Product Details

Hengel’s Rasbora – Trigonostigma hengeli

The Hengel’s Rasbora is a small, peaceful shoaling fish with a slim body, subtle copper-orange glow and a distinctive dark wedge marking near the rear of the body. Also sold as the Glowlight Rasbora, Hengeli Rasbora, Porkchop Rasbora or under the older name Rasbora hengeli, this attractive species is ideal for planted community aquariums, soft-water displays and calm Southeast Asian-style aquascapes. It is more delicate-looking than the Harlequin Rasbora and looks best in a good-sized group under subdued lighting.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Hengel’s Rasbora
Other Names: Glowlight Rasbora, Hengeli Rasbora, Porkchop Rasbora, Lambchop Rasbora
Scientific Name: Trigonostigma hengeli
Older / Trade Name: Rasbora hengeli
Fish Type: Rasbora / Shoaling Cyprinid
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Trigonostigma hengeli is native to Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, including areas of Sumatra and Borneo. It is associated with quiet, slow-moving forest waters, swampy areas, peat-influenced streams and heavily vegetated habitats.

These natural waters are often soft, acidic and lightly stained with tannins from leaves, roots and decaying plant material. In the aquarium, Hengel’s Rasbora does best in a mature planted setup with gentle flow, shaded areas, floating plants and open swimming space.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Hengel’s Rasbora has a small, slender body with a translucent amber to copper tone. The most recognisable feature is the dark wedge-shaped marking along the rear half of the body, edged or overlaid with a bright orange to glow-like stripe that becomes more intense when the fish is settled.

Adults usually reach around 2.5–3.5 cm, making this a small rasbora suited to peaceful communities. Females are usually slightly fuller-bodied than males, while males may appear slimmer and more intensely coloured in good condition.

Aquarium Suitability:

This species is well suited to planted aquariums, blackwater-inspired displays, nano-to-small community aquariums and peaceful Southeast Asian-style setups. It is best kept with calm fish that will not outcompete or intimidate it.

Hengel’s Rasbora is not suitable for aggressive communities, very bright bare tanks or aquariums with large predatory fish. It looks especially attractive in groups against dark substrate, driftwood, leaf litter and green plants.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 50–60 litres for a group, with a tank length of at least 45–60 cm recommended. Larger aquariums are better for bigger shoals and mixed peaceful communities.

Keep in a group of at least 8, with 10 or more preferred where space allows. Larger groups help reduce stress, improve colour and create more natural shoaling behaviour.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 22–28°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
Additional Notes: Stable water quality is important. This species shows its best colour in soft, slightly acidic, tannin-stained water, but can adapt to moderate community conditions if changes are gradual. Avoid poor water quality, strong current and unstable new aquariums.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Hengel’s Rasbora is a peaceful shoaling fish suitable for calm community aquariums. Good tank mates include small tetras, other peaceful rasboras, dwarf cory-type catfish, Otocinclus, small gourami, peaceful shrimp in planted tanks and gentle dwarf cichlids in suitable water.

Avoid large predators, aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping species, very boisterous barbs and fast-feeding fish that may intimidate them. They should not be kept singly or in tiny groups, as this can make them nervous and dull in colour.

Feeding:

Hengel’s Rasbora is a small omnivorous micropredator. In nature, it feeds on tiny insects, worms, crustaceans and zooplankton. In the aquarium, offer fine flakes, micro pellets and small floating or slow-sinking granules as the staple diet.

Supplement regularly with small frozen or live foods such as daphnia, cyclops, baby brineshrimp, mosquito larvae and finely chopped bloodworm. Food should be small enough for their mouth size, and feeding little and often works well in peaceful community aquariums.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is an active but gentle midwater shoaling fish. A settled group will move together through planted areas, open water and shaded spaces, often showing stronger orange colour when relaxed.

Males may display subtly to females and rival males, but aggression is minimal. Breeding may occur in soft, acidic water, with eggs usually placed beneath broad plant leaves in a similar style to related harlequin-type rasboras. Adults may eat eggs and fry, so separate breeding arrangements are needed if young are to be raised.

Care Notes:

Keep Hengel’s Rasbora in a proper group and provide a mature aquarium with stable water quality. Floating plants, subdued lighting and dark décor help the fish feel secure and improve colour.

Avoid strong current, aggressive tank mates and very bright bare aquariums. This species is small and peaceful, so it should only be housed with fish of similar temperament and size. Regular small water changes are better than large, sudden changes in soft-water setups.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common to occasional / Usually commercially bred or farmed, with wild imports sometimes available

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, colour, pattern, body tone and markings can occur between individual fish.