Are there different subspecies of harlequin rasboras?

**darsunt** · 09-23-2012, 04:14 AM

6 months ago I bought 5 harlequin rasboras. I've had a hard time adding more because the ones in the fish stores look significantly different.
Mine are a golden orange. The ones in the stores have much more violet in their color. They also have a very solid triangle, mine have a triangle that is compressed to a line towards the end of the tail.
I think I got a batch of some subspecies that is colored slightly different than most harlequins. Mine actually look better, to me. I'm I right?

**chocological** · 09-23-2012, 05:22 AM

Could they maybe be a different type of rasbora?

**steeler1** · 09-23-2012, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by darsunt

6 months ago I bought 5 harlequin rasboras. I've had a hard time adding more because the ones in the fish stores look significantly different.
Mine are a golden orange. The ones in the stores have much more violet in their color. They also have a very solid triangle, mine have a triangle that is compressed to a line towards the end of the tail.
I think I got a batch of some subspecies that is colored slightly different than most harlequins. Mine actually look better, to me. I'm I right?

Sounds like you have the "pork chop,lamb chop" Rasbora instead of the true harlequins. Dealers themselfs don't always seem to know the difference and sell them as halequins. They are very similer reaching the same size and similer habits including breeding. I like both but some people prefer the harlequin. The first fish is the fish I belive you have and the seconf fish is the true Harlequin.

**homemadepopcorn** · 09-23-2012, 07:16 AM

The best way to tell harlequins apart from the false ones is by adult body shape. You'll notice that the true harlequins have that drawn out midsection where it looks like they've been squashed a bit. They shouldn't look as streamlined as the rest of the rasboras.

**steeler1** · 09-25-2012, 05:15 AM

There are actually two more spieces in this familey so for fun here they are, the first on is Trigonostigma Hengeli or the Glowight Rasbora. The second is T. Somphongsi. They are both smaller than the other two.

T. Somphongsi is supposed to be the rarest fish on Taiwan.