Boraras merahNote: Due to variations within species, your item may not look identical to the image provided This tiny cyprinid comes from blackwater rainforest streams in Borneo. Adult males are more strongly coloured than the females, but both sport attractive red and black markings on their otherwise transparent bodies. While Boraras merah isn't particularly demanding in terms of behaviour or diet, its body size and water chemistry requirements do place certain restrictions on its suitability for all aquaria. To start with, water chemistry needs to be soft and acidic, 1-10 degrees dH, pH 6-7 being about right for a general community tank situation, and even more acidic conditions (pH 5-6) being necessary for successful breeding. At most Boraras merah gets to about 1.5 cm in length and should be kept only alongside other very small, harmless community species such as Ember Tetras and Corydoras hastatus. Because it is so small and timid it will only feel secure if kept in a large group, certainly at least a dozen specimens. Otherwise this species is not difficult to keep and will readily consume finely powdered flake food as well as very small live foods like brine shrimp nauplii and daphnia. Overall an excellent species for small planted tanks
