Aquariumrasbora & danio · freshwater
Scissortail Rasbora: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Scissortail Rasbora (Rasbora trilineata) grows to about 7.1 in (15 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 47 inches long and about 64 gallons. Keep at least 6 together, at 72–77°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Outgrows most home tanks. Sold as a small community rasbora but SF gives 150 mm SL and a 120 x 45 cm base.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 7.1 in (15 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 47 inches long and about 64 gallons
- Temperature
- 72–77°F
- pH
- 5–8
- Hardness
- 2–12 dGH
- Group size
- 6+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- peaceful
- Swims
- middle of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- beginner
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: eats shrimp · jumps, so keep a lid
Scissortail Rasbora tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- Endler's LivebearerNeeds careScissortail Rasbora (2–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- Mystery SnailScissortail Rasbora (pH 5–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- MollyNeeds careScissortail Rasbora (2–12 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- White Cloud Mountain MinnowNeeds careScissortail Rasbora and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window.
- Blood Parrot CichlidOutgrows tanksScissortail Rasbora and Blood Parrot Cichlid only share 76–77°F. That's a tight window.
- Forktail Blue-eyeScissortail Rasbora (2–12 dGH) and Forktail Blue-eye (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness.
- Kissing GouramiOutgrows tanksKissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Scissortail Rasbora.
- Moonlight GouramiScissortail Rasbora and Moonlight Gourami only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window.
Avoid
- German Blue RamNeeds careScissortail Rasbora (72–77°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Cherry ShrimpScissortail Rasbora will eat Cherry Shrimp.
- Amano ShrimpScissortail Rasbora will eat Amano Shrimp.
- Boesemani RainbowfishScissortail Rasbora (72–77°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Bamboo ShrimpScissortail Rasbora will eat Bamboo Shrimp.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Scissortail Rasbora is peaceful.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Scissortail Rasbora is peaceful.
- Crystal Red ShrimpScissortail Rasbora will eat Crystal Red Shrimp.
All 105 species we checked against the Scissortail Rasbora
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Angelfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Electric Blue Acara | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Giant Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Iridescent Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Nerite Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pictus Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rainbow Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Red-Tail Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Three-spot Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Yoyo Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Scissortail Rasbora and Blood Parrot Cichlid only share 76–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Endler's Livebearer | Caution | Scissortail Rasbora (2–12 dGH) and Endler's Livebearer (15–35 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Caution | Scissortail Rasbora (2–12 dGH) and Forktail Blue-eye (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Scissortail Rasbora. |
| Molly | Caution | Scissortail Rasbora (2–12 dGH) and Molly (15–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Moonlight Gourami | Caution | Scissortail Rasbora and Moonlight Gourami only share 77–77°F. That's a tight window. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Scissortail Rasbora (pH 5–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Scissortail Rasbora (2–12 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Oscar | Caution | Oscar can bully smaller, peaceful Scissortail Rasbora. |
| Paradise Fish | Caution | Scissortail Rasbora and Paradise Fish only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Variatus Platy | Caution | Scissortail Rasbora (2–12 dGH) and Variatus Platy (14–30 dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Caution | Scissortail Rasbora and White Cloud Mountain Minnow only share 72–72°F. That's a tight window. |
| Amano Shrimp | Avoid | Scissortail Rasbora will eat Amano Shrimp. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Avoid | Scissortail Rasbora will eat Bamboo Shrimp. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Avoid | Scissortail Rasbora (72–77°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Avoid | Scissortail Rasbora will eat Cherry Shrimp. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Scissortail Rasbora is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Scissortail Rasbora is peaceful. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Avoid | Scissortail Rasbora will eat Crystal Red Shrimp. |
| Discus | Avoid | Scissortail Rasbora (72–77°F) and Discus (79–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Fancy Goldfish | Avoid | Scissortail Rasbora (72–77°F) and Fancy Goldfish (50–70°F) need different temperatures. |
| German Blue Ram | Avoid | Scissortail Rasbora (72–77°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Avoid | Scissortail Rasbora will eat Ghost Shrimp. |
Care notes
Needs: Grows far larger than most rasboras; active swimmer needing a long tank; very tight cover as it can escape through tiny gaps; best colour on live/frozen foods
Group: SF: group of at least six
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the middle of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Scissortail Rasbora get?
About 7.1 inches (15 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Scissortail Rasbora need?
At least 47 inches long and about 64 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 75 gallon.
How many Scissortail Rasboras should be kept together?
At least 6. SF: group of at least six
What fish can live with a Scissortail Rasbora?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Scissortail Rasbora setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 75 gallon (48 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 2 × 200 W for 75 gallons, holding 72–77°F.Find on Amazon →LidIt jumps. A full lid keeps it in the tank.Find on Amazon →FoodA quality flake or micro-pellet as a staple.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: researched from source pages. Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/rasbora-trilineata/
- fishbase.se /summary/Rasbora-trilineata.html