Lambchop Rasbora (Espei Rasbora)

Trigonostigma espei (Spesso confusa nei negozi con la simile Trigonostigma hengeli)

The *Trigonostigma espei*, delicately called "Espei Rasbora" or popularly in England "Lambchop Rasbora" (due to its mark), is the evolutionary jewel for compact aquariums that outclasses the Harlequin in pure chromatic saturation. Although visually similar to the more famous and stubby Harlequin, the Espei is significantly smaller (just 3 centimeters / 1.2 inches), boasts a leaner, narrower and more hydrodynamic silhouette, but above all explodes in a coloring of a fiery orange or incandescent bronze red that monopolizes the sight. The black mark on the body is thinner, curved and streamlined, precisely recalling the silhouette of a meat chop (lambchop). More compact, more shy but incomparably more flashy, the Espei is the luxury and preferred inhabitant for tanks dedicated to the pure, impeccable and meticulous oriental 'Aquascaping'.

Family: Cyprinidae
Origin: Sud-est asiatico (Cambogia sud-occidentale, Thailandia sud-orientale; endemica dei ruscelli costieri e di acque scure forestali fittamente ombreggiate e invase da Cryptocoryne)
Origin: Extra-Amazon South AmericaNorth AmericaSouth and Southeast Asia
Tank use: Used in 0 tanks

Species challenges

Temperature

23 °C - 28 °C

5.5 - 7

Water type

Freshwater

Tank level

Middle

Adult size

3 cm

Description

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Endemic to southwestern Thailand (Krabi, Surat Thani provinces) and some swamps in Cambodia. Exclusively inhabits flooded forests and very slow-flowing (or stagnant) peat pools protected by dense reeds. The water is saturated with tannins, taking on the typical color of dark tea (blackwater).

Taxonomy and Morphology: Minute Cyprinid (not a characin) commonly known as Espei Rasbora or "Lambchop Rasbora". Barely reaches 3 cm (1.2 inches). It is very often confused with its congener T. heteromorpha, but is easily distinguished by its much more slender body and the black spot which has the shape of a thinner "lamb chop," rather than a vast dark triangle.

Social Behavior: An animal of proverbial shyness but lovely nature. Forms tight and sinuous schools. To instill confidence and make them show their brightest hues, the school must never be less than 10-12 specimens; in smaller numbers they remain stressed and faded, hidden among the foliage.

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Wonderful coppery-bronze or bright orange coloration that becomes fiery in courting males. The posterior flank is marked by the typical inverted "L" (lambchop) black spot. Females are slightly less colorful but have a distinctly rounder abdomen.

Care and observations

Aquarium Setup: Dark and peaceful tank of minimum 60 cm (24 inches). Amber sandy bottom, dense fine-leaved vegetation, bog roots, and an abundant layer of dried leaves on the bottom (Catappa, Oak) and alder cones to simulate blackwater. Filtered light and almost absent water current are imperative.

Diet and Feeding: Micropredator. The tiny esophagus prevents ingestion of standard food sizes. Feed with crushed excellent quality micro-pellets or powders. The chromatic peak is achieved by offering tiny live and frozen food: newly hatched brine shrimp, copepods (Cyclops), and micro-daphnia.

Water Quality: Sensitive to dissolved salts and nitrates. Requires distinctly acidic and soft waters: pH between 5.5 and 7.0 (never alkaline) and GH from 1.0 to 12.0. Stable tropical temperature between 23.0 and 28.0 °C (73-82 °F). Small but regular water changes (RO water with specific blackwater salts) prevent immune drops.

Compatibility and Tankmates: The ideal tankmate for aquariums with Betta splendens, Honey Gouramis, micro-rasboras (Boraras), and Kuhli Loaches. Due to its small size, it should never be paired with large predatory fish like Angelfish or Cichlids that would swallow it without hesitation.

Aquarium Reproduction: Peculiar and fascinating. Unlike many cyprinids that scatter eggs, this species swims upside down and glues about ten eggs at a time (around 60 in total) to the underside of a broad leaf (e.g., Cryptocoryne or Java Fern). In a community tank, eggs and fry have no chance of surviving parental mouths.

