• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

Anyone have Copper Harlequin Rasboras?

Zoe

Member
Joined
5 Aug 2015
Messages
86
Location
UK
How do you like them? Do they get on well with other fish?
 
Hi Zoe,
I have a small shoal of copper Harlequin and they are been getting on really well with my purple Harlequins and mosquito rasbora. very relaxed.
 
We picked up 5 today, they coloured up pretty much as soon as they were in the tank. I already want to go and get more, they're awesome!
 
Yes, get more!
there's a behavioral study that observed "8" as a "magic" number with these fish ie various behaviors were observed in larger groupings of fish, when less than 8 fish were present, the range of behaviors dropped off - depending on your tank dimensions, they do some interesting "streaming" behavior (I've ~14 "purple" harlequins in a 90cm tank, some have an "orange" head patch, others have "gold", at times the entire fish looks dark)
Males are more brightly colored, females have a deeper body, you want both males & females present to observe display behaviour in males, males will spar (without apparent physical damage), they are entertaining spawners
 
It's looking like we've got 3 males and 2 females at the moment, just need to figure out how I could store more overnight, the tank is at work, we snuck out at lunch to get them today but it was an hour round trip so don't really want to do it again!
 
Last edited:
The shop should be able to pack them up for overnight & advise on "storage" - fish shipping from production farms, transhippers, wholesalers etc often spend a day (or more) in process, so the overnight bagging should be fine BUT only have this done by a shop that is experienced in the process - I'd just let the 5 settle & increase the shoal when convenient ...

If fish seem stressed, then try adding additional fish sooner but rule out water & environmental factors first (fish can be very sensitive to vibration/activity around the tank, in this instance, a shoal of 12 or more will feel/act much more secure/confident) - as you describe the fish as "awesome", they sound pretty happy :)

What are the dimensions of the tank? how has it been "cycled"?
 
It's been running for about 2 years, I don't know how it was cycled it was done before I started. I hadn't realised I could ask the shop to do that!! They seem very happy already, the 2 female cherry barbs we already had are shoaling with them as well!
 
Back
Top