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Scissortail Rasbora

Rasbora trilineata

One of the largest (up to 13 cm) and liveliest rasboras: a streamlined silver body with a black line from eye to tail. The 'scissortail' name comes from the distinctive movement of the caudal lobes — they open and close alternately like scissors while swimming. In large schools the effect is hypnotic. A skilled jumper — lid mandatory. Hardy and long-lived.

Taxonomy

Class:Actinopteri

Order:Cypriniformes

Family:Cyprinidae

Subfamily:Rasborinae

Genus:Rasbora

Species:Rasbora trilineata

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Water Temperature

22 - 28 °C

pH Value

6 - 7.5

Water type

Freshwater

Tank level

Middle

Adult size

13 cm

Minimum tank volume

>= 100 L

Minimum group

>= 6

2 - 15 dGH

1 - 7 dKH

TDS

40 - 295 ppm

Conductivity

63 - 461 uS/cm

Species description

Geographical Origin and Habitat: Widely distributed across a massive geographical range in Southeast Asia, natively colonizing the Mekong, Chao Phraya, and massive river basins across Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Rasbora trilineata (the Scissortail Rasbora) is an incredibly adaptable, open-water schooling fish. It naturally inhabits both fast-flowing, clear mountain streams and sluggish, heavily tannin-stained blackwater swamps. During the monsoon season, they migrate en masse into flooded forests. These diverse environments are unified by vast, open swimming spaces and heavy overhanging vegetation.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Scientifically classified within the Cyprinidae family (carps and minnows), it belongs to the massive and highly diverse Rasbora genus. Morphologically, it possesses a highly streamlined, remarkably sleek, torpedo-shaped body, perfectly engineered for continuous, rapid swimming in open water currents. Unlike tiny dwarf rasboras, the Scissortail is a surprisingly large schooling fish, easily reaching 13-15 centimeters (5-6 inches) in length. Its defining physical feature is its deeply forked tail, which it constantly twitches in a precise, scissor-like opening and closing motion while resting.

Social Behavior: They are exceptionally peaceful, highly active, and strictly obligate schooling fish. They possess absolutely zero aggressive or territorial instincts. They are incredibly nervous fish that absolutely rely on the psychological security of a massive, synchronized colony (minimum 8-10 individuals, but 15+ is ideal). Unlike bottom-dwelling loaches, Scissortails exclusively occupy the upper and middle water column. They spend 100% of their waking hours engaged in relentless, back-and-forth marathon swimming across the length of the tank, instantly darting away from any perceived threat.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Sexual dimorphism is virtually non-existent; mature females simply appear noticeably plumper and deeper-bodied when gravid with eggs, while males remain highly streamlined. The coloration is subtle, elegant, and highly functional for open-water camouflage. The base body is a brilliant, highly reflective, translucent silver that shimmers intensely under lighting. The defining feature that gives them their name is their spectacular tail fin: deeply forked, featuring stark, high-contrast black and white horizontal bands on each lobe, highlighting the continuous "scissoring" motion.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Aquarium Setup: The aquarium architecture must cater exclusively to their staggering adult size (15cm) and relentless, high-speed swimming habits. A massive, elongated tank (minimum 120cm / 4 feet long, 250+ liters) is strictly required to provide adequate "runway" space. Small tanks will cause them to repeatedly smash into the glass, leading to fatal snout injuries. The layout MUST feature immense, unobstructed open water in the upper half of the tank. Dense background vegetation and a heavy, completely sealed, tight-fitting lid are mandatory, as they are phenomenal jumpers.

Diet and Feeding: In their native Southeast Asian rivers, they are continuous, highly opportunistic mid-water insectivores. They constantly patrol the upper water column, snatching tiny aquatic insects, mosquito larvae, and microscopic zooplankton. In captivity, they are ravenous, incredibly fast eaters that will instantly swarm the surface. Their staple diet should be high-quality, floating or slowly sinking micro-pellets. To maintain their energetic swimming and breeding vigor, this MUST be heavily supplemented with frozen or live daphnia, bloodworms, and specifically, wingless fruit flies on the surface.

