Aquarium enthusiasts have come to love Rasbora espei, also called the Lambchop Rasbora, a small, peaceful fish. This species lends a touch of elegance to any freshwater tank with its vivid colors and lively behavior. For both novice and expert aquarists, Rasbora espei is a great option because, in spite of its delicate appearance, it is relatively easy to care for.
These fish are indigenous to Southeast Asia, where their slow-moving rivers and streams are ideal for their growth. They thrive best in a well-planted tank with lots of swimming room in a home aquarium. It will bring out their natural schooling behavior and give them a sense of security to keep them in groups of six or more. They get along well with a wide range of other non-aggressive species and are generally peaceful.
The rewarding experience of breeding Rasbora espei calls for some meticulous attention to detail. They do not tend to the plants they lay their eggs on; rather, they scatter their eggs among them. Creating the ideal environment, with lots of fine-leaved plants and slightly acidic water, will boost the likelihood of successful reproduction. You can enjoy seeing these stunning fish go through their whole life cycle in your aquarium with a little perseverance and maintenance.
| Topic | Details |
| Scientific Name | Rasbora espei |
| Common Name | Lambchop Rasbora |
| Tank Size | 20 gallons or more |
| Water Temperature | 24-28°C (75-82°F) |
| pH Level | 6.0-7.5 |
| Diet | Omnivorous, prefers small live or frozen food |
| Breeding | Egg scatterer; provide plants for spawning |
| Compatibility | Peaceful, ideal for community tanks |
General information
Trigonostigma espei, also known as Lambchop Rasbora in English, is the Latin name for Rasbora espei, a species of carp that is indigenous to the reservoirs in southwest Thailand and Cambodia.
The fish live in a variety of biotopes in the wild, such as streams and tributaries in forests that are thickly covered in aquatic and submerged vegetation. These areas have brown water with a lot of tannin content, and the bottom is covered in fallen leaves and branches.
These fish can even survive in karst lakes in southern Thailand, which have high limestone content and very clean, alkaline water that appears bright blue or turquoise from a distance because of reflections from the sky.
This fish prefers to congregate in big schools and grows to a modest size of 2.5–3 cm. Its body is flattened from the sides, and the background is an olive-brown color. The rasbora has a glossy bronze coating on its sides and a black stripe that resembles the tip of a hockey stick that runs from the middle of the body to the tail. Large eyes on the head enable the fish to move around in space with ease.
The fish’s name can be translated as "lamb chop" from English. This name was most likely given because of a particular location that resembled a meat product.
The color intensity of fish varies depending on their location. For instance, compared to fish from the eastern province of Chanthaburi, fish from the reservoirs of southern Thailand’s Krabi province have more red in their outfit.
Fish in aquariums explore the open areas of the tank by swimming gracefully and huddled together in a large school. Primarily, they remain in the water column.
Prospective owners frequently underestimate rasboras because of their poor coloration in store aquariums, which is often caused by stress.
Beginner aquarists can consider these fish because they require very little maintenance. It is preferable to provide the animals with environments that are most like the natural ones in order to enhance their gorgeous coloring, and this is quite simple to do:
- These fish can be placed in very small aquariums. A 25-30 liter tank is quite suitable for a school of 10 tails. But if you plan to plant neighbors, then the dimensions of the vessel should be larger.
- Rasboras are not picky about decor, but they look best in containers with natural decorations – driftwood, leaves, plants and brown water.
- You can also put any substrate, but it is better to opt for a dark one, because it is on it that the fish show off all the brightness of their colors.
- In nature, rasboras live in semi-darkness, so too bright lighting can be a source of stress for them. It is best to use subdued light for these fish, and organize a large number of shaded areas in the aquarium itself.
- The fish are also indifferent to plants: they do not pluck shoots, do not dig up roots, but only swim among the labyrinths of thickets. It is better to put floating shade-tolerant plants in an aquarium with rasboras, which will create many shaded areas.
