Rummynose Rasbora Care Guide

[Blub]

Rummynose Rasbora
(Sawbwa resplendens)

Common names: Rummynose rasbora, Asian rummynose, Sawbwa barb, Naked micro rasbora.

Size: 4cm

pH: 7.0 – 8.0

Tempº: 21ºC - 25ºC

Tank region: All layers

Origin: Endemic to Lake Inle, in Burma.

Gender: Males have a blue and red body, females are all silver. Females aren’t always imported, as they are not as colorful as males.

Notes: A beautiful, if slightly unusual cyprinid the Rummynose rasbora is not related to the Rummynose tetras as they are cyprinids – coming from asia rather than South America/Africa. These fish have unusual requirements for Rasboras – as they don’t enjoy temperatures at the warmer end of the Tropical temperature scale and don’t do well in acidic conditions. This is because they are endemic to Lake Inle (which is located in Burma) which lies of calciferous rock, making it more alkaline than most Rasbora habitats.

These fish can be somewhat difficult to find in shops, and when they are found they are often fairly expensive. Rummynose Rasboras will take almost any foods offered, and are omnivorous. As with all similar fish, they need a school of at least 5-6 individuals to thrive, and enjoy lots of plant cover. It is not recommended that they are kept with much larger tankmates, as they can be outcompeted and intimidated by them. They are very peaceful, and best kept with other tiny species who have similar requirements.

 

[bgarthe]

I’m just going to add my parameter data/experience for/with my 18 male Sawbwa resplendens….Rummynose Rasboras in addition to the general information previously posted.

TANK: 33g, 78 degrees F, pH of 7.8, GH and KH of 3-5, 1 corner air stone, 1 HOB (AC 70) Filter, black blasting sand substrate, WCs of 40% every 14-21 days
FOODS: crushed Omega and Colbalt Flakes, Hikari Micro Pellets, Hikari Fancy Guppy….using a Feeding Ring
LIGHTING: AquaSky 3.0 48” at a lower level setting
TANKMATES: I briefly had Het Rasboras and they were fine, but have since chosen to remove the Hets and add a few more Rummmynose making it a species only tank. I do almost always have Corycats for bottom work in all my tanks and this one is no exception, having 5 Peppered Corycats. They get along great together.

These fish constantly swim all over the tank (top to bottom), explore every nook, sometimes shoal up, spend most of their time at mid to top areas, and the males will sporadically spar harmlessly. I have to say watching this tank is indeed pleasurable and they seem to like the horizontally oriented tank (33g long).

NOTE of Caution: I was warned to be very careful with Acclimation with this species.
1. Floated bags 20 or so minutes until bag temp and tank temp were within 1 degree. Used a trigger temp meter to take readings.
2. Opened bag and clipped open at top of tank lid, then put one drop of Seachem StressGuard in bag. I could have also used Prime. The purpose was to neutralize any possible ammonia build up. StressGuard also has additives that help the fish skin against injury, bacteria, and fungus.
3. Using a turkey baster, I removed about half the bag water. Then using a different turkey baster, I put about 4 oz into bag gently from the QT. Waited about 5 min., then added another 4 oz or so into bag from QT. Did this until the bag was full like when I floated it.
4. Repeated #3. so that by the time I did this twice, the fish were basically already in the QT water in an hours time. All bag water was discarded.
5. Carefully used a shrimp net and netted out the fish and gently placed the net into the QT water letting the fish swim out as they so wished. I did not drop them into the QT water or pour the bag water into a bucket with a net ontop then putting the fish in the QT. My goal was to do this gradually and serenely so as to minimize being introduced to my new environment. *****pH shock is real, but imho, GH shock is just as important to successful movement of fish and should be specifically addressed each time, especially with sensitive species like these. I would advise ….against…. doing the “Plop and Drop” Method.


All my fish were QTed for 21 days and did receive a 7 day dosing of Seachem’s Paraguard which is used as a mild preventative treatment.

The Internet has a wide range of water parameter recommendations. These fish do seem tolerant of a wide range of parameters, but clean stable water appears to help keep mine healthy.