Can Raspy River Stingray and Redline Rasbora Live Together?

Raspy River Stingray is a generally mild-mannered species (4/10), while Redline Rasbora is peaceful (1/10). This modest difference means Raspy River Stingray may occasionally assert dominance over Redline Rasbora.

In terms of spatial distribution, Raspy River Stingray prefers the Bottom (Substrate) zone, whereas Redline Rasbora occupies the Top (Surface) and Middle (Open Water) zones. Because they use different levels of the water column, territorial disputes are less likely and the tank will appear more balanced.

Worth noting: Redline Rasbora is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 24°C and 27°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 25.5°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6 and 6.8. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 2–8 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Raspy River Stingray and Redline Rasbora together, plan for an aquarium of at least 850 litres with a minimum length of 180 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Because this pairing requires extra vigilance, include plenty of hiding spots — caves, driftwood, and dense plant clusters — so the less dominant fish can retreat when needed.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Sand (Sifters), Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Leaf Litter/Blackwater, Driftwood (Digestion/Hiding), Plants - Densely covered, Plants - Floating. Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Note a potential conflict in setup requirements: Raspy River Stingray is a plant destroyer, which conflicts with Redline Rasbora's requirement for live plants. Compromise where possible or prioritise the more critical need.

Both species do well with moderate (standard) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.

This pairing usually fails when the tank is treated like a standard mixed community and the caution flags are ignored. Raspy River Stingray and Redline Rasbora need extra room, more cover, and closer observation during the first few weeks so small aggression, feeding, or territory issues do not snowball into a long-term problem.