Eyespot Rasbora Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Eyespot Rasbora is a delicate nano fish with a slender, silvery body and a distinctive dark marking near the base of the dorsal fin. This eyespot-like feature gives the species its common name, while a subtle golden to olive sheen can appear across the body under aquarium lighting. The fins are generally translucent, with gentle reddish or amber tones becoming more noticeable when the fish is settled and displaying.

Brevibora dorsiocellata is a peaceful, active shoaling fish that spends much of its time in the middle and upper levels of the aquarium. A group moves together in loose formation, tightening into a more coordinated shoal when startled before spreading out again to explore.

In the wild, these rasboras are associated with quiet, shaded waters beneath overhanging vegetation. Leaf litter, submerged roots and tannin-darkened water create a subdued habitat in which their reflective bodies and contrasting dorsal marking provide subtle camouflage.

The species was formerly widely known as Rasbora dorsiocellata and is now placed in the genus Brevibora. Its small adult size and calm temperament have made it a popular choice for planted nano and community aquariums, particularly where a natural Southeast Asian blackwater style is desired.

Eyespot Rasboras are native to Southeast Asia, with populations recorded across the Malay Peninsula and the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. They inhabit slow-moving forest streams, peat swamps and blackwater environments, where the water is often warm, soft and stained with tannins.

A group should have at least a 60-litre aquarium, with a footprint of roughly 60 × 30 cm or larger. Use a planted layout with open swimming space, fine-leaved plants, floating vegetation, shaded areas, driftwood and leaf litter to recreate their quiet forest-stream habitat. A dark, fine substrate helps show their colours, while gentle flow and efficient but non-turbulent filtration are appropriate. Soft, slightly acidic to neutral water is ideal, and a secure cover is useful because small rasboras may jump when startled.

Up to about 3.5 cm (1.4 in) in total length. Females are usually slightly larger and fuller-bodied than males, while males tend to remain slimmer.

Eyespot Rasboras are micropredatory omnivores. Offer a varied diet of high-quality crushed flakes, small granules and nano pellets, supplemented with frozen or live baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops and other tiny foods. Small portions fed regularly are preferable to oversized foods, and variety helps maintain colour, condition and breeding readiness.

Eyespot Rasboras are suited to peaceful community aquariums and can be kept with other small rasboras, ember tetras, small peaceful danios, celestial pearl danios, pygmy corydoras, kuhli loaches, otocinclus and freshwater shrimp, provided the shrimp colony has plenty of cover. Avoid large, boisterous or predatory fish, fin-nippers and aggressive species, as these tiny rasboras can be intimidated or eaten. They are most confident when kept in a properly sized shoal.

Eyespot Rasboras are egg-scattering fish that may spawn among fine-leaved plants or spawning mops in mature, softly acidic water. For purposeful breeding, condition a group with plenty of small live or frozen foods, then provide dense vegetation and gentle filtration. Adults should be removed after spawning because they may eat the eggs. The eggs usually hatch within a day or two, and the tiny fry need infusoria-sized foods before progressing to newly hatched brine shrimp and other appropriately small foods.

Females are generally a little larger with a deeper, rounder belly, especially when carrying eggs. Males are slimmer and often develop stronger golden or reddish colouration when mature and displaying.