Scissortail Tetra (Rasbora)

Found in the rivers and lakes of South East Asia by Steindachner in 1870, the Scissortail Tetra (Rasbora) was identified as Rasbora trilineata. Considered similar in behavior to the real Tetras, the Scissortail is a schooling fish that has a slender body with semi-transparent scales, showing a silver coated body cavity. There is a horizontal black stripe along the mid-body and black and white stripes near the tips of the forked tailfin. The Scissortail prefers to have an open space in which to school, but will require planted hiding places along the perimeter of the aquarium. Tetras are one of the standard fish of the aquarium. Schooling fish, they will do best when there are more than 3 fish in the school. Generally peaceful, they can match up with just about any other type of fish that is not large enough to eat them. While the Tetra might prefer softer, acidic water conditions, most can adapt to a wide range of water parameters. Most are now raised in Florida and SE Asia under conditions very different than their natural habitat in South America. As an omnivore, Tetras will eat most aquarium prepared foods, darting to the surface for floating food and picking sinking food out of the water as it descends. They will be more at home if there is a fair amount of cover to dart into if they feel threatened. While it is possible, most Tetras will not spawn in the home aquarium. If they do, several males will chase the female as she scatters the eggs among the plants. Relatively hardy, care should be taken when treating Tetras with parasitic medications.