🌿 Exquisite Micro Scale for Aquascaping & Shrimp-Safe Harmony
Axelrod's Rasboras are highly prized in premium aquascaping, specialized nature aquariums, and high-tech desktop nano systems. Due to their truly miniature adult size, they provide a magnificent sense of scale to your layout, making your aquatic landscapes look vast and deep without adding a heavy biological load.
They are peaceful micro-fish that can co-exist beautifully with adult dwarf shrimp colonies. Their tiny mouths and non-aggressive behavior make them completely harmless to mature invertebrates. They look absolute best when schooling tightly against a rich background of dense green mosses, dark driftwood, and floating plants that soften the light.
🐟 Fish Specifications & Water Parameters
Parameter | Specification | Technical Notes |
Scientific Name | Sundadanio axelrodi (Formerly Rasbora axelrodi) | Pure wild-type line selected for maximum neon-blue metallic opacity |
Common Names | Axelrod's Rasbora, Neon Blue Rasbora, Sundadanio Blue | High-end niche search terms with top-tier online buyer intent |
Maximum Size | 0.6 – 0.8 inches (1.5 – 2.0 cm) | True miniature micro-fish, perfect for specialized nano ecosystems |
Diet | Omnivore / Micro-Predator | Prefers high-quality crushed flakes, micropellets, baby brine shrimp, and daphnia |
Behavior | Peaceful Schooling Fish | Must be kept in a group of 6 or more (10+ highly recommended) to ensure confidence and top color |
🛠️ Lighting, Water Parameters & Care Guide
Schooling Dynamics & Shimmering Color: Must be kept in numbers. The Axelrod's Rasbora relies heavily on a large school to feel secure. In groups, their stress levels drop completely, and the natural interaction between males prompts them to display their most intense, mirror-like metallic neon coloration.
Lighting & Blackwater Preferences: They look most spectacular under quality LED fixtures when the tank features diffused lighting via floating plants. They heavily favor well-planted setups, leaf litter, and dark substrates, which replicate their natural blackwater peat swamp habitats and make their neon bodies pop dramatically.
Water Chemistry Parameters: Being a specialized species, they prefer soft, stable, and acidic to neutral water with a pH range of 5.5 – 6.8, a gH of 1–5, and a stable temperature range of 22°C – 26°C (71°F – 79°F). Consistent water parameters and clean conditions are essential for their long-term health.
Ideal Tankmates: Perfect for cohabiting with other ultra-peaceful nano species such as smaller micro-rasboras, pygmy corydoras, otocinclus, freshwater snails, and various species of dwarf shrimp. Avoid any large, fast, or predatory fish.