Meet the Espe's Rasbaora, an adorable little rasbora originating from overgrown jungle streams!
The Espe’s Rasbora is yet another amazing aquarium fish from South East Asia. This fish is also known as the False Harlequin, Lambchop Rasbora, Espei Rasbora, and Slim Harlequin. This agreeable little rasbora couldn’t be friendlier and there simply isn’t a better fish to compliment a thoughtfully planted aquascape.
Espe’s Rasboras have a unique bronze color and pink blush which you really won’t find on any other aquarium fish. Even though they have a tendency to not swim in a tight school, companionship of their own species is absolutely essential. These fish are a great addition to any peaceful tank.
 The Espe’s Rasbora has two close relatives with which it is often confused, the Harlequin Rasbora and the Glowlight Rasbora. The Espe’s Rasbora is a name often falsely attached to the Hengel’s Rasbora, and they are both sold under the name of 'False Harlequin'. This was all officially cleared up in 1999, when the species were reclassified.
To identify them notice some subtle distinctions. The Harlequin Rasbora is pale pink to bright red, and is much stocker than its cousins. The Harlequin’s black mark is much closer to a triangle shape and will have a noticeably blue tint. The Glowlight Rasbora will be butter colored and will have an iridescent orange stripe above a thin and very rounded black triangle. The Espe’s Rasbora should be bronze pink in color and have no orange stripe above the black triangle.
Distribution:
The Espe’s Rasbora was described by Meinken in 1967. They are native to thickly vegetated streams and pools in South East Asia, specifically Thailand and Cambodia.
Status:
This species is not endangered.
Description:
The Espe’s Rasbora is a slender fish. The primary body color is copper-orange. Their body color appears to be increasingly reflective approaching the lateral line. Espe’s Rasboras have a black lambchop shaped marking on their sides. The fins are clear, except for yellow triangles on the dorsal fin and tail.
Size - Weight:
This fish will reach about 1 inch in length (2.5 cm).
Care and feeding:
Espe’s Rasboras are omnivores. Their diet should be based around a quality flake or pellet food. This should be supplemented with the occasional live snack, like brine shrimp or bloodworms. Some blanched lettuce or spinach is also a welcome addition to their diet.
Espe’s Rasboras are very tolerant fish and require little extra care. A densely planted tank will make them feel much more at home. Bogwood is a great addition, as the tannins help maintain healthy water parameters for this fish. Dark substrate and areas of shadow will bring out a much redder hue. The tank should be no less than 18 inches (45 cm) long, so that these fish may comfortably school and swim back and forth. These fish must absolutely be kept in groups of at least six or more. The tank should be carefully covered as these fish are liable to jump if startled or excited.
Water Region: Top, Middle, Bottom:
Espe’s Rasboras spend much of their time in the middle and upper region of the aquarium..
Acceptable Water Conditions:
Temp: 73 - 80° F (23 - 28° C)
pH: 6.0 - 8.0
Hardness: 1 - 15° dGH
Social Behaviors:
Espe’s rasboras are schooling fish by nature, but don't always swim in a tight school unless you have many individuals or large fish in the tank. Nonetheless, these fish need to be kept in groups of six or more for their well being. These fish are active and may disturb the peace of some less tolerant fish. They will also suffer in the company of overly large and aggressive fish. You may notice some chasing in the school between fish, but injuries almost never result. They are generally peaceful fish with a disposition suited to the community or geographical tank.
Sexual Differences:
Unknown.
Breeding/Reproduction:
There is no known way to sex these fish externally, so selecting a good breeding group is difficult. Breeding is also difficult to induce because water must be soft, acidic, and pristinely clean. When these fish breed, they spawn in open water and scatter their eggs over the substrate and plants.
A good breeding tank set up would be a tank with soft acidic water, a sponge filter, a double layer of large marbles and a few plastic or real plants. The fish should be conditioned on live foods for a little while and removed after the eggs are laid. The fry need to be fed very small live food or liquid fry food until they can accept powdered flake food.
Availability:
Espe’s rasboras, also sold as False Harlequins, Lambchop Rasboras, Espei Rasboras, and Slim Harlequins, are somewhat difficult to find. They sell for around $1.00 - $300 USD each.
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Author: "Yvonne"
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