Brilliant Rasbora (Rasbora einthovenii)
The Brilliant Rasbora is an elegant and peaceful freshwater schooling fish admired for its shimmering silver body, subtle golden iridescence, and graceful swimming behavior. As light reflects off its scales, the fish displays a brilliant metallic sheen that gives it its common name. Hardy, active, and easy to care for, the Brilliant Rasbora is an excellent choice for planted community aquariums where its natural beauty shines in a large school.
Native to the slow-moving rivers, streams, and peat swamps of Southeast Asia, the Brilliant Rasbora inhabits waters rich in aquatic vegetation, driftwood, and leaf litter. In the aquarium, they thrive in planted setups with open swimming areas, subdued lighting, and gentle water movement. These highly social fish should always be kept in schools of at least six to eight individuals, though larger groups create a more impressive display and encourage natural schooling behavior.
Brilliant Rasboras are omnivores and readily accept high-quality tropical flakes, micro pellets, frozen baby brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, and other small live or frozen foods. A varied diet helps maintain their shimmering coloration and promotes healthy growth.
Their peaceful disposition makes them ideal companions for tetras, Corydoras, gouramis, loaches, dwarf cichlids, shrimp, and other non-aggressive community fish. Their calm nature and graceful movements make them especially attractive in heavily planted aquariums and natural aquascapes.
Scientific Name: Rasbora einthovenii
Common Name: Brilliant Rasbora
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Adult Size: Up to 3.5 Inches
Minimum Tank Size: 20 Gallons
Origin: Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia & Singapore
If you're looking for a hardy, peaceful, and beautifully reflective schooling fish, the Brilliant Rasbora is an outstanding choice. Its shimmering silver coloration, graceful swimming style, and compatibility with a wide variety of community species make it a wonderful addition to planted freshwater aquariums.
