Broad striped rasbora

About

Found throughout Sri Lanka and the southern Indian states of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, Rasbora cf dandia carries a 'cf' label because its precise taxonomic status remains unresolved. It closely resembles R. dandia but awaits formal scientific confirmation. It is frequently misidentified in the trade as R. wilpita, a genuinely rare Sri Lankan endemic, so knowing what you actually have matters. Appearance-wise, it is a classic slender rasbora with a bold, continuous lateral stripe that runs more than one scale in depth along the body, which helps separate it from similar species in the region. In the aquarium this fish is about as undemanding as a large rasbora gets, tolerating a wide range of soft to moderately hard, slightly acidic to neutral water. It is peaceful with virtually anything it cannot swallow, making it a natural fit in a roomy community alongside other cyprinids, loaches, catfish, or anabantoids. Because it is a schooling fish at heart, keep it in groups of at least six. Smaller groups tend to produce nervous, washed-out fish, while a proper school brings out confident behavior and some lively sparring between males competing for female attention. Breeding follows the typical egg-scattering pattern of cyprinids, and motivated keepers have successfully raised fry on infusoria followed quickly by nauplii and microworm.