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No federal permit to keep

Redstripe rasbora

Trigonopoma pauciperforatum

Also known as Red-line Rasbora, Red-striped rasbora

Fishes › Carp, barbs, minnows, loaches (Cypriniformes) › Danionidae (Danios and rasboras)

The redstripe rasbora (Trigonopoma pauciperforata) is a small species of cyprinidfish found in freshwater in Southeast Asia.

Intro from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Aquarium hobby
Experience: Easy
Redstripe rasbora
Photo: R.workoran, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
FamilyDanios and rasboras
Adult lengthup to 2.8 in
WaterFreshwater
HabitatLives in freshwater

Care at a glance

Species-specific aquarium care

  • Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.8 in / 7 cm).
  • Water: Freshwater.
  • Temperature: 73–77°F (range recorded for this species).
  • pH: 5–6.
  • Hardness: 5–12 dGH.
  • Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
  • Diet: A plankton picker: offer small, frequent feedings of fine frozen and live foods (copepods, brine shrimp, daphnia). FishBase classes it as a carnivore.

Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.

Care guide

Species care notes

  • Tank: a base of at least 35 × 12 in (roughly 21 US gallons); space needed is rated “large tank”.
  • Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 70–79 °F, pH 4–7.5, 0–10 dGH.
  • Behaviour: a shoaling fish best kept in a group of six or more; suited to a community tank.
  • Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).

Short excerpts from the species profile:

  • Setup: “Choice of décor is not as critical as water quality although this species does look particularly effective in a well-planted tank with a dark substrate.”
  • Diet: “Stomach analyses of wild specimens have revealed it to be a micropredator feeding on small insects, worms, crustaceans and other zooplankton.”
  • Tankmates: “An ideal addition to a peaceful community of Southeast Asian fishes with comparably-sized cyprinids, small loaches, and certain anabantoids perhaps constituting the best choices.”
  • Breeding: “Like most small cyprinids Trigonopoma spp.”

From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167

Group care guide

Danios and rasboras

Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: These Asian fishes occupy habitats ranging from zebra-danio pools and rice paddies to shaded harlequin streams, rocky Devario streams and planted galaxy-rasbora wetlands. [fg159-zebra, fg159-harlequin, fg159-giant, fg159-galaxy]. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.

Level 2 reflects common aquarium species. Water range is ONLY for zebra danios; harlequins use 69.8–82.4°F, galaxy rasboras 68–78.8°F and D. aequipinnatus 60.8–78.8°F. [fg159-zebra, fg159-harlequin, fg159-galaxy, fg159-giant] Avoid routine tannin-rich wood/leaf additions for galaxy rasboras. [fg159-galaxy] Giant danios are often misidentified as D. aequipinnatus. [fg159-giant] Obtain separate profiles for the listed Rasbora and T. espei before using these examples as a stocking prescription.

Housing & setup

  • Use at least 90 × 30 cm (36 × 12 in) for zebra danios.
  • Harlequins require at least 60 × 30 cm (24 × 12 in), shaded planted cover and subdued light.
  • Devario aequipinnatus needs at least 120 × 45 cm (48 × 18 in), oxygenated water, moderate flow and a tight lid.
  • Galaxy rasboras need dense planting and broken sight lines in at least 45 × 30 cm (18 × 12 in), with gentle sponge filtration.
  • Match chemistry: harlequins pH 5.0–7.5, 1–12 dGH; galaxy rasboras pH 6.5–7.5, 5–15 dGH.

Sources 877878879880

Climate & lighting

Water64.4–77°F

Sources 877878879880

Diet

  • Quality flakes or granules sized to the fish.
  • Live or frozen Daphnia and Artemia.
  • Bloodworms for zebra danios, harlequins and Devario.
  • Small sinking foods for galaxy rasboras, which rarely feed at the surface.

Sources 877878879880

Social life

  • Keep zebra danios and harlequins in groups of at least 8–10. Galaxy males spar: dense cover and larger groups distribute aggression. Active Devario can overwhelm timid feeders.

Sources 877878879880

Health watch

  • Pseudoloma microsporidiosis in zebra danios.
  • Pleistophora infection and columnaris can produce similar white lesions in zebra danios.
  • Nipped fins among rival galaxy males.

Sources 877878879880

Understanding the animal

In the wild

In the wild

From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1

Where it livesLives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. Found in peats and secondary peat forest streams.
Water it lives inFreshwater, 73–77 °F (23–25 °C), pH 5–6, hardness 5–12 dH.
ClimateTropical climate.
Wild dietSelective plankton feeding.
Behavior to plan forBreeding: open water/substratum egg scatterers.

What this means for care

  • Keep water within its wild range, 73–77 °F.
  1. FishBase species summary: Trigonopoma pauciperforatum
Native climate (measured)

Native climate (measured)

Warm-season highsabout 89°F (up to 90°F in the hottest sampled areas)
Cool-season lowsabout 72°F (down to 71°F in the coldest sampled areas)
Average temperature79–81°F across sampled records
Relative humidity80–84% on average (driest month about 78%)
Rainfallabout 2793 mm a year, spread fairly evenly

Measured at 78 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.

From the sources

From the sources

Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.

Where it livesHome ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase
BiologyFound in peats and secondary peat forest streams. Common in forest streams and clear black waters. Occurs at midwater levels to surface in shallow sluggish and standing waters, marshes and swamps, usually under forest canopies. — FishBase

Data and studies

The numbers

The numbers

Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.

Adult length

Average of sources2.6in
FishBase 1642.8
Seriously Fish species profiles 1672.4

Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.

Water temperature

Average of sources71.5–78°F
FishBase 16473–77
Seriously Fish species profiles 16770–79

Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.

pH

Average of sources4.5–6.8
FishBase 1645–6
Seriously Fish species profiles 1674–7.5

Water hardness

Average of sources2.5–11dGH
FishBase 1645–12
Seriously Fish species profiles 1670–10

Minimum tank footprint

Reported35in
Seriously Fish species profiles 16735

Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 35 × 12 in (about 21 US gallons).

Sources for this sheet

  1. FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
  2. Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
  3. Seriously Fish: Zebra danio (Danio / Brachydanio rerio) Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
  4. Seriously Fish: Trigonostigma heteromorpha Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
  5. Seriously Fish: Devario aequipinnatus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
  6. Seriously Fish: Danio / Celestichthys margaritatus Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
  7. Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
  8. iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.