Suggested water parameters:
- temperature: 23-28 °C;
- acidity: 5.5-7.5 pH;
- hardness: up to 10 °dH;
- weekly changes of 25% of aquarium water.
Feeding
These micropredators hunt a variety of aquatic invertebrates in the wild. They are incredibly omnivorous and will gladly consume any kind of live, frozen, or dry food in home aquariums.
You can give defrosted brine shrimp, tiny bloodworms, and tubifex to your pets. It is important to keep an eye on the amount of food being consumed, as small fish may not be able to handle large pieces.
Use foods high in carotenoids to encourage rasboras to display more reddish hues in their color.
Lambchop Rasbora, or Rasbora espei, is a hardy and peaceful fish that brings lively color and movement to community aquariums. They require regular feedings of small, premium foods and a well-planted tank with stable water conditions in order to be properly cared for. It’s not too difficult to breed these fish because they spawn readily in soft, acidic water with lots of cover for their eggs. Rasbora espei can multiply and flourish with a little care, bringing vitality and life to your aquarium.
Breeding
The fish reach sexual maturity at 5–6 months, but the best time to breed is when they are a year old or older.
Rasboras do not exhibit obvious sexual dimorphism, but it is still easy to identify the sex of the fish because females grow larger, are paler, and develop a rounded abdomen when they are almost ready to spawn.
The fish will be able to spawn on their own in a well-maintained aquarium, but the majority of the offspring will not live. It is best to take charge of this process if you want to maximize the quantity of fry that you obtain.
The producers need to be fed a lot of high-protein food and kept apart based on gender.
Set up a spawning tank prior to spawning. This is typically done with a 20-liter container, half of which is filled with settled tap water and the other half of which is drawn from the general aquarium. Installing an aerator and a small regular or airlift filter in the spawning tank is recommended. Low plants act as spawning substrate. To prevent the parents from eating their own eggs, you can also cover them with a separator mesh. The spawning tank should remain in this configuration for roughly a day.
Making an oak infusion is advised to encourage spawning. To accomplish this, purchase oak bark from the pharmacy and boil a piece in one liter of water for half an hour. The decoction is then cooled after being run through an extremely fine sieve. You should add it an hour prior to the producers spawning. It is not necessary to pour out all of the broth; when the water takes on a light tea hue, it has been added enough.
In the evening, the fish are released to spawn.Just a few hours following their relocation, the lights are out, and the aquarium is completely shaded. The fish start to spawn as soon as the light turns on in the morning.
After the fish have hatched, which takes roughly 2.5 hours, the water level should be lowered to 10 cm, the aquarium should be covered to keep light from entering.
The larvae start to hatch after 32 hours, and they will be able to swim after an additional 4 days. You can now take out the different darkeners and begin giving the fry "live dust." The fry receive an increasing amount of feed as they develop, starting with grated egg yolk and moving on to Artemia nauplii.
Small rasboras require feeding about six times a day. Furthermore, it is imperative to replace 15–25% of the aquarium’s water every day.
The Lambchop Rasbora, or Rasbora espei, is an excellent option for aquarists of all skill levels. It’s a lovely complement to any community aquarium because of its vivid colors and serene disposition. This species will flourish with the right care, giving their keepers countless hours of enjoyment.
Rasbora espei must have a suitable environment maintained for their welfare. They like a well-planted tank where they can explore and feel safe, and soft, slightly acidic water. They’ll stay healthy and active if they have a balanced diet and regular water changes.
It can be satisfying to breed Rasbora espei. Spelling will be encouraged if the proper conditions are created, such as slightly warmer water and a dimly lit tank. Having a separate breeding tank can safeguard the eggs and improve the likelihood that the fry will be raised to maturity. These adorable fish will successfully breed with patience and careful attention.
All things considered, Rasbora espei is a charming species that infuses any aquarium with vitality and color. You can take advantage of their beauty and lively behavior for many years to come if you comprehend their needs and provide a nurturing environment.
