Above: a magnificent Greater Scissortail Rasbora swimming in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Comments: This is a Premium Pet Fish, and we never see fish like these in any of the live fish stores or online stores that we visit.

Premium Pet Fish are more energetic, hardier, and have brighter colors with a beautiful metallic sheen.

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Origin: Their ancestors originally lived in Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo in Southeast Asia, but now they're are found living in a few aquariums throughout the world.

Maximum Size: In aquariums these Rasbora can grow to be about 8" long, including their tails.

Behaviors: these Rasboras are schooling fish and active swimmers that are not aggressive.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include other smaller Rasboras, Rainbowfish, Danios, small Gouramis, and many other small to medium size aquarium fish.

Click here to read more about compatible groups of pet fish.

Temperature: these Rasboras can live well from about 75 to 80 degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable at about 78 degrees F.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Flakes when small and small Premium Pellet Food, when they're larger.

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Water Conditions: these Rasboras seem to be tolerant of a wide range of water conditions. Probably a pH of about 6 with low hardness is best.

Most water in the US has a higher pH and is harder but seems to be OK, so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.

Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8. We ship them in this water.

Click here for a lot more information about aquarium water conditions.

Aquarium Size: It is probably best to house these fish in at least a 40-gallon tank, but bigger is better. Eventually a few of them will need a 100-gallon aquarium, because they like to swim and swim fast.

Decor: these Rasboras do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

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Live Plants are beautiful and improve the water quality.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

A Penguin 350B Filter in an aquarium with 240-gallons of water is OK, when these fish are young a small. But eventually they'll need a 100-gallon aquarium with as many Penguin 350B Filters as will fit across the back of the aquarium.

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The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range. Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: these Rasboras can live for several years with good water and good food.

Gender: Males are usually more brightly colored, while mature females are plumper.

Breeding: Female Rasboras lay their eggs on leaves as the male fertilizes them.

The male and female do not care for or try to protect the eggs or the babies after the eggs hatch.

Popularity: These Greater Scissortail Rasboras are very rare and so only moderately popular as aquarium fish.

Names: The scientific name of the Greater Scissortail Rasbora is Rasbora caudimaculata.

Variations: Their ancestors lived over a wide area on separate islands, and as would be expected there are color variations.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.