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Hi guys,

Yes, the picture IS what my fish are--and since settling into my tank today, they are VERY brightly colored orange. They are pretty young/small but I can see the very bright orange. I am very happy with them. Judging from your posts to each other, then I don't really have orange fin rasboras?

I looked at your link and they are definitely NOT Fire Rasboras and, I think mine are prettier, even if they aren't rare!

Last edited by tetrasrcool at 08-Jan-2006 17:11

Last edited by tetrasrcool at 08-Jan-2006 17:12

Geez!! I'm up to page 20 now. I HOPE that my espei don't like the artificial plants! I have nowhere to put all of the fry.:%)

Thanks for taking the time reading my log, Laurie.

You have only 30 more pages to go .

Ingo

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Ingo,

After reading the first 10 pages of your tank log, I see that it is possible that I won't need to add to my school of espei by purchasing them! I think you are right that they actually belong to the rasbora espei rabbit specie! Maybe I will just sit back and see if nature takes its course! Now back to more of your log...

Laurie

Last edited by tetrasrcool at 08-Jan-2006 18:20

Last edited by tetrasrcool at 08-Jan-2006 18:21

tetrasrcool,

You never need any fish if you handle your tank right. You should add fish because you want to, not because you need them.

On the other hand, I might get some fish because I want them to do something for me very soon (SAE = Siamese Algae Eater) as I have a small algae problem, but I like them as well . SO somewhat I bend the just established rule myself right away, how consequent .

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ingo,

I think they are the espei and not the hengeli. 3 of my 6 are a little bit larger than the others and I can see the orange surrounding the top/bottom/front of the black stripe. On the 3 smaller ones I can see the orange along the top, at the front and wrapped around the bottom to the very back of the point of the black stripe. However, I don't see the orange toward the tail on the bottom of the stripe but I think it's just because they are too small.

Do I really need catfish if I am careful not to overfeed, etc.?

Sorry about the name! It is now edited again! I just copied what they had on the profile. I haven't read your log but I will. THANKS!

Last edited by tetrasrcool at 08-Jan-2006 17:54

Last edited by tetrasrcool at 08-Jan-2006 17:55

Hey,

I saw your correction in your first post.

This fish is not called "False Harlequin Rasbora". I had to make sure my fish can't read that entry as they for sure would have been insulted .

The correct Latin name is Trigonostigma hetermomorpha espei, but it is more commonly known as Harlequin Rasbora Espei.

Just to make a point, as there is nothing false on that fish

Ingo

EDIT: I know they name it here in the Profile a "False Harlequin", but I don't like it a bit

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 08-Jan-2006 17:52

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

tetrasrcool,

Glad we figured that one out

Now there is only one more picture I would like you to look at. The link to it is Here.

This is a Hengeli Rasbora, very similar to the Espei Rasbora. You can see that it has a bright orange stripe above the black as well, but the orange from the front part of the fish is missing (or just a small area).

In juveniles I find the difference hard to detect, at least up to an age of maybe 8 weeks. Given that you got yours in a store I would assume they are older though and it should be obvious if the whole fish is orange or not.

Ingo

EDIT: Did you ever read my log in the Planted Tank Forum(125G Log)? There is way more info on this fish.

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 08-Jan-2006 17:44

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

After seeing how pretty these guys are, maybe I won't get any cats at all and add a couple more of these!

Last edited by tetrasrcool at 08-Jan-2006 17:37

I have a 20 gal tall which is currently stocked with:

5 long fin blue danios
6 harlequin rasbora espei (species corrected by Little Fish-thanks Ingo)
1 female swordtail (male died )

I have just added the rasboras (tank just finished cycling last week ). In 2-3 weeks, after the rasboras have settled in, I would like to add catfish. Suggestions? I was thinking 6 pygmy cories but am looking for other possibilites, if I can't find the pygmy cories when I'm ready. Thanks!

Last edited by tetrasrcool at 08-Jan-2006 17:26

Last edited by tetrasrcool at 08-Jan-2006 17:53

Calilasseia,

That was my thought as well. If it looks like a Harlequin then it could not be the "real" Orange-Fin Rasbora.

And thanks for the compliment on the picture, you probably know that this is one of my own approx. 100 Espei (of which only 12 were bought and the rest are my own babies).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Brief tangential diversion - Ingo, that is one of the best photos of Trigonostigma hetermomorpha espei I've ever seen!

If that fish is indeed what Tetrasrcool has, then they're very nice if they're that intensely coloured!

If on the other hand he DOES have Rasbora vaterifloris, then he's to be congratulated, because that fish is incredibly rare in the hobby (though it deserves to be FAR better known because it's stunning!).

Look at this page and scroll down until you hit the picture labelled 'Fire Rasbora' (in the UK it was known for years as the Sri Lanka Fire Barb, despite not being a Barb!). A fish with the elongated finnage of a Diamond Tetra and the colours of a tropical sunset!

As you can see, a considerable difference between the two species ...


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Does it look like this?

LITTLE_FISH attached this image:

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

tetrasrcool,

Yeah, silk plants would not count as plants with regards to my thoughts when I raised the question. Real plants help a little with the biological filtration of the water and as such you could stock on the higher end of the scale more comfortably.

And don't give up on the Sword being pregnant. If she wasn't really a very young juvenile anymore when you got her then there is a good chance she is pregnant. Usually, younger females tend to have less fry and it might be quite a while until you would notice any changes in the body shape.

Ingo

EDIT: Is there any chance you can link us to a picture (may it be yours or any pic on the web) of the Rasboras?

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 08-Jan-2006 15:42

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

You can add a school of 6 Pygmy Corydoras, but keep up with the cleaning & water changes.



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http://www.deathbydyeing.org/

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Hi Ingo,

I am not sure of the scientific name for the rasboras but they look exactly like harleys with very bright orange on top of the black stripe. Pretty!!!

I have artificial silk plants in the tank for the rasboras to hide in! I have 5 of varying heights.

Yes, as soon as I add some very small cats, I am done stocking the tank! I am the fastidious type and will be right on time with the water changes and vacs!

Oh-one more thing--don't think the female sword is pregnant as it's been about 3 weeks since the male died and she isn't looking any fatter!! The swords were bought too soon (before the tank cycled) at the bad advice of the lfs. ]:| Didn't realize that they would produce so many fry until I found this site!

Last edited by tetrasrcool at 08-Jan-2006 15:12

tetrasrcool,

Just out of curiosity, the Orange-Fin Rasbora, is that Rasbora vaterifloris?

As an alternative for Cories I would suggest 6 Otos. They stay small as well and are nice to look at .

On the other hand, your tank is pretty well stocked as it is. Do you have any plants in there? If so, how many?
Your female Sword might very well still be pregnant and give you quite a few fry to care for.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club