Which is hardier?

[lovebuzz]

I see these both at the lfs. I haven't seen rasbora espei in any stores except one but I don't think it's rare.

I like the way both look, and they are both very small (espei is only about a centimeter smaller and not as "high"). They are also both priced the same so I'm not sure, so I'm just basing this on hardiness. Has anyone ever kept the two different kinds?

I'm kind of leaning towards espei but this is my first "real" tank and I want hardy fish only.

 

[sylvia]

Deffinately go for harlequins if you want hardiness - they are also the best schoolers

 

[modernhamlet]

I've seen espie's mislabelled as harlequins or (more often) mixed in with harlequins at several different fish and pet stores.

The little I've heard and seen directly (not enough to claim with any certainty) is that espei don't seem to be quite as hardy as harlequins, but are still a fairly sturdy little fish. With time, I imagine the harlequin stock will continue to deteriorate due to overbreeding, so espei may become a healthier alternative.

They are equally good schoolers (which is to say just about the best of any freshwater tropical aquarium fish) and will school together without issue if mixed.

Hope that helps...