Hengel's Rasbora

[Lizzie71]

Can anyone give me any information about Hengel's rasboras? I have 6 of these little guys (no more than 2cm each) and they are adorable.

They are fast movers and seem to swim in a group mostly, but not always. Occasionally one or two break free and do their own thing!

I have them with 3 platys, and the only problem is that the platys seem to be eating all the food before the rasboras reach it. Any tips how I can help them get some? They are getting flakes, which I am crumbling up a bit for the smaller fish, but the platys still eat it all!

 

[Lizzie71]

Does no one else have these

 

[ravensflight]

I have four of these guys, they are great. But they are alone in a 10 gallon tank (I plan on getting a couple more). So I do not have feeding issues. Maybe try to put the food in different areas in the tank, or get them a tank just for them.
How big is the tank they are in now?

I do love these fish, they are so cute and love how they swim together and then sometimes break apart.

Be well and sorry I could not have been more help. I am new at fish keeping.

Maria


Hi. I forgot to add they are also known as Espei rasbora.

 

[Lizzie71]

They are in a 34 litre (8 gallon) tank with 3 platys. I think they are getting a few crumbs, but the daft little things won't feed from the surface, and won't pick up food from the gravel either, so they only eat if it floats right past their nose

 

[ravensflight]

They are in a 34 litre (8 gallon) tank with 3 platys. I think they are getting a few crumbs, but the daft little things won't feed from the surface, and won't pick up food from the gravel either, so they only eat if it floats right past their nose

The tank you have may be too small for those fish. maybe upgrade or start another small tank for the platies. LOL I guess the trick would be is to get the food to float past their noses.

Be well,
Maria

 

[BNyleen581]

I used to have these guys in my 16 USG tank and they didn't have a problem eating untill I overstocked it. If they are in a tank smaller than 20 USG then they tend to take on unusual behavior as they want more space to be happy. If you have them in an 8 USG tank then likely they are stressed, especially with a few bigger fish.

 

[Lupin]

I used to have these guys in my 16 USG tank and they didn't have a problem eating untill I overstocked it. If they are in a tank smaller than 20 USG then they tend to take on unusual behavior as they want more space to be happy. If you have them in an 8 USG tank then likely they are stressed, especially with a few bigger fish.

I can't agree more.

 

[Lizzie71]

But these fish are on the list of recommended fish for a 10 gallon tank on this very forum. So I thought they'd be fine. My tank is only very slightly smaller than that. The tank is 8 UK gallons, not sure if that's less or more than US gallons. Another tank is not an option at present as my OH is pretty upset about this one still

I didn't feed them this morning, but my 7 year old son swears that each little fish had at least one piece of flake (goodness knows how he can tell, they are pretty much identical). He says the trick is to distract the platys at the back of the tank and put some crumbled flake at the front for the rasboras.

How can I tell if they are stressed? They swim around the mid-level of the tank, usually in their group but occasionally one or two break off. They don't go down to the gravel, and they don't come right to the surface. Also they love playing in the flow from the filter.