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Giant scissortail (Rasbora caudimaculata) — Cyprinidae

Giant scissortail

Rasbora caudimaculata
Family: Cyprinidae

The Giant scissortail (Rasbora caudimaculata) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 17 cm.

Length
17 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Omnivore
Behaviour
Schooling
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Commonly eaten

Description

The Giant scissortail is a rasbora, a small cyprinid (Danionidae) from fresh water of Sundaland in Southeast Asia. The species grows to about 17 cm and has a slender, silvery body. The tail lobes bear black and yellow markings and move like scissors. As a lively schooling fish it swims in clear streams, rivers and blackwater and eats small insects, larvae and zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans and is popular in the aquarium trade.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Giant scissortail?

The Giant scissortail has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly silver-grey.

Where does the Giant scissortail live?

The Giant scissortail lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom.

How big does the Giant scissortail get?

The Giant scissortail grows to a maximum of about 17 cm.

Is the Giant scissortail dangerous to humans?

No, the Giant scissortail is harmless to humans.

Is the Giant scissortail edible?

Yes, the Giant scissortail is commonly eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Reuzen-schaarstaart-rasbora sourced
English name
Giant scissortail sourced
Scientific name
Rasbora caudimaculata
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Greater scissortail; Red scissortail; Redtail rasbora verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
17.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Silver / grey sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Social behaviour
Schooling sourced
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Commonly eaten inferred
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Rasbora

More from the family Cyprinidae

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