages Hi, in January I purchased 6 relatively young harlequin Rasboras. (since then one died of unknown causes but the remaining five are large happy fish - maybe 1 inch long although its hard to say due to the refraction of the water, I would probably guess more like 3/4)   There are also 3 scissortail Rasboras and 2 cardinal tetras (I got six but sadly 4 of them died, I am going to fix my pH and try to get a quarantine tank and try again in a month or two), and two Otos and a Cory in the tank.   I'm wondering if I were to get more young harlequins (I usually see them in the pet store half the size of the ones I have now or smaller even) if they would be 'safe' from the older fish, and if they would grow up to school with the older harlequins? < Schooling fish seem to developed somewhat of a pecking order. The larger ones will surely push around the smaller ones for awhile. As long as you introduce a group of smaller ones to the tank at once then I think you will be OK.-Chuck> Thanks for your help and no urgency on the reply, I'll be out of town for a few days and its not like it's an urgent question anyway. :) ~Anna Sick harlequin Rasboras Help! I have a 10g tank, fake plants, with 2 guppies, 2 Corys, and 4 harlequins. Came home tonight and the harlequins were hiding, one at the bottom, kind of twitching. I did a 40% water change, and at first they were all flipping out, but now they seem better. Just not totally okay. They don't seem to have Ick, no white spots, but aren't swimming about like they usually do. Someone said they are depressed because they need more to school properly. What could be wrong with them? What could I do? < It is true to some extent that schooling fish are less stressed in a large group but I don't think that this would cause the sudden reaction that you are seeing. When an entire group of fish come down with something at the same time it makes me think of the water quality. I suspect if you checked the ammonia, nitrites and nitrates you may find that the nitrates have exceeded 25 ppm and the fish were stressed from the poor water quality. This can weaken the fish and cause disease. I suggest that you check the water quality and try to keep the nitrates below 25 ppm by servicing your filter, occasionally cleaning the gravel, not overfeeding, and change the water to reduce nitrates as needed. -Chuck> Thanks, New Fish Owner 

More sick Harlequin Rasboras... Don, Sorry to bother you again... well, I decided to try what you suggested with one Rasbora. The water he came in tested at 7.0, my tank tested at 7.4. I floated the bag and then added about 10% tank water to the bag. I did this again 20 min later and checked the pH in the bag, and-- surprise! The pH was 6.4?? Here's my speculation. I'd been adding acid buffer to the tank pretty much every day up until 2 days ago, in a futile attempt to keep the pH down. There were enough alkalines in my tank to check the acid, so the tank basically found homeostasis at 7.4.  However, when I added the tank water to the bag, the acids were no longer checked by the alkalines (presumably the water from the store wasn't as well buffered), so the pH shot way down. Sound about right? << Yes (BobF here), very easy to make these sorts of changes w/o careful understanding of alkalinity AND an alkalinity test kit>> Well, to make a long story short, I continued to do 10-20% water changes in the bag, this time with fresh, un-pH-adjusted water.  But after a few of these I realized that what was happening was that the acids I'd added were continually bringing the pH down, so basically I was just bouncing the pH all over the place. Once I realized this, I gave up, pH was around 7.0, I added the fish to the tank, and he is well on his way to dying. Same symptoms as the others.  So now I know what pH shock looks like. I could do what you suggested, i.e. do water changes until the tank pH matches the tap pH.  The problem is, my tap water comes out at 8.2.  If I add enough acid to neutralize the water to 7.0 before I add it to the tank, then my tank seems to hold stable at 7.4.  But if I add no acid at all, then eventually my tank will be at 8.2, right?  And that seems awful high for most fw fish. So what's a guy to do? <I think you got it right. I was unaware your tap was at 8.2. The easy suggestion is to stock fish that like your conditions. In your case Mollies or African Cichlids. But I'm going to ask Bob to comment on this. I'm blessed with pretty good water (soft at a steady 7.2) here in the Philadelphia area. You could always move. Don> <<Best to use whatever method to adjust pH outside your system, in preparation for use... if it has sufficient buffering capacity (which at a starting/tap of 8.2 I strongly suspect it does) then lowering (eating up the alkaline reserve) with an organic or inorganic acid will result in an adequately buffered (i.e. stable) pH at some "point"... that will tend to slowly lower over time... due to the reductive (acidic) activities of small aquatic systems... Please read here re: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/fwph,alk.htm and make it known that you (both) understand the concepts of pH, alkalinity/acidity, and their relation to each other. Bob F>>