🐟 Chili Rasbora Care Guide

1. Tank Size

• Minimum: 5 gallons (for a small group — 6+ fish).

• Recommended: 10–20 gallons for a nice, active school (they're happiest in larger groups!).

• Key: They are schooling fish — always keep at least 6–10, but more is better.

2. Water Parameters

• Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)

• pH: 5.0–7.0 (they love slightly acidic water)

• Hardness: Soft water is ideal — under 10 dGH.

• Ammonia/Nitrites: Always 0 ppm.

• Nitrates: Low (<20 ppm) — pristine water keeps them vibrant.

3. Filtration & Flow

• Filter: Yes, but very gentle — sponge filters are perfect.

• Water Changes: 25–50% weekly depending on tank size and bio-load.

4. Tank Setup

• Substrate: Fine sand or smooth dark gravel (dark substrate shows off their colors!).

• Plants: Dense plants like Java Moss, Frogbit, Crypts, and Dwarf Water Lettuce.

• Hiding Spots: Floating plants, driftwood branches, small caves.

• Lighting: Dim to moderate — bright lights can make them hide or lose color.

5. Feeding

• Diet: Micro-predators — they eat very tiny foods.

• Foods:

  • Live baby brine shrimp

  • Daphnia

  • Micro worms

  • Crushed high-quality nano pellets

  • Powdered fish foods

• How Often: 1–2 times a day, just enough for them to eat within a few minutes.

• Tip: They have tiny mouths — keep food very small.

6. Behavior

• Temperament: Super peaceful, shy at first but become confident in groups.

• Tankmates:

  • Other tiny, peaceful fish (like Ember Tetras, Sparkling Gouramis)

  • Shrimp (like Cherry Shrimp)

• Best: Species-only nano tanks or paired with other gentle fish.

7. Breeding

• Difficulty: Moderate.

• How: Heavily planted tanks encourage breeding. They scatter eggs among plants, but adults may eat the eggs if not separated.

8. Health Notes

• Common Issues:

  • Stress from aggressive or large tankmates.

  • Poor water quality causes fading color and illness.

• Signs of Good Health:

  • Vivid chili-red color

  • Active schooling behavior

  • Clear eyes and smooth swimming

🌟 Quick Tips

• Bigger schools = braver, happier fish.

• Dark tanks + tannins (like Indian Almond Leaves) = even brighter colors.

• Move slowly near the tank — sudden movements can spook them.