Rasbora axelrody is a stunning little fish that is very suitable for the planted tank. It comes in 4 different coloration varieties - copper-clear, neon-copper, neon-blue and neon-green.
The coloration is very intense. The males have a black anal fin that usually gets really dark black when they are dominant. The fin looks somewhat odd and could be mistaken for fish waste hanging from the fish.
The fluoresent blue or green backs of these tiny fish is somehow different from the blue or green of cardinal tetras. B. axelrodi is much deeper neon blue or green. You could call it "darker blue or green"
The fish looks very much like a glowing piece of neon light. The belly and the eyes are not really that noticeable. In that sense it resembles more the green neon tetra (P. simulans) which differs from the cardinal tetra in the exact same way - the simulans looks almost like a blue or gren stripe that moves around without a belly or eyes:
P. simulans:
R. axelrodi is a peculiar fish. It can die without a warning for no apparent reason. In full color. In that sense it resembles many marine fish and also, once again - P. simulans.
If you are ever in a position to get this fish by any means do so. It should not be expensive. But be aware that you may lose all fish for no apparent reason. Make sure that the seller has quarantined the fish for at least 2 weeks. Otherwise you risk getting the little beauties only to watch them die.
Other than that peculiarity the fish does not require any special water conditions to display it's full color. The fish are usually shy the first few days but quickly get used to the tank. They do not school very well (unlike P. simulans) but their bright colors really add to the beauty of the tank.
--Nikolay
The coloration is very intense. The males have a black anal fin that usually gets really dark black when they are dominant. The fin looks somewhat odd and could be mistaken for fish waste hanging from the fish.
The fluoresent blue or green backs of these tiny fish is somehow different from the blue or green of cardinal tetras. B. axelrodi is much deeper neon blue or green. You could call it "darker blue or green"
The fish looks very much like a glowing piece of neon light. The belly and the eyes are not really that noticeable. In that sense it resembles more the green neon tetra (P. simulans) which differs from the cardinal tetra in the exact same way - the simulans looks almost like a blue or gren stripe that moves around without a belly or eyes:
P. simulans:
R. axelrodi is a peculiar fish. It can die without a warning for no apparent reason. In full color. In that sense it resembles many marine fish and also, once again - P. simulans.
If you are ever in a position to get this fish by any means do so. It should not be expensive. But be aware that you may lose all fish for no apparent reason. Make sure that the seller has quarantined the fish for at least 2 weeks. Otherwise you risk getting the little beauties only to watch them die.
Other than that peculiarity the fish does not require any special water conditions to display it's full color. The fish are usually shy the first few days but quickly get used to the tank. They do not school very well (unlike P. simulans) but their bright colors really add to the beauty of the tank.
--Nikolay