Risks and Diseases: They collapse instantly (Velvet disease, fin rot) in the presence of ammonia or if placed in new, uncycled tanks. Bright light, light-colored backgrounds, or lack of hiding places cause fatal shock from chronic stress.

Fish profile

Temperament: Pacifica, Altamente Gregaria e Timida. Sono ancora più strette e unite in branco rispetto all'Arlecchino. Hanno una coesione sbalorditiva quando impaurite, formando formazioni sferiche al millimetro. Totalmente inette alla difesa, subiranno angherie letali se poste con barbi o danio troppo iperattivi o scattanti.
Diet: Onnivoro Micro-Predatore. Diete identiche all'Arlecchino ma la taglia dei bocconi deve essere micro. Granulati polverizzati fini o fiocchi microscopici. Fondamentale per mantenere il rosso ardente somministrare due volte a settimana crostacei microscopici (naupli di artemia salina o copepodi vivi/surgelati).
Tank level: Middle
Minimum group: 10
Adult size: 3 cm
Minimum tank: 50 L
GH: 1 dGH - 12 dGH
KH: n/a
TDS: n/a
Conductivity: n/a
Sex ratio: Branco Assoluto Obbligato (Almeno 10+ esemplari, sconsigliati numeri inferiori per non stressare psicologicamente le gracili femmine rotonde, sfiancandole col continuo rincorrersi e mostrare i fianchi arancio neon dei minuscoli maschi dominanti focosi magrissimi e brillanti in perenne stupenda minuscola lotta competitiva incruenta di parate colorate e pinne tese fremitanti).
Feeding frequency: 1-2 dosi leggere e frammentate. Il micro-stomaco non sopporta super dosi gonfianti veloci che alterano il nuoto per blocco gas, dosate minuscoli pizzichi ad altezza mezza colonna d'acqua staccando le pompe potenti veloci inquinanti per agevolare il pasto calmo placido beato sereno lento esatto preciso e meticoloso millimetrico misurato oculato attento inesorabile cauto ed innocuo pacato inerme pio angelico puro rassicurante.
Bioload: Insignificante / Nullo (Ultra-Basso). Ottime per vasche molto piantumate con scarsa filtrazione chimica aggressiva o nano tank.
Flow: Corrente Molto Lenta o Placida (Ruscelli lenti di palude scura forestale cambogiana).
Reproduction: Disseminatori Inversi Sotto Foglia Piatta come l'Arlecchino. Praticamente identica modalità (si rigirano), ma rarissimamente allevabili a causa della microscopica piccolezza degli avannotti neonati filamentosi invisibili di Espei, che richiedono infiniti ed introvabili infusi e parameci liquidi scuri coltivati artificialmente in siringa o soccomberanno asfissiati di stenti lenti denutriti per inettitudine alimentare cronica debole impotente apatica inattiva fallace inutile tragica del novellino improvvisato o inesperto sbadato ed insipido inesperto arrogante acquariofilo.
Compatibility: Nanofish Community Perfetta e Delicatissima. A causa dell'incredibile taglia esigua (3 cm), vanno tenute con le pinze: ideali con micro-rasbore (Boraras), gamberetti Caridina o Neocaridina pacifici ciechi e spazzini laboriosi silenti e lenti infaticabili o Otocinclus. TASSATIVAMENTE evitati e banditi Scarlatti grossi Scalari (li inghiottiranno come patatine snak), Betta Splendens grossi irritabili (che verranno o spaventati dai movimenti a scatti rossi o morderanno le Espei per territorialità pura instabile pazza furibonda acrimoniosa fastidiosa intollerante egoistica prepotente iraconda), Ciclidi di ogni genere anche di media stazza o i fastidiosi frenetici nervosi Barbi Tetrazona grossi tozzi a strisce sfrontati bulli dispettosi mordi pinne e ladri implacabili del pasto piccolo di quest'angeli rossi timidi indifesi docili miti gentili garbati eleganti ed eterei fluttuanti sereni beati sognanti sottomessi placidi angelici fragili delicati gracili magri sottili e perfetti pesci rossastri del miracolo asiatico miniatura ineguagliabile inarrivabile esclusivo eccelso.

Image gallery

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