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Encyclopedia / Danios & Rasboras / Scissortail rasbora
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Variations

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Scissortail rasbora

Rasbora trilineata · Scissortail

Peaceful, active.

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13 cmAdult size ✓
22–25 °CTemperature ✓
6–7.5pH ✓
243 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • White cloud mountain minnow needs cool water and makes a lot of waste, while Scissortail rasbora is tropical.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 22 °C.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (22–25 °C vs 26–30 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • Oscar is aggressive and will bully peaceful scissortail rasbora.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

294 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓2–12 dGH
Group size ✓6 or more
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ✓Middle
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 3–4 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Peaceful, active.

Food

Flakes, pellets.

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Male or female

Mature females are noticeably rounder-bellied and often a little larger than males.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-scatterer · Hard

Egg-scattering continuous spawner with no parental care, one of the easier Rasbora to breed; spawns in dim conditions.

Pairing

Buy a group of 8-10 and let them pair up. Condition well.

Setup

60-100 L tank with soft water, fine plants and plenty of swimming space.

What starts it

Warm water change and heavy live food feeding.

Eggs

Up to about 340 non-sticky eggs per spawning in a controlled study; eggs hatch in about 18-48 hours and fry swim free 1-2 days later.

Raising the fry

Feed infusoria, then baby brine shrimp. Grow out in a larger tank.

Common mistakes
  • Tank too small
  • Poor conditioning
  • Leaving parents with eggs
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSoutheast Asia – Mekong, Chao Phraya, Malaysia, Sumatra & Borneo
Rivers and lakesMekong and Chao Phraya basins and Sundaland rivers
HabitatOpen water of rivers, lakes and flooded areas
Native rangeAbout 1,500 km across
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The story of the scissortail rasbora

Named for the scissor-like twitching of its black-and-white-tipped tail, which is most noticeable when the fish is at rest. Described by Franz Steindachner in 1870.

Franz Steindachner described the scissortail rasbora in 1870. It is named for the tail it flicks open and shut like scissors. It is an active schooling fish for larger community tanks.

First described by Franz Steindachner in 1870.

  • It flicks its black-and-white tail tips like scissors.
  • It grows to about 10 cm.
  • It swims in open water in loose groups.

Sources

16 facts checked with sources