Currently we have very nice Boraras merah in stock. The species is a very close relative to B. brigittae and at least in some populations the females of B. merah look like B. brigittae and only the males have a typical B. merah pattern (see also http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/boraras-brigittae–boraras-merah_de_1107.html). Cross-breeding experiments also show that both varieties are extremely close to each other in a genetic sense. In the population we could import now, however, both sexes seem to be represented and both look like B. merah.
For our customers: the animals have code 452752 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
The Dwarf rasbora (Boraras maculatus, formerly known as Rasbora maculata) is the species of genus Boraras that is known for the longest time in the hobby. None of these species grows bigger than 2-3 cm and thus they are perfect candidates for the so-called nano-aquaria. All like to be kept in soft and acidic water, rather dark tanks, that should nevertheless be well planted (best use swimming plants), fine live food (although they also take readily dried food) and company of their own kind.
The Dwarf rasbora inhabits the malayian peninsula, southern Thailand and Sumatra. Initially it was often thought to represent the juvenile of the much larger growing species Rasbora kalochroma, but observations of the fish in aquaria and their successful breeding left no doubt on the validity of the species.
There do exist lots of varieties of the Dwarf rasbora which may proof to be different species one day. Typical for all of them is the large shoulder spot, which is in any cases bigger than the eye. The ground coloration of the body depends on the variety and can be light orange up to deep red. Some populations have an additional black spot (all Dwarf rasboras have three black blotches: one on the shoulder, one on the origin of the anal fin, and one on the caudal fin base) on the beginning of the caudal peduncle right above the anal fin.
Our animals currently in the stock, of which the photos for this post were also taken, come from Indonesia.
For our customers: the species has code 452702 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.
As early as 1914 the then very prominent German aquarist J. P. Arnold illustrated a new species of Rasbora in a German aquarium magazine, imported by the company Scholze & Pötzsche and said to originate from Sumatra. In 1922 E. Ahl from Berlin Museum described this species scientifically as Rasbora urophthalma and since these days this charming dwarf rasbora is known as R. urophthalma (common name: Least rasbora) in the aquarium hobby. In 1991 M. Kottelat found when re-examining Ahl´s specimens in Berlin Museum that they were not identical with what is well known in the hobby. Thus the name Rasbora urophthalma was not available anymore for the Least rasbora and Kottelat gave a new name on them: Rasbora urophthalmoides. He also stated that the Least rasbora is not known from Indonesia.
Today the scientific name for the Least rasbora is Boraras urophthalmoides. It is known from Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. For the aquarium hobby, it is imported mainly from the latter country.
Like all dwarf rasboras this species is best kept in small aquaria in a one-species tank. The water should be soft and acidic. Due to it´s origin for regular keeping temperatures of 20-22°C are enough, but for breeding the temperature should be raised to 26-28°C.
For our customers: the species has code 453001 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.
Dieter Vogt described in 1978 a subspecies of Rasbora urophthalma (please see the entry for Boraras urophthalmoides in our fisharchives: http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/boraras_urophthalmoides_formerly_rasbora_urophthalma__en/) from Borneo. He named the fish Rasbora urophthalma brigittae, a dedication name in honour for his wife Brigitte. The German name is „mosquito rasbora“. This is not because the fish are as tiny as mosquitos or as red as moskitos after having a dinner, but due to the fact that there were so many mosquitos at the collecting site that fishing became a real pain.Today the mosquito rasbora is regarded as a full species in Boraras and thus the correct name is Boraras brigittae.
For our customers: B. brigittae has code 451102 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply to the wholesale market.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
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