Micros rasbora

Geographic Origin and Habitat: Boraras micros is documented from Thailand in the Mekong basin. FishBase describes a freshwater, benthopelagic fish that inhabits swamps and ponds with clear, relatively deep water; its summary does not establish every local occurrence or a fixed water recipe. These observations describe the wild context, so they should not be converted automatically into domestic aquarium limits.

Taxonomy and Morphology: The exact name is Boraras micros Kottelat & Vidthayanon, 1993, accepted by GBIF and introduced in the original description. FishBase lists 8–9 dorsal soft rays, 8 anal soft rays, 28–29 vertebrae and three dark flank or caudal marks. GBIF and the original title place the species in Cyprinidae, whereas FishBase lists Danionidae; the sources therefore disagree at family level.

Social Behaviour: The available exact-taxon sources do not quantify schooling, territoriality, sex ratio, vertical use, jumping, compatibility or social displays. “Benthopelagic” is an environmental descriptor, not proof of a top-middle aquarium zone. The evidence does not establish a mandatory group size or predict social responses to smaller groups; nor does it verify harmless male sparring or safe companions.

Colouration and Sexual Dimorphism: The diagnostic FishBase summary documents three dark spots about pupil size: one on the flank before the pelvic-fin origin, one near posterior anal-fin rays and one at the middle of the caudal base. It does not substantiate the translucent-yellow body, red fin edges, dominance colour change or a reliable external sex difference. Use documented spot placement only as a concise identification aid; do not sex an individual from colour.

Aquarium Setup: None of the reviewed exact-taxon sources validates a minimum aquarium volume, group size, temperature, pH, GH, KH, TDS or conductivity range. The available evidence therefore does not support presenting numerical requirements as species-specific guidance. Wild observations from clear, relatively deep swamps and ponds do not supply a domestic tank design. Any institutional holding plan needs site-specific assessment and lawful welfare oversight.

Diet and Feeding: FishBase gives a trophic-level estimate of 2.9 ±0.4 based on the size and trophic positions of close relatives, not a direct diet-composition study of B. micros. The available sources do not confirm micro-predation, a named prey list, live food, commercial-feed acceptance or a feeding schedule. The available evidence supports neither an omnivorous diet nor twice-daily feeding; base feeding decisions only on confirmed food intake and qualified husbandry assessment.

Water Quality: The cited habitat evidence is limited to freshwater swamps and ponds with clear, relatively deep water. It does not provide measured chemistry, temperature, flow, filtration or water-change targets for captive systems. The evidence supports neither stagnant flow nor numerical water ranges; do not extrapolate them from habitats or related species. Monitor any holding system under a documented local protocol; general guidance should not be treated as a universal recipe.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: None of the reviewed exact-taxon sources tests cohabitation, predation risk, community composition or a safe shrimp or snail list. Small published standard length alone cannot prove compatibility or identify a harmless tankmate. Evidence supports no temperament, group-size or water-column classification for this species. Assess any association individually with welfare, containment and separation capacity.

Aquarium Breeding: The original description and the FishBase summary cited here do not provide a verified captive breeding protocol, egg number, parental behaviour, sexing method, fry diet or suitable breeding water. The evidence does not establish oviparity; do not infer it from related cypriniforms. Do not repeat unsupported claims about daily egg scattering, removing adults, mosses or infusoria as taxon-specific facts. A breeding programme requires direct evidence and specialist review.

Risks and Disease: None of the reviewed exact-taxon sources documents a disease profile, parasite diagnosis, quantified jump rate, captive lifespan or a treatment regimen. The available evidence establishes neither jump risk nor captive lifespan, and it does not justify routine medication. Prevention, control or treatment must follow an identified cause, qualified aquatic-health advice and applicable law. Any conclusion requires direct supporting evidence.