Rasbora sarawakensis
The Rasbora sarawakensis naturally inhabits the water bodies of Borneo Island. The fish inhabit sedentary forest channels shaded from above by a dense tropical forest canopy. The substrate in these areas consists of a thick layer of silt, leaves, and tree branches. The water has a brownish coloring due to tannins released from decomposing organics.
Females are slightly larger than males and have a rounded abdomen. The maximum size of the fish is 5 cm.
Rasbora sarawakensis is a gregarious, non-aggressive fish with an active lifestyle. Keep fish should be a flock of at least 8-10 individuals. Keeping fish in a flock makes them less fearful, and the males will exhibit interesting behavior in the process of competing with each other for the attention of females. For such a number of fish suitable aquarium volume of 80 liters. As a substrate used coarse-grained river sand. The perimeter of the aquarium is densely planted aquarium plants. Also on the surface of the water is placed a few bushes of floating plants. Place driftwood at the bottom.
These fish can easily be kept in a common aquarium with Black Harlequin, Trichopsis pumila, Lepidocephalichthys guntea and other peace-loving fish.
Water parameters: temperature 22-26° C, hardness dH 2-12°, pH 6,0-7,5. Requires filtration, aeration and weekly replacement of ¼ of the aquarium water with fresh. The water current in the aquarium should not be strong.
In nature, Rasbora sarawakensis feed on small aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. In aquariums, the fish are fed a variety of dry food, as well as live and frozen daphnia, artemia, and bloodworms.
Reproduction
Under acceptable housing conditions, Rasbora sarawakensis will spawn continuously. In a densely planted aquarium may appear a small number of fry.
If you want to increase the number of surviving fry, you will need a spawning aquarium of about 30 liters, half filled with water. Lighting is weak. Separator mesh should be placed at the bottom. The water temperature is about 26° C.
Placed in the spawning aquarium producers (1-2 pairs) abundantly fed a variety of foods several times a day. Spawning stimulate the addition of small amounts of cool water every few hours so that the spawning tank is gradually filled.
Immediately after spawning, producers are removed. The eggs are incubated for 24-48 hours, and after another 1-2 days the fry begin to swim and eat. The fry are fed live dust, and a week later begin to give artemia.
Rasbora sarawakensis has a lifespan of about 5 years.
