Lambchop rasbora
Trigonostigma espei
A slimmer, more orange cousin of the harlequin rasbora with a 'lambchop' patch; a peaceful school for warm planted tanks.
Key facts
- Body length
- 1.2 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 17 gallons
- Group
- 8+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Micro pellets, flakes, frozen daphnia
- Origin
- Southeast Asia
- Hardier than73%
- Bigger than8%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Lambchop rasbora tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Lambchop rasbora.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Lambchop rasbora.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Lambchop rasbora.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Lambchop rasbora.Risky
- Peacock cichlidMalawi butterfly peacock attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Lambchop rasbora.Risky
- Rainbow sharkRainbow shark attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Lambchop rasbora.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat Lambchop rasbora: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Lambchop rasbora: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Lambchop rasbora: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Lambchop rasbora: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat Lambchop rasbora: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Lambchop rasbora: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for lambchop rasboras: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 3 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 0.48 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.63 BU
- Min. water
- 54 L net
- Min. footprint
- 60 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 8+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- micropredator
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Trigonostigma espei · FishBase: Trigonostigma espei
Care notes
Lambchop rasboras come from Southeast Asia and are about an inch long. They look like a smaller, brighter harlequin, with a thin dark wedge on a copper-orange body.
Keep eight to ten in a 15 gallon tank or larger with soft water at 73–82°F. They are very peaceful, though newborn shrimp and fry will be eaten.
Questions
What size tank does a lambchop rasbora need?
At least 17 gallons (54 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 1.2 inches without fins.
How many lambchop rasboras should be kept together?
Keep at least 8, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do lambchop rasboras need?
73–82 °F, pH 6–6.5 and 1–10 dGH. Lambchop rasboras come from Southeast Asia.
How long do lambchop rasboras live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with lambchop rasboras?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.