Harlequin Rasbora

Copper-orange schooling fish with a black wedge marking. Hardy and calm, they are one of the best mid-level schoolers for planted community tanks.

• Minimum footprint: 10 gallons; a 15+ gallon tank gives real swimming room.
• Preferred swimming zone: middle of the water column.
• Social — keep a group of at least 6.
• Care level: easy.

• Temperature: 72–82°F
• pH: 6–7.5
• Hardness: 2–12 dGH (Moderate)

Stable parameters matter more than perfect ones — aim for consistency before chasing an exact number.

peaceful

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An omnivore — offer a staple flake or pellet plus regular frozen or live foods (daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp) and some vegetable matter for balance.

• Neon Tetra
• Guppy
• Bronze Corydoras
• Zebra Danio
• Platy
• Molly

A further 1 species pair with Harlequin Rasbora as conditional — workable with the right tank and precautions.

• Angelfish — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
• Electric Blue Acara — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.

Standard tanks at or above the recommended 15 gallons:

• 15 gallon 24 × 12 × 12″
• 20 gallon High 24 × 12 × 16″
• 20 gallon Long 30 × 12 × 12″
• All tank sizes

• Start from a 10 gallon minimum and plan the full group size (6+) before you buy.
• Activity level is high, which affects how much of the tank it uses and how much it adds to the bioload.
• Zoning matters: this species lives mostly in the middle zone, so choose tank mates that occupy other levels.

Compatibility depends on tank size, water chemistry, temperament, and adult size. Run a full check against any species in our database.

In-depth guides for Harlequin Rasbora:

• Harlequin Rasbora and BettaRisky
• Harlequin Rasbora and Neon TetraGood Match
• Harlequin Rasbora and GuppyGood Match
• Harlequin Rasbora and Bronze CorydorasGood Match
• Harlequin Rasbora and Honey GouramiGood Match
• Harlequin Rasbora and Dwarf GouramiRisky
• Harlequin Rasbora and Pearl GouramiGood Match
• Harlequin Rasbora and Kuhli LoachGood Match
• Harlequin Rasbora and Serpae TetraRisky
• Harlequin Rasbora and Cardinal TetraGood Match
• Harlequin Rasbora and German Blue RamRisky

• FishBase(Scientific Database, accessed 2026-09-20)
• SeriouslyFish(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
• Aquarium Forge editorial guidelines(Editorial Interpretation, accessed 2026-09-22)

Data reviewed: September 2026 · Data version: 2026.11
Editorial note: Minimum tank recommendations may vary by source and husbandry approach. Our figures synthesise the sources above for planning purposes.