Dwarf rasbora

The dwarf rasbora is a tiny cyprinid of the family Danionidae, native to peat swamps and slow blackwater streams of the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, and Borneo. It has a slender reddish-orange body marked with a prominent black spot on the midbody and smaller dark blotches. It is a peaceful, shy shoaling fish that must be kept in groups of eight or more to show its best color and confidence. Males display brighter red tones and spar harmlessly among the group. A soft, acidic, well-planted blackwater setup with subdued lighting and gentle flow suits it best, ideally in a species tank or with other tiny, calm fish. Its small mouth requires small foods such as microworms, baby brine shrimp, and finely crushed flakes. It is an egg-scatterer that can be bred in soft water.