▷ Espei harlequin rasbora in the aquarium | All info

Data sheet espeis harlequin rasbora

German name:
harlequin rasbora

Scientific name:
Trigonostigma espei

Origin:
Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia)

Size:
up to 3 cm

Aquarium

Length:
from 60 cm edge length

Contents:
From 54 liters

water values

Temperature:
22°C to 28°C degrees

pH:
6.0 to 7.5

GH:
3 to 15°

CH:
0 to 10 degrees

Behave

Area:
in the middle and at the top of the aquarium

Lining:
fine frozen food, very small live food such as black mosquito larvae, dry food

Behave:
Schooling fish, very peaceful, sociable, happy to swim

Number:
Group with at least 10 animals, preferably 20 animals

Difficulty level:
Beginner

I, Lerdsuwa, Trigonostigma espei, CC BY-SA 3.0

Origin

The Harlequin rasbora (Trigonostigma espei) originally comes from Southeast Asia, where it is at home in slow-flowing rivers and swamps in Thailand and Cambodia. The small carp fish is a very popular aquarium dweller because of its intense coloring and its peaceful and sociable way of life. The dark wedge mark on its body, which begins below the dorsal fin and extends to the caudal fin, gives it its name.

naming

In the female animals it ends at the base of the caudal fin, in the male it runs through the entire caudal fin. There is also a small, dark spot behind the gills. Overall, the body structure of the harlequin rasbora is high on the back and flattened at the sides. Its basic color is silver and in the middle of the body it varies between orange, gold and slightly reddish. The fins of these fish are all mostly transparent, but they can also have a faint orange glow. Its belly is light. The large scales of the harlequin rasbora have a metallic sheen and make it a particularly attractive creature. The harlequin rasbora can grow up to 3 cm in total and about 6 years old.

Aquarium requirements

The harlequin rasbora, which comes from Southeast Asia, feels most comfortable at a water temperature between 22°C and 28°C degrees. The pH value should be between 6.0 and 7.5 and the water hardness should be between 3° and 15° dGH. The small fish are extremely agile and therefore need enough free swimming space in the aquarium.

Nevertheless, the tank (at the edge) should be well and densely planted, because the aquatic plants are needed for spawning on the one hand and on the other hand the aquarium is somewhat darkened, which makes the harlequin rasbora feel most comfortable. Feeding these fish is simple. They prefer to eat fine frozen food and very small live food such as black mosquito larvae. Dry food is also accepted.

The small harlequin rasbora feels most comfortable in a group with at least one 10 other conspecifics. A swarm of up to 20 or 25 animals is also possible if the size of the aquarium is right. The fish are considered to be very peaceful.

gender differences

The males and females of the harlequin rasbora (Trigonostigma espei) can be easily distinguished from one another.

First is the male specimen significantly slimmer and also usually something smaller than the female.

In addition, it is colored more attractively:

Its reddish shimmering color is much more intense and striking. The anal fin is completely transparent in females, while males have dark stripes on it. Another difference is that once sexually mature, the female develops a fuller abdomen.

breed

Harlequin rasbora can be bred in an aquarium. For this, the water in the pool should be very soft and acidic with a pH value between 5.0 and 6.0. During the mating season, the male animal courts the female with his widely spread fins, his intense coloring and his dancing movements. The female fish then attach their spawn to the undersides of large-leaved aquatic plants. The eggs are then fertilized.

One Brood care is not carried out by the parent animals. The little fry hatch after about two to three days and still have their yolk sac. After about a week they can swim freely and should be fed with very fine food, such as parameciums.

socialization

The harlequin rasbora (Trigonostigma espei) can easily be socialized with other fish. Native to Asia, danios are known to be extremely peaceful and sociable, so other species that behave in the same way make ideal company.

Other barbels and danios as well as loaches and smaller catfish are particularly recommended. Rainbow fish and tetras are also good companions for harlequin rasbora. It should be avoided to put the fish in an aquarium together with overly cautious young shrimps as well as crayfish and dwarf crabs.