Scissortail Rasbora
Rasbora trilineata
Cyprinidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The scissortail rasbora is a large, exceptionally active open-water cyprinid from the slow rivers, streams and swamps of Southeast Asia, named for the bold black-and-white barring on its deeply forked tail that flicks like a pair of scissor blades as it swims. Peaceful and gregarious, it makes an outstanding dither fish, coaxing shy or nervous tankmates out into the open, and needs plenty of length to cruise.
Care
Keep a shoal of six or more in a long, well-covered tank with open swimming space and gentle to moderate flow. An accomplished jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential. Soft to neutral water suits it best.
Diet
Surface-oriented micro-predator; feed quality flakes and small pellets plus frequent frozen or live daphnia, bloodworm and brine shrimp to maintain colour and vigour.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (86)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAmano ShrimpAssassin SnailBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBloodfin TetraBlue Velvet ShrimpBolivian RamBrichard's TeleogrammaBristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasCherry BarbCherry ShrimpChinese Algae EaterClown PlecoCochu's Blue TetraCongo TetraDenison BarbDiamond TetraDoctor FishDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishElephantnose FishEmerald CoryEmperor TetraFlame TetraForktail RainbowfishFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGold BarbGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiJapanese Trapdoor SnailJulii CoryKeyhole CichlidLeast KillifishLemon TetraLeopard DanioLittle CorydorasMystery SnailOdessa BarbOtocinclusPanda CorydorasParaguay EartheaterPeaceful BettaPearl DanioPenguin TetraPictus CatfishPolka Dot LoachPurple Emperor TetraRainbow SharkRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkReticulated Hillstream LoachSalt and Pepper CorySerpae TetraSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSkunk CorySparkling GouramiStriped KribensisStriped Raphael CatfishThick-lipped GouramiTiger BarbUmbrella Dwarf CichlidUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryX-ray TetraYoyo LoachZebra Danio
Possible with care (136)
Acei CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAngelfishAuratus CichlidBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Bladder SnailBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBlue Tiger ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo SuckerBrevis Shell DwellerBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Buenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyButterfly Hillstream LoachCalvus CichlidCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCelestial Pearl DanioCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbChili RasboraChocolate GouramiClown KillifishCobalt Blue ZebraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailCompressiceps CichlidCongo Dwarf CichlidConvict CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDogtooth CichlidDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf Pea PufferDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmber TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFeatherfin SqueakerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidGlowlight DanioGlowlight TetraGolden JulieGreen Neon TetraGreen TerrorGuppyHongi CichlidJack DempseyJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKissing GouramiKribensisKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLemon CichlidLivingstoniMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMalawi EyebiterMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMedaka RicefishMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerParadise FishPeacock CichlidPearl GouramiPeppered CorydorasPlatyPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidPygmy CorydorasRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRamshorn SnailRed DevilRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Zebra CichlidRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieRosy BarbRosy TetraRubber Lip PlecoRummynose TetraRusty CichlidSalvini CichlidSand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidScarlet BadisSeverumSimilis Shell DwellerSpotted HoploStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterT-Bar CichlidTaiwan Reef CichlidTexas CichlidThai Micro CrabThreadfin AcaraThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTurquoise RainbowfishVenustus (Giraffe Cichlid)White Cloud Mountain MinnowWrestling HalfbeakZebra Mbuna
Avoid (49)
Adonis PlecoAltum AngelfishBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishChocolate CichlidClown LoachComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoDemon EartheaterDiscusDuboisi TropheusEndlicheri BichirFantail GoldfishFrontosaGerman Blue RamGoby CichlidGreen DiscusGreen Spotted PufferfishHeckel DiscusIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidKoiMalawi HawkMollyOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRanchu GoldfishRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRyukin GoldfishSailfin MollySailfin PlecoShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonySulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSwordtailTelescope GoldfishTropheusUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Wolf CichlidZebra Pleco
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
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Scissortail Rasbora need?
- A Scissortail Rasbora needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 90 cm (35.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Scissortail Rasbora need?
- Scissortail Rasbora does best at 22–25 °C (71.6–77 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–12 °dGH.
- What group size does a Scissortail Rasbora need?
- Scissortail Rasbora is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Scissortail Rasbora suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Scissortail Rasbora is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature22–25°C
Optimal temp.23–25°C
pH6–8
Hardness (GH)2–12°d
Carbonate (KH)1–12°d
Adult size15 cm
Min. volume≥ 110 L
Min. tank length≥ 90 cm
Group size≥ 6
Swimming zoneTop
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~6 yrs
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