Chili Rasbora
Boraras brigittae
Also known as Mosquito Rasbora
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A tiny, jewel-red nano fish for a densely planted, carefully kept small tank. It is very peaceful but timid, so it is not a general community fish. Keep it alone or with other tiny species, feed very small foods, and it rewards you with remarkable color.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 11 US gal
- Footprint
- 18 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 68–82 °F
- pH
- 4–7
- Hardness
- 1–10 dGH
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
- Min group
- 8 or more
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
Chili Rasbora tank mates and swim zone
Mid-Water
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Trichopsis pumila
Corydoras pygmaeus
Otocinclus macrospilus
Hymenochirus boettgeri
Epiplatys annulatus
Neocaridina davidi
Trigonostigma heteromorpha
Chili Rasbora is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Harlequin Rasbora.
Danio rerio
Chili Rasbora is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Zebra Danio.
Puntius titteya
Chili Rasbora is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Cherry Barb.
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Gold Barb is much larger than Chili Rasbora and may frighten or even eat it.
Xiphophorus hellerii
Swordtail is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as Chili Rasbora.
Trichogaster lalius
Dwarf Gourami is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as Chili Rasbora.
Chili Rasbora feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed powdered or crushed foods and micro pellets.
- Add baby brine shrimp or micro worms often, because it naturally eats tiny live prey.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Mature females are noticeably rounder in the belly and often a little larger, while males are more strongly colored.
Chili Rasbora care mistakes to avoid
- Do not buy just one or two. Keep at least 8 fish so they feel secure.
- Keep it away from larger fish. Its tiny size and timid nature mean it gets bullied or eaten.
- Plant heavily. In a bare tank it hides, loses color and stops feeding well.
- Offer truly tiny food. Regular flakes and pellets are too big for its mouth.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 11 US gallons.
Chili Rasbora tank setup
The essentials for a small, gently filtered tank.
TankAt least 11 US gal (41 L), 45 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Chili Rasbora. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 10-Gallon Fish Tank: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Chili Rasbora, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Chili Rasbora's temperature range.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 54 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 80 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterAir-driven sponge filter
Gentle flow that small fish and long fins can handle, plus a safe home for good bacteria.
Aquarium Co-Op Coarse Sponge Filter (Small) US
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter US
Tetra Brillant Filter Spain
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 10-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 68–82 °F (20–28 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 25 W at 5 gallons, 50 W at 10. Keeps a small tank stable. Adjustable models let you set the temperature your species needs. Size up for a cold room.
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater US
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 50 W US
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater Spain
Eheim Thermocontrol e 50 Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 10-Gallon Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateA soft, sandy substrate is probably the best choice, with roots and branches.
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorDense planting, floating plants, driftwood and dried leaves are suggested.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Chili Rasbora
Stores that list it under the same scientific name as this page. Links marked as affiliate links may earn us a commission. We have not bought from them, so check each store's own terms.
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link)
We have not found a store that sells Chili Rasbora under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Chili Rasbora FAQ
What size tank do Chili Rasboras need?
Our sourced minimum is 11 US gallons (41 liters), with a footprint of 45 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Chili Rasboras should I keep?
Keep at least 8 fish. Bigger groups usually look better and behave more confidently.
What can live with Chili Rasboras?
Good matches on our list include Sparkling Gourami, Pygmy Corydoras and Otocinclus Catfish. Avoid Endler's Livebearer and Swordtail.
How long do Chili Rasboras live?
Lifespan is not well documented for this species. Stable water and a good diet help any animal live longer.
Can chili rasboras live with shrimp?
Yes. They are among the safest fish for shrimp tanks because their mouths are so small, though a tiny baby shrimp may occasionally be eaten.
Chili Rasbora facts and sources
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Native to
- Southwestern Borneo
- Adult size
- 0.8 in (2 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Schooling/Shoaling (6+)
- Diet
- Micro-Predator
- Water flow
- Low/Still
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- 100% Safe
- Fin nipping
- None
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Moderate
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.