Gold Headed Purple Harlequins

[Akasha72]

Hi everyone. I just wanted to share these lovely fish as I'm so impressed with them 
 

 
 
I originally bought 9 about 3 years ago and then never saw them again. Recently my number of the originals started to fall - presumably due to old age. I decided I would ask my lfs if there was any chance of getting some and they managed to source them a few weeks later. I bought 5 in the new year but sadly one decided to jump out of the quarenteen tank and so I was down to four! The next time I was in the lfs I told them I'd lost one and was looking to replace it and was there any chance of some more coming in to stock? Last week they got them in and I immediately reserved another 5 (they'd only been in stock a couple of days so I wanted to give them a few days to settle before moving again)
 
Over the weekend I added the new 5 to my main tank (I quarenteened myself for a further week just to be sure) and this morning I've looked in to the tank to a lovely sight. They're all coloured up now and watching them shoal together is amazing. 
 

 
These little fish stay in the upper levels of the tank and are really easy to keep - no special requirements. I've seen them breeding regularily - the female will turn upside down under a leaf and the male will wrap his tail around hers as she is laying eggs. Perhaps in time my shoal of 13 will become larger - we shall see
 
My lfs call them Midnight Rasboras ... I kinda prefer that to the gold headed purple harlequin - it's a bit of a mouthful lol. To anyone looking to add some Rasboras to their aquarium but wanted something different from the norm then I'd highly recommend these. 

 

[the_lock_man]

Nice! Do you mind me asking how much they were?

 

[Akasha72]

I paid £12.50 for 5. They have them at MA but they're way more expensive than that

 

[squidsagirl420]

neat! thanks

 

[Vethian]

they are amazing.  Do you think they will go well with a Betta?  

 

[Akasha72]

my lfs had the batch I got in the new year in with a betta and all seemed peaceful and calm so I guess they'd be okay from the temperment point of view. The only thing would be the water chemistry. These guys need soft to neutral water, they'd not do so well in hard water so it'll depend on what the water chemistry is in your Betta tank

 

[Ch4rlie]

When i first saw these I thought these were emperor tetras, but for the coloured head marking easily distiguishable.
 
But really are very nice, and to be honest I don't think have seen these in any LFS around me, including M.A stores.
 
Looks like they make a nice addition to any tank

 

[Akasha72]

they are lovely Ch4rlie, that was why I wanted to share them. They seem to be a bit of a rarity too. I was once told they are a hybrid but I've no idea if that is true or not. There seems to be quite a few different types of Rasbora so that doesn't help in finding out either! 

 

[Vethian]

VIDEO!!!!    

 

[Akasha72]

haha I'll see what I can do

 
 
I did go looking to see if I could clarify if they are hybrids or a species of Rasbora in their own right but I couldn't prove or disprove anything as actually finding them listed is hopeless. There are a few images, there is a youtube video online of them spawning but nothing to give me a latin species name. Maybe that proves they are a hybrid or maybe it's because they are rare ... I can't seem to find out. Maybe I'm not looking in the right place 

 

[Akasha72]

hope this works ... one video!
 
http/vid1127.photobucket.com/albums/l634/akasha3472/001_zpsfeqpssmr.mp4

 

[Ch4rlie]

NIce :d
 
Love that angel posing for the vid

 

[Akasha72]

yes, that's my boy! the female is in hiding and has been since the tank was pulled apart. She only comes out when the lights are off now. I think she might be sulking

 

[thrujenseyes]

Holy moly!!!!!! Amazing!!!!

 

[Akasha72]

thanks Jen