Are these really chili rasboras?

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Angela1108

Angela1108

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Jun 7, 2014
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Albany, NY
So backstory - I got these guys as chilis (borsera brigattae) from my lfs. I got 4 at first, then 8, then 5. So I now have 17 total. They are the only fish in the tank along with yellow Sakura shrimp. Now- the same lfs has a small display tank with them in there. They are definitely chilis. Bright red! Mine haven't gotten too red yet. I asked the lfs how long it takes for them to color up. He said it took a couple of weeks. Mine have been here (first batch) for about 3 weeks but I am not seeing much color. I am wondering if they really are brigattae or something else.

http://i.imgur.com/wIi9gCg.png

http://i.imgur.com/DeV9SDE.png

http://i.imgur.com/V2JCrh5.png

http://i.imgur.com/kPeBR4Y.png

http://i.imgur.com/nVN6Mvj.png


It's hard to see in the picture but they all do have some pinkish color to them. They were very small when I got them- smaller than when my lfs started their display so that could be why or maybe I have mostly females. Sorry the pics aren't the greatest its super hard because they are all so fast and so tiny.

Here is a reference too that I found really useful but at the same time I am not 100% sure. I also can't find juvenile pics to really compare

Which boraras do you really have? A pictorial guide to the most common species | Invertebrates by Msjinkzd


Now another lfs I went to they have the uropthalmoides there but mine have a lot more pink to them - and more pink on the pic on the guide. I was starting to think that is what I had.

Any thoughts are welcome- even if it is a thought based on that guide.

I will try and get better pics later too.



Params of the tank: amm, nitrite both 0. NitrAte was less than 5. Hard to tell maybe like 3? And ph is 6.8 in that tank


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I know how frustrating it is, hopefully you'll get some help here.

What are you feeding them?
 
Right now a mix of dried daphnia, dried bloodworms, hikari micro pellets, and omega one color plus or whatever it is called. The really red flakes they have.


I was going to grab some spirulina flakes but the lfs was out. That's what they have been feeding the display tank ones. And if they don't like that I have other tanks that will


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Yes they are chilis. I'm guessing by the lack of color that they're newly introduced, but the black on the side is indicative of B. brigittae

Edit: just noticed you've had them for 3 weeks. How much cover do they have? They feel more comfortable with some thick growth that they can retreat to, otherwise it will take them longer to settle if they do at all.
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http://i.imgur.com/Sx6KB9M.png

This is the tank now- I have other plants I can swap out into that tank if I need to. I am also getting a bunch more dwarf sag from a friend in the next couple of days - thinking I will put that all in near those 2 driftwood pieces and make that side really more dense with plants and I can grab more water sprite to float on that side :)


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The newer batches are newer than that. My original 4 are 3 weeks in that tank, then next 8 are two weeks. And the last batch is a week. (I bought all my lfs had each week)


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They are coming out a bit more today. About the same- a little pink. I ran to my lfs and bought some really big pieces of moneywort and a small sword plant to put in. Once my son goes to sleep I will add them :)


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http://i.imgur.com/Wais64f.png

Got the sword in the corner and added the tall mw. They came out pretty quickly to explore so I am hoping they stay out some more. Usually I keep all the taller plants in the very back but I tried to spread out the mw all over for coverage for them.


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Update: I added some IAL on Sunday also and now they seem happier. Coming out more and seem to be getting some more red :)

Finally!!


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That's good news! Have you tried frozen blood worms? Always get nice color from my fish after they eat those.
 
Adding a background usually makes them feel more secure


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Ok. I will try both- usually I don't use backgrounds but I will give it a try.



I do give them daphnia. I will try some bloodworms.


I am also getting a micro worm culture from a friend too


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It makes them not feel as much like they're swimming in open water where predators tend to hang out


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Would even plain black work or should I go with rocks/plants. Personally I've never been a huge fan other than black. I've never had such skittish fish before. I will probably cover 2 sides-back and left and maybe even possibly the right too and just have the front open


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I like the midnight or graduated blue backgrounds.

This is an interesting question. Now I am wondering if mine are Boraras uropthalmoides, and I think the older ones I had were the Phoenix Rasbora, Merah, looking back at an old pic. Great reference to msjinkzd article. It was hard to tell when purchased with mine as they were babies and lighter color anyway then.

Mine never got that red, as the one in the article, excepting one male from my long ago batch was close. This present group, one male gets a little flush of color now and again, the rest seem to be females anyway. Pretty annoyed to pay 8.99 each and not get the fish I thought I was buying :/

As yours are pretty young still they may color up better. How about checking your pH (compare to lfs) and temp matching what the lfs has.
That is my thought about it.



As a side note, the females are lighter and there will be a dominant male if there is another male and he will be the most red!
 
Yeah. I am wondering if it is just they are young. Pattern wise they match (at least the majority do) I guess it will be a waiting game and see. Mine were 9.99 a pair from my lfs. So they weren't as bad. I am thinking I am going to order a few from Rachel just so I know o have at least some color. I think based on how much red they have I can tell which ones were from batch 1, 2, and 3.

It's hard because I have yet to really find any juvenile pics to compare to either. Understandable since they are sooooo hard to get a good pic of anyways


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