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Scissortail rasbora, photographed on a transparent background

FreshwaterIn the market90 coinsCommon

Scissortail rasbora

Rasbora trilineata

Restless and fast, snapping its tail open like scissors as it laps.

The Scissortail rasbora (Rasbora trilineata) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Danionidae. It swims in midwater, close to the bottom. Adults grow to about 9 cm; the largest on record measured 13 cm (total length). In the aquarium it needs a tank at least 120 cm long and water at 23–27 °C.

Size
9 cm
Smallest tank
120 cm
Temperature
23–27 °C
Care
Easy

In the aquarium

Temperature23–27 °C
pH6.0–7.5
Hardness2–12 °dGH
Temperament
Peaceful
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Busy
Water layer
Surface
Group
Happiest in a group of 6 or more
Plants
Plant safe
Drawn to scale in a 120 cm tank

These values are compiled from real species data, and the LumaReef simulation is built to keep them true to life.

Which tank it fits

  • Nano60 cm · 65 litresToo small
  • Standard90 cm · 180 litresToo small
  • Wide120 cm · 300 litres50 of them
  • Living room180 cm · 650 litres108 of them
  • Showcase250 cm · 1,200 litres200 of them
  • Gallery300 cm · 1,440 litres240 of them

Who it lives with

In the wild

Water type
Freshwater
Climate zone
Tropical
Habitat
Midwater, close to the bottom
Largest on record
13 cmtotal length
Aquarium trade
Traded commercially

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderCypriniformes
  2. FamilyDanionidae
  3. GenusRasbora
  4. SpeciesRasbora trilineata
  5. Described bySteindachner, 1870

In other languages

Russian
Трёхлинейная расбора

Quick answers

Scissortail rasbora size: how big does it get?
Adults reach about 9 cm. The largest on record measured 13 cm (total length). Record sizes among the 12 Rasbora species on LumaReef: 4 cm (Rasbora paucisqualis) to 20 cm (Elegant Rasbora).
Scissortail rasbora tank size: what is the minimum?
A tank at least 120 cm long. In LumaReef that is the Wide tank or larger.
Scissortail rasbora water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 23–27 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, hardness 2–12 °dGH. Close to what most Rasbora on LumaReef need (22–26 °C).
Scissortail rasbora tank mates: what can it live with?
It gets along with 73 of the 99 freshwater species in the catalogue, such as Congo tetra, Molly, and Boesemani rainbowfish.
Scissortail rasbora: alone or in a group?
Keep at least 6 together.
Scissortail rasbora and plants: is it plant safe?
Yes, it leaves plants alone.

All Danionidae speciesAll species A–Z

Sources

Scissortail rasbora: compiled from these references.