Espei or hengeli?

[On_a_dishy]

Starting a new thread as I managed a typo in the title of my last one…
Latest photos attached of my lovely rasbora playing in the outlet flow. Espei or hengeli?
They have been home from the LFS for 5 days now. Colour on the fins is apparent when the light is behind them.
What do you think?

 

[Byron]

I'm inclined now to think you may have some of both species. The most certain identification is the shape of the black "axe." Not sure at all. But I suspect these species are being raised in SE Asia (not wild caught any longer) and who is to say they have not jumped into the other's pond. Just a thought.

 

[Rocky998]

I'm inclined now to think you may have some of both species. The most certain identification is the shape of the black "axe." Not sure at all. But I suspect these species are being raised in SE Asia (not wild caught any longer) and who is to say they have not jumped into the other's pond. Just a thought.

I agree... Now with the better photos I do see both species in the pics...

 

[Boundava]

Hengeli; espie have orange bodies, vs the silver body with the orange spot and line from behind gills to tail that is common for the hengeli.

Rasbora Espei vs. Hengeli vs. Harlequin (The Best Option for Your Tank)

Buying rasboras for your fish tank should be a fantastic idea. These fish are good for beginners so you can handle them even if you're a newcomer to the hobby. There are many rasboras to

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[On_a_dishy]

That’s really interesting. I noticed one little one sort of “out the group” a bit - it looked paler but I assumed it was because he was little. Then I returned to the LFS to increase their numbers to 9, and the little one is no longer on his own - could the “new ones” have been hengeli, like him?
Will they be ok? I know that there is inter-species communication that they enjoy - and if I have a mixture then they might not be as happy as I had hoped.

 

[Byron]

That’s really interesting. I noticed one little one sort of “out the group” a bit - it looked paler but I assumed it was because he was little. Then I returned to the LFS to increase their numbers to 9, and the little one is no longer on his own - could the “new ones” have been hengeli, like him?
Will they be ok? I know that there is inter-species communication that they enjoy - and if I have a mixture then they might not be as happy as I had hoped.

There is no problem keeping these two species together provided you do not provide fry should they spawn, since it would be impossible to tell which species. I don't know if these two will cross-spawn, but they are in the same genus so it is possible.