Water Quality: Originating from diverse Southeast Asian basins, they are remarkably hardy and highly adaptable to varying water conditions. They thrive in warm tropical temperatures (23-28°C / 73-82°F) and prefer slightly soft, slightly acidic water (pH 6.0 - 7.5), but commercially bred specimens easily tolerate moderate hardness. Because they are highly active marathon swimmers, they require heavily oxygenated water. Powerful canister filtration generating a strong, unidirectional water current across the length of the tank is highly recommended to simulate their natural riverine habitats.

Compatibility and Cohabitation: They are the absolute perfect, dynamic centerpiece schooling fish for a massive, peaceful Southeast Asian community tank. Because they are entirely peaceful but intensely hyperactive, they MUST NEVER be housed with slow, timid fish (like Discus or small Gouramis) which will be deeply stressed by the Rasboras' frantic, non-stop swimming. Excellent tankmates are other large, robust, fast-swimming schooling fish (like Congo Tetras, large Barbs, or Rainbowfish) and peaceful bottom-dwellers (like large schools of Clown Loaches or Corydoras).

Aquarium Breeding: Breeding is relatively easy but demands a massive, dedicated setup. They are prolific egg-scatterers. To trigger spawning, the aquarist must condition a heavily planted breeding tank with slightly cooler, soft water. Following a frantic, high-speed chase through the upper water column, the female scatters hundreds of tiny, adhesive eggs among dense, fine-leaved background plants (like Cabomba) or spawning mops. The adults exhibit absolutely zero parental care and will voraciously eat all the eggs instantly if not immediately removed.

Risks and Diseases: The absolute greatest physical risk is fatal physical trauma (smashing their skulls against the glass) caused by keeping these massive, fast-swimming fish in tanks that are too short (under 120cm) or lacking a tight-fitting lid (they will jump out). The second major risk is lethal stress and immune collapse from being kept in schools smaller than 8. Medically, they are incredibly robust and disease-resistant, but like all silver-scaled fish, they are highly sensitive to sudden, massive temperature drops which induce Ich.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Widely distributed across a massive geographical range in Southeast Asia, natively colonizing the Mekong, Chao Phraya, and massive river basins across Thailand, Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo. Rasbora trilineata (the Scissortail Rasbora) is an incredibly adaptable, open-water schooling fish. It naturally inhabits both fast-flowing, clear mountain streams and sluggish, heavily tannin-stained blackwater swamps. During the monsoon season, they migrate en masse into flooded forests. These diverse environments are unified by vast, open swimming spaces and heavy overhanging vegetation.

Origin

South and Southeast Asia

Fish profile

Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Sex ratio: Group
Feeding frequency: Twice daily
Bioload: Low to Medium
Flow: Moderate
Jump risk: Yes
Reproduction: Oviparous
Compatibility & tankmates: Community
Tank level: Middle

FishBase

Window to the official scientific data of the species

Data synced on: 06/15/2026

Scientific Parameters & Models

Trophic level: 3.3 ± 0.39 se
Resilience: High (less than 15 months)
Phylogenetic uniqueness (PD50): 0.5
Bayesian Length-Weight: a = 0.00708, b = 3.08

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

Related species

Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.

Variants and close relatives

Same atlas type, nearby scientific identity, genus, or family.

Blackline Rasbora

Rasbora borapetensis

Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Origin

Fish profile

Scientific Parameters & Models

Image gallery

Related species

Variants and close relatives

Blackline Rasbora

Two-spot Rasbora

Brilliant Rasbora

Porthole Rasbora

Reticulated Flying Fox

Cherry Barb

Tiger Barb

Highfin Barb

Checker Barb

Tinfoil Barb

Glowlight Danio

Bala Shark / Silver Shark

Clown Barb

Melon Barb

Rainbow Shark

Sixbelt Barb

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Bucephalandra motleyana "Kapit"

Bucephalandra motleyana "Pancuraji"

Bucephalandra sp. "Bukit Kelam / Sintang"

Bucephalandra sp. "Melawi"

Arrowhead Anubias

Bacopa sp. "Japan"

Bucephalandra pygmaea "Bukit Kelam / Sintang"

Bucephalandra pygmaea "Kapit"

Bucephalandra sordidula

Bucephalandra sp. "Bodok"

Bucephalandra sp. "Braun-rot narrow"

Similar care

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Harlequin Rasbora

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