Boraras merah
A tiny blackwater Boraras with bright red-orange flanks broken by sharp black blotches — like a phoenix marking. Tighter shoals than chili rasboras when comfortable. Nano blackwater biotopes only, never mix with anything over 4 cm.
Phoenix Rasbora (Boraras merah) reaches 1.5–2 cm as an adult and needs a minimum tank of 30 L. Native to Borneo, peat swamps, it lives in the mid water column with a peaceful temperament. Aim for 23–28 °C, pH 4.5–6.5, and 0–6 dGH hardness. Lifespan is 3–4 years with good care. Keep phoenix rasbora in groups of 10+, yes schoolers need numbers to display natural behaviour. Diet: omnivore, Crushed micro pellet, baby brine shrimp, micro worms, finely crushed flake. Plant-safe: Yes. Shrimp-safe: Yes.
Care at a glance
A tiny blackwater Boraras with bright red-orange flanks broken by sharp black blotches — like a phoenix marking. Tighter shoals than chili rasboras when comfortable. Nano blackwater biotopes only, never mix with anything over 4 cm.
By Mike ElmiraUpdated 1 min read
Part of our complete guide to aquarium fish for the planted tank.
The parameters that decide whether phoenix rasbora fits in your tank.
Mid
Yes
Group of 10+
Cyprinidae
Omnivore
Crushed micro pellet, baby brine shrimp, micro worms, finely crushed flake.
3–4 yrs
Hard
Borneo, peat swamps
Borneo, peat swamps
Tank-mate safety and the species this one is documented to thrive (or fail) alongside.
Direct answers to the questions search engines and AI assistants surface most often about this species.
Phoenix Rasbora (Boraras merah) needs a minimum tank of 30 L. They live in the mid water column and should be kept in groups of 10+, so a longer footprint matters more than depth.
Target 23–28 °C, pH 4.5–6.5, and 0–6 dGH hardness. Acclimate slowly when moving them between water sources.
Shrimp safety: Yes. Plant safety: Yes.
Phoenix Rasbora are omnivore. Crushed micro pellet, baby brine shrimp, micro worms, finely crushed flake.
On Fin & Stem's 1–5 difficulty scale this species rates 3/5. Intermediate, stable parameters and a mature tank matter. Breeding difficulty: hard.
Typical lifespan in a well-maintained tank is 3–4 years.
A planted tank is a system. Pair this fish with one entry from each other pillar to plan the whole scape.
