Order : Cypriniformes
Family : DANIONIDAE
Species : Rasbora elegans
Standard Length (excludes tail fin) : up to 20 cm (Fishbase, 2026)

Rasbora elegans (Two-spot Rasbora, Elegant Rasbora) is a mid-water and bottom dweller (i.e. benthopelagic) of clear, forest streams. It can thrive in slightly acidic water with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5 (Fishbase, 2026), which means it typically inhabits streams flowing through or out of freshwater swamp forest ecosystems.

This is a schooling species, typically seen in loose groups of around 10 individuals or so, often in mixed shoals with other rasboras and barbs. They constantly search for floating, edible, organic detritus and small invertebrates (Ho et al, 2016).

Their body shape is laterally compressed and slender. Their scales are silvery and reflective, and the dorsal colour is typically pale gold. They bear two dark patches, which include a dark patch in the centre of the body, just below a faint lateral line, and another at the base of the tail. In some individuals these dark patches can be quite faint.

Rasbora elegans occurs in Peninsular Malaysia (i.e. the states of Johor, Negeri Sembilan, and Pahang), Singapore, parts of eastern Borneo,  and parts of central and southern Sumatra (Lumbantobing et al, 2021).

Fishes currently assigned as Rasbora elegans may in fact represent a species complex (i.e. different, closely related species are currently treated as a single species) (Lumbantobing et al, 2021).


Fig 1 : Example from a shallow forest stream, with sandy substrate, in Singapore's central forests.

Fig 2 : Typical habitat for Rasbora elegans; a shallow stream flowing through lowland forest.

Figs 3 and 4 : More examples from clear streams in Singapore's central forests.


References and links :

Ho Jonathan K. I., Sorain J. Ramchunder, Andrew Memory, Meryl Theng, Li Tianjiao, Esther Clews, Cai Yixiong, Tan Heok Hui & Darren C. J. Yeo. (2016). A Guide to the Freshwater Fauna of Nee Soon Swamp Forest.  Singapore: Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum & Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore. 139 pp.

Lumbantobing, D., Jenkins, A. & Tan, H.H. 2021. Rasbora elegans. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T169532A89801623.


Fishbase - Rasbora elegans