# Harlequin Rasbora (*Boraras maculatus*) Harlequin Rasboras are small fish with a striking pattern! They are friendly and love to swim in schools. - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers - **Also known as:** Boraras Rasbora, Spotted Rasbora ![Harlequin Rasbora](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424572/objects/4734.jpg) ## Appearance The Harlequin Rasbora has a distinctive copper-orange body highlighted by a prominent black, triangular patch (resembling a 'lamb chop' shape) on its rear flank. Its fins are typically clear or subtly tinted. This unique black marking clearly differentiates it from many other small cyprinid fish. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Cypriniformes - **Family:** Cyprinidae - **Genus:** Boraras ## Interesting facts - Harlequin Rasboras often lay their tiny eggs on the \*underside\* of broad plant leaves! - Millions of these beautiful fish are bred for home aquariums worldwide every single year! - The scientific name \*Trigonostigma\* literally means "triangle mark" because of their unique pattern! - Their famous black triangle changes shape and intensity when they are stressed or mating! ## Special abilities - **Safety in Numbers:** Harlequin Rasbora has special instincts that help them swim in large groups, confusing predators and increasing their chances of survival. - **Mood Colors:** Harlequin Rasbora can subtly change the intensity of its body colors to signal its mood or health to other fish in its school. - **Quick Escape Artist:** Harlequin Rasbora can dart away with sudden bursts of speed to quickly evade potential threats, thanks to its streamlined body. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 4-5 cm - **Weight:** 0.001-0.002 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-6 years - **Swim Speed:** 8 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 2 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding Harlequin Rasboras are tiny insectivores that love to munch on small bugs and larvae. - **Primary Foods:** insect larvae, small crustaceans, zooplankton - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Water Flea (*Daphnia pulex*) — Consumes these tiny crustaceans in the water column. - **Eaten by:** Snakehead Murrel (*Channa striata*) — Often targeted by larger predatory fish in its habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Common Kingfisher](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-kingfisher) (*Alcedo atthis*) — Small fish like rasboras are a food source for these diving birds. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Watch quietly from a distance and never try to feed or chase wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Harlequin Rasbora? Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Harlequin Rasbora? 4-5 cm ### How much does Harlequin Rasbora weigh? 0.001-0.002 kg ### How long does Harlequin Rasbora live? 5-6 years ### What does Harlequin Rasbora eat? Harlequin Rasboras are tiny insectivores that love to munch on small bugs and larvae. ### How fast can Harlequin Rasbora swim? 8 km/h ### Where is Harlequin Rasbora usually found? Freshwater rivers ### How does Harlequin Rasbora hunt? Foraging ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Harlequin Rasbora: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/harlequin-rasbora)