Found out my LFS just got in some Sawbwa resplendens, first time in ages. Sent them an email asking if they had any females, they said maybe but couldn't confirm since they're all juveniles. Got a mate to check in person, he said the ones he saw had orange markings starting to show (usually means they're male), then the staff said they only get them in as males.
If they're all males, am I taking a risk getting more? I know the usual rule is 4 females to 2 males for these rasboras. I've already got 3 (1 female, 2 male). Any advice would be great, thanks.
Help with my rasbora dilemma
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bettaMagenta - Posts: 439
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2022 2:01 am
Re: Help with my rasbora dilemma
You know, I've never been a huge fan of Latin names, but I can appreciate why they're necessary. I decided to look up "Sawbwa resplendens" and what I found was a bit confusing - it seems they're also known as Rummy Nose Tetras, just like Hemigrammus rhodostomus, which I'd been researching myself. The thing is, both of these fish are listed under the same common name, but I'm pretty sure they're different species. I think the latter is sometimes referred to as Brilliant Rummy Nose Tetras or something similar. This must make things tricky when it comes to care guides, especially if their requirements aren't exactly the same.
Re: Help with my rasbora dilemma
Sawbwa resplendens is actually a rasbora from Myanmar, specifically found in Lake Inle - it's not a rummy nose tetra, which is a South American species, despite having similar markings. The two are distinct species.
When it comes to mixing genders, they're not an aggressive fish that demands specific ratios, but in larger groups, it's less of an issue. That being said, it's interesting your LFS mentioned they only get males. If you're looking to add more, I'd recommend aiming for a group of 12-15 and seeing how it goes.
When it comes to mixing genders, they're not an aggressive fish that demands specific ratios, but in larger groups, it's less of an issue. That being said, it's interesting your LFS mentioned they only get males. If you're looking to add more, I'd recommend aiming for a group of 12-15 and seeing how it goes.
Re: Help with my rasbora dilemma
Thanks for the advice. I actually got 6 of them from the same store last year, all juveniles with no color, and as they grew up, they all turned out to be males. Had to get some females online from a store I knew had them. Ordered 8, but lost 5 - they were tiny, under 1cm, and had shrunken stomachs. I'm not a fan of shipping fish that small and young. My experience with these fish hasn't been the best.willie32 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 12:21 am Sawbwa resplendens is actually a rasbora from Myanmar, specifically found in Lake Inle - it's not a rummy nose tetra, which is a South American species, despite having similar markings. The two are distinct species.
When it comes to mixing genders, they're not an aggressive fish that demands specific ratios, but in larger groups, it's less of an issue. That being said, it's interesting your LFS mentioned they only get males. If you're looking to add more, I'd recommend aiming for a group of 12-15 and seeing how it goes.
Re: Help with my rasbora dilemma
I think you should give breeding a shot, they're much easier to work with than the South American rummy noses, despite the similar markings. I'm not a fan of common names, they just lead to confusion like this.
You've already got a female and a pair of males, which is a great starting point. A lot of Asian exporters tend to separate females from easier-to-breed species to control the market, but in this case, you've got an endangered species and you've got both sexes.
Setting up a second tank would be a good idea, then you can condition the female away from the males for about a week. You can make some acrylic yarn mops, get the temperature just right, and then see what happens. It could be a fun project.
You've already got a female and a pair of males, which is a great starting point. A lot of Asian exporters tend to separate females from easier-to-breed species to control the market, but in this case, you've got an endangered species and you've got both sexes.
Setting up a second tank would be a good idea, then you can condition the female away from the males for about a week. You can make some acrylic yarn mops, get the temperature just right, and then see what happens. It could be a fun project.
Re: Help with my rasbora dilemma
For those interested in the South American "rummynose" species, I've done some research on the three species in the past. I wrote a few posts detailing various aspects of these fish. I recently added some photos of the three species, which might be helpful.
The Three Rummynose Tetras have been reclassified, as I mentioned in a previous thread a few weeks ago. A study published in the journal Neotropical Ichthyology on June 26, 2020, proposed a taxonomic revision of the three "rummynose" tetra species, specifically Hemigrammus... You can find more information on this topic on our forum.
The Three Rummynose Tetras have been reclassified, as I mentioned in a previous thread a few weeks ago. A study published in the journal Neotropical Ichthyology on June 26, 2020, proposed a taxonomic revision of the three "rummynose" tetra species, specifically Hemigrammus... You can find more information on this topic on our forum.
Re: Help with my rasbora dilemma
I've had a similar experience with tiny fish in the past, it's just heartbreaking. I've had some bad luck with these rasboras, but I think they're worth the effort. They're adapted to Lake Inle's hard, alkaline water, so they should thrive in the UK's chalk streams and limestone areas. I've noticed a few stores mentioning they're in stock again, seems to be seasonal, so keep an eye out if you're unsure about your LFS.