By Hannah NielsenThe smallest blaze of red in the hobby
The chili rasbora is barely the length of a fingernail, but a shoal of them in a planted blackwater nano is unforgettable — twenty tiny fish glowing deep crimson against dark substrate and green plants. They come from the peat swamps of southwest Borneo, which tells you everything about their care: soft, acidic, tannin-stained water, gentle flow, and plenty of cover.
This is a connoisseur's nano fish rather than a beginner's first purchase — but it's not difficult once you give it the right home.
Care at a glance
Everything about the chili rasbora is small: its size, its mouth, its bioload. That means a mature, stable, well-planted tank matters more than a big one. Feed micro-foods — standard flake is too large. Keep the water soft and slightly acidic if you can; tannins from botanicals or driftwood deepen both the water and the fish's colour.
Chili rasboras are sensitive to the parameter swings of an immature aquarium. Add them only to a tank that's been cycled and running for at least a month, with stable readings and established plants.
Tank mates
Keep the company as gentle as the fish. Cherry shrimp, galaxy rasboras, ember tetras and pygmy corydoras are the classic chili-rasbora companions — all small, peaceful, and comfortable in the same soft, planted nano.
For the two easiest companions, see our cherry shrimp care guide and ember tetra care guide.
Buying chili rasboras in the UK
Tiny fish need careful shipping. Ours travel in oxygen-charged bags inside an insulated box, dispatched Tuesday or Wednesday for Wednesday–Thursday delivery, with our live arrival guarantee. On arrival, drip-acclimate slowly with the lights off and release into a planted, mature tank — never an uncycled one.
Browse more: rasboras & danios, nano tank fish, or the full tropical fish for sale UK range.
