Three-spotted Dwarf Minnow

About

The three-spotted dwarf minnow (Boraras micros) is among the smallest fish you'll encounter in the freshwater hobby, topping out at barely half an inch as a fully grown adult. It hails from the Mekong basin in Southeast Asia, where it occupies swamps and ponds with clear, relatively still water. Compared to its more vividly colored relatives like B. brigittae or B. maculatus, this species is subdued in patterning, which probably explains why it rarely appears in the trade and why mislabeled fish are common. If you see anything sold as a 'red' B. micros or 'strawberry rasbora,' it almost certainly isn't this species. Despite its modest appearance, it has a quiet charm that rewards patient keepers. It's entirely peaceful but too small and timid to hold its own in a typical community tank, so it really belongs with similarly scaled companions. Pygmy corydoras, Otocinclus, small Trigonostigma, freshwater shrimp, or shy anabantoids like Parosphromenus. Keep a group of at least eight to ten individuals, and you'll see the fish settle in and behave naturally, with males even displaying to one another in low-key courtship competition. This is an intermediate-level species mostly because of its size and the care needed in selecting suitable tankmates and food.