Hengel's Rasbora

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    Hengel's Rasbora

    Hengel's Rasbora

    Trigonostigma hengeli

    middle swimmerNon-nipperCommunity safe
    Temperature
    23–28 °C
    pH
    5 – 7.5
    Min. tank size
    54 L
    Lifespan
    3-5 years
    Diet
    omnivore
    Care level
    moderate
    Quick Facts
    Scientific classification
    Scientific Name:Trigonostigma hengeli
    Family:Cyprinidae
    Origin:Southeast Asia (blackwater peat swamps of Sumatra and Borneo)
    Care Characteristics
    Care Level:moderate
    Diet:omnivore
    Max Size:3.00 cm
    Water Type:freshwater
    Temp Group:tropical
    Temperament:peaceful
    Min Group:8+ together
    Varieties:No cultivated strains — the wild-type fish is what is sold, and most stock is commercially bred. The genus is the whole story. Trigonostigma contains the three closely related "harlequin" rasboras plus a couple of lesser-known species, and they are constantly confused in shops. T. heteromorpha, the harlequin proper, is the largest at 45 mm with a broad solid black triangle on a copper body. T. espei, the lambchop, is 30 mm with a thin hook-shaped marking on a warm copper-orange body. T. hengeli, this fish, is 30 mm, greyer and more translucent, with a narrow black wedge and a bright copper-orange line above it. Hengeli is regularly sold as espei and the reverse. All three have essentially the same requirements and mix happily, though each schools with its own kind. T. somphongsi, the rare Somphongs's rasbora, is a fourth member seldom seen in the trade.
    Lifespan:3-5 years

    Quick Tips

    • Bioload:Very low
    • Min Tank:54 L
    • Substrate:Dark sand; densely planted with botanicals/tannins
    • Plant Safe:Plant-safe
    • Filtration:Low to moderate (gentle flow)

    Hengel's Rasbora (Trigonostigma hengeli) is a species of fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is native to Southeast Asia (blackwater peat swamps of Sumatra and Borneo). Hengel's rasbora is the third and least-known member of the harlequin group, and it is the subtle one. Where the harlequin carries a solid black triangle on a copper body and the lambchop a thinner hook on a warmer one, T. hengeli is greyish and translucent, with a slim black wedge lit from above by a narrow flash of glowing copper-orange. In a dim, planted tank that orange line appears to float in mid-water. It reaches 30 mm standard length, is highly peaceful, and should be kept in groups of eight to ten minimum. It is often sold as the glowlight rasbora because of that orange marking, and it is also routinely mislabelled as the lambchop, which is the more common of the two.

    Compatibility

    Temperament
    peaceful
    Keep in
    Groups of 8+
    Swims
    middle
    Fin nipper
    No
    Delicate fins
    No