Phoenix Rasbora
Phoenix Rasbora
Phoenix Rasbora (Boraras merah) is one of the most vividly and purely red nano fish in the hobby — merah means 'red' in Malay and Indonesian, and the name is fully justified. The deep red body with a bold black lateral stripe and vivid fin coloration creates a fish that, in a well-conditioned group against dark substrate, appears to glow with an internal red light. Native to the peat swamp forests of southern Borneo.
Feeding & Care Tip: Hikari Micro Pellets (crushed or soaked briefly) and Sera Vipan Baby make excellent daily staples — the small particle size suits this fish's tiny mouth. Supplement 2–3× per week with Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp and Hikari Frozen Daphnia. Feed small amounts 2–3 times daily. These tiny rasboras have very small mouths — appropriately sized food is essential.
Boraras species are members of the family Danionidae, native to the peat swamp forests and blackwater streams of Southeast Asia — some of the most acidic and tannin-rich freshwater habitats on Earth. pH values of 3.0–4.5 are not unusual in their wild habitats. In the aquarium, tannin additions from Indian almond leaves or driftwood, dark substrate, and subdued lighting produce the richest coloration and most natural behavior. The name Boraras is an anagram of Rasbora — coined when this group was separated into its own genus.
Keep in groups of at least 10. The vivid red coloration of males intensifies dramatically in soft, acidic, tannin-stained water — the same conditions that create the darkwater aesthetic of the blackwater planted aquarium. Compatible with other nano species and dwarf shrimp in a nano blackwater setup.
Egg-scatterers that spawn readily among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops. Eggs are tiny — fry require infusoria or commercially prepared micro-fry foods for the first few days before graduating to newly hatched baby brine shrimp. The Phoenix Rasbora is arguably the most purely and intensely red of all the Boraras species — a fish that rewards careful blackwater setup with extraordinary color.
Care & Ideal Parameters
| Difficulty | Easy — Moderate |
| Temperament | Peaceful — nano blackwater community |
| Typical Adult Size | 0.8 inches (2.0 cm) |
| Min. Group Size | 10 minimum |
| Ideal Temp | 75–82°F (24–28°C) |
| Ideal pH | 4.0–7.0 |
| Ideal GH | 0–10 dGH |
| Ideal KH | 0–5 dKH |
| Staple Food | Hikari Micro Pellets (crushed/soaked); Sera Vipan Baby |
| Treat / Supplement | Hikari Frozen or Freeze-Dried Baby Brine Shrimp; Hikari Frozen Daphnia |
| Origin | Southern Borneo — peat swamp forests of Kalimantan, Indonesia |
| Notes | Merah = 'red' in Malay and Indonesian. Most intensely red Boraras. Color most vivid in soft acidic tannin water. Southern Borneo peat swamps. |
