Scissortail Rasbora

Rasbora trilineata

Also known as: Scissortail, Three-lined rasbora

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 22–26°C
• pH: 6–7.5
• Hardness (GH): 36–214 ppm (2–12 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

Named for its deeply forked tail, which opens and closes like a pair of scissors as the fish swims, tipped boldly in black and white, the scissortail is one of the larger and more active schooling rasboras. It wants horizontal swimming space and the company of its own kind, repaying a long, well-covered tank with a relaxed, constantly-moving shoal that cruises the upper water. Hardy, peaceful, and long-lived, it is an easy fish let down only by being sold to nano keepers who do not realise it reaches 10cm and needs room. Given that room, it is an undemanding and graceful centrepiece schooler for a medium-to-large community.

Tankmates

A larger, more active rasbora that needs real swimming room and a group of at least six. It is entirely peaceful, but its size (to around 10cm) and constant motion mean it can outcompete or unsettle the smallest nano fish and will eat dwarf shrimp, so it suits a community of similarly-sized, active, peaceful species rather than a nano tank. Good companions include other rasboras, danios, corydoras, and peaceful tetras. A jumper, like many active surface-oriented fish, so keep the tank covered.

Compatible with

• Harlequin Rasbora
• Zebra Danio
• Pearl Danio
• Bronze Corydoras
• Bristlenose Pleco
• Pristella Tetra
• Congo Tetra

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Ember Tetra
• Chili Rasbora
• Cherry Shrimp
• Fin Nippers

Common Problems

• being sold to undersized nano tanks
• jumping from open tanks
• loose schooling in groups smaller than 6
• ich

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20