Hengel's Rasbora
Trigonostigma hengeli
Cyprinidae
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About
Hengel's rasbora is a small, slender shoaling cyprinid from the peat swamp forests and blackwater streams of Sumatra and Borneo. Two shop labels get stuck on it. The first is the harlequin, Trigonostigma heteromorpha, which is easy to separate once you know what to look for: Hengel's tops out around 3 cm against the harlequin's 4.5 cm, its body is greyish and translucent rather than coppery pink, and the black flank mark is a narrow wedge instead of the harlequin's broad solid triangle. The second is the lambchop rasbora, T. espei, which is the real near-twin — that one is a bright copper-red fish from Thailand and Cambodia, while Hengel's is greyish and near-colourless with a flash of bright orange along the upper and front edges of the same lambchop-shaped mark. Kept in a large group over dark substrate in dim, tannin-stained water it is one of the most understated and rewarding nano community fish in the trade.
Care
Keep a group of 8-10 or more in soft, acidic, densely planted water with gentle flow and subdued lighting. Small enough for a 60 cm tank, but pair it only with calm, similarly sized tankmates - it is easily outcompeted at feeding time.
Diet
Micropredator taking small invertebrates in midwater. Feed finely ground dry foods plus frequent frozen or live daphnia, cyclops and baby brine shrimp.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (177)
Possible with care (167)
Avoid (74)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Belly depthA hint only · only on well-fed adults, and only as a comparison
For most tetras, barbs and rasboras this is all there is: a conditioned female is deeper through the belly than a male of the same length.
Also in these lists
Similar species
Same category and the closest water parameters — if this species isn't quite it, start here.
Sold in Lithuania
These Lithuanian shops listed this species in their public catalogue (checked August 8, 2026). Stock moves — ask before you travel.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Hengel's Rasbora need?
- A Hengel's Rasbora needs an aquarium of at least 45 litres (11.9 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Hengel's Rasbora need?
- Hengel's Rasbora does best at 23–28 °C (73.4–82.4 °F), pH 5–7.5 and a general hardness of 1–12 °dGH.
- What group size does a Hengel's Rasbora need?
- Hengel's Rasbora is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Hengel's Rasbora suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Hengel's Rasbora is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.