How big does Chili Rasbora get?

Chili Rasbora reaches an adult standard length of 1.5–2 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.

What water does Chili Rasbora need?

23–28 °C, pH 5–7, 1–8 dGH. At 5 °C wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.

What is the smallest tank for Chili Rasbora?

At least 20 L, and no shorter than 30 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is a schooling fish: keep at least 8 together. Fewer than that and it hides, loses colour, and aggression has nowhere to spread.

What is Chili Rasbora like to keep?

Temperament: peaceful. Difficulty: moderate. It occupies the middle and is carnivore. With plants it is "Leaves plants alone".

Can Chili Rasbora be kept with its most common tank mate?

The checker returns "Not recommended together". Chili Rasbora and Angelfish is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.

G-01 / 14Freshwater

Chili Rasbora蚂蚁灯

Boraras brigittae · Cyprinidae

A 2 cm micro-fish that glows red, but only in a nano tank free of larger fish.

Illustration to come

G-01 / 14 · Chili Rasbora Boraras brigittae

SpecificationsFish atlas

Name: 蚂蚁灯
Scientific name: Boraras brigittae
Family: Cyprinidae
Origin: Southern Borneo, Indonesia
Adult size: 1.5–2 cm
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Water level: Middle
Level: Moderate
School size: ≥ 8
Min. tank: 20 L
Min. length: 30 cm
Plant safe: Leaves plants alone

Water requirementsFreshwater

Temp.23–28 °C

pH5–7

Hardness1–8 dGH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Around 2 cm as an adult, a star of nano tanks but only with stable, mature filtration.
2Works even in tanks under 30 cm, provided no larger fish share it.
3A tiny carnivore: feed micro granules and live microworms, or it quickly starves thin.
4Likes soft water at pH 5-6.5 and can share a tank with small shrimp.

Check a tank mate

Jump straight to the verdict for Chili Rasbora against this one — no need to pick it again.

Frequently asked questions

How big does Chili Rasbora get?: Chili Rasbora reaches an adult standard length of 1.5–2 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.
What water does Chili Rasbora need?: 23–28 °C, pH 5–7, 1–8 dGH. At 5 °C wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.
What is the smallest tank for Chili Rasbora?: At least 20 L, and no shorter than 30 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is a schooling fish: keep at least 8 together. Fewer than that and it hides, loses colour, and aggression has nowhere to spread.
What is Chili Rasbora like to keep?: Temperament: peaceful. Difficulty: moderate. It occupies the middle and is carnivore. With plants it is "Leaves plants alone".
Can Chili Rasbora be kept with its most common tank mate?: The checker returns "Not recommended together". Chili Rasbora and Angelfish is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.