Head And Tail Light Rasbora

About

Found across the Malay Peninsula and Indonesia, this small schooling cyprinid, Kottelatia brittani, holds the distinction of being the sole member of its own genus. A position it earned through phylogenetic work that reshuffled much of the old Rasbora family tree. It was formerly known as Rasbora brittani and occasionally turns up in the trade under the name 'head and tail light rasbora', though sightings at fish stores are genuinely uncommon. It can be confused with Rasbora kalbarensis, but K. brittani tends to run larger, carries a more pointed head, and shows vivid orange to red blotches on the caudal peduncle that are hard to miss once you know what you are looking at. This is a peaceful, softwater species that does best in a calm, well-planted community. Boisterous or large tankmates will stress it out, but it thrives alongside other gentle Southeast Asian fish. Quiet anabantoids and smaller rasboras make particularly good companions. Like most schooling fish, it genuinely needs numbers to feel secure and behave naturally; a group of eight to ten is a sensible minimum. Males in larger groups will compete for females and show their best coloration as a result. An intermediate-level fish, not difficult but not a beginner's first choice either.