New Species: Its out of this Galaxy

andrewcoxon · Post by **andrewcoxon** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:13 pm

just bought 10 of these to go in with my corydoras weitzmani's, they we're only discovered a few months ago and i got some of the first ones in the country so far. what a little stunner!!

Microrasbora sp. "Galaxy"

crazie.eddie · Post by **crazie.eddie** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:45 pm

Seems like their the new craze. They are really nice. You're lucky to have them. I really like them, but can never find any info. How big do they get? Habitat?

discusbabe · Post by **discusbabe** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:47 pm

They look absolutely stunning! :O Where did you get them from?

andrewcoxon · Post by **andrewcoxon** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:48 pm

its hard at the minute as they are so new, and their origin is being kept a secret. but they only get to 2.5 cm by all accounts and like soft coolish (75 degrees) water. as for habitat im not sure but the red on their fins seem to get more intense in a planted tank where they feel secure as they are quite shy.

andrewcoxon · Post by **andrewcoxon** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 6:51 pm

discusbabe wrote:They look absolutely stunning! :O Where did you get them from?

BAS aquatics in bolton, there is some left but there going fast apparently. they do mail order too!

chanettt · Post by **chanettt** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 7:38 pm

very nice

discusbabe · Post by **discusbabe** » Mon Oct 02, 2006 8:42 pm

Do they now? Erm... Might have to have a gander at what they have in store!

Jojoyojimbi · Post by **Jojoyojimbi** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:23 am

they're sellin for 8 bucks apiece or more in places in america... damn greedy capitalists

tmh0324 · Post by **tmh0324** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 4:42 am

Look realy nice~~~

Lifted193 · Post by **Lifted193** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:06 am

Great looking fish! Look like mini trouts!

LMNO · Post by **LMNO** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:00 am

It's a NICE.....what country are they from?

n00dl3 · Post by **n00dl3** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:10 am

Lifted193 wrote:Great looking fish! Look like mini trouts!

Very good point! If you look very careful.. it is a BROWN Trout!

Alistair · Post by **Alistair** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 11:40 am

Look more like brook trout or artic char to me

Jojoyojimbi · Post by **Jojoyojimbi** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 9:05 pm

they're from thailand, and they like colder water, like the white cloud minnows

husky_jim · Post by **husky_jim** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 9:43 am

Quote from practicalfishkeeping:

Known only as Microrasbora sp. "Galaxy", the exquisite little tropical cyprinid fish is believed to be an undescribed member of the Microrasbora genus, and is about to go on sale under the common name of Galaxy rasbora.

The man who introduced it, Kamphol Udomritthiruj of AquariCORP, says that the fish was found in Myanmar last month, but since it's such a new discovery he's keeping its exact collection locality under wraps for commercial reasons.

Udomritthiruj told Practical Fishkeeping: "It is already being offered to select UK wholesalers through Singapore and should be there within the month, I suspect, as one of the first places in the world."

At this stage, the exact identity of the fish remains a mystery - although it's almost certainly new. It appears to be a member of the Microrasbora genus, but shares some features with Danio choprai.

Says Udomritthiruj: "It is a Microrasbora only by association to Microrasbora erythromicon (ie. body shape and swimming characteristics). But whether M. erythromicon is sensu stricto 'Microrasbora' is another argument altogether.

"It is small 12-15mm; mature, ie. gravid females found at 12mm size. Slight sexual dimorphism with females only slightly less colourful. Intensity of scarlet fins are unaltered by mood, stress, courtship etc. Well conditioned males develop a red colouration to the chest-to-belly area."

I suspect that Wildwoods in Middlesex may be one of the first stores to obtain these. Judging by the stir they are creating online, I would imagine that the first batch is likely to sell out very quickly.

[Update: Wildwoods has confirmed that it is expecting a shipment of Microrasbora sp. Galaxy very soon. They're likely to sell for £5-8 each for the first few months.]

[Update: September 22, 2006. BAS in Bolton currently has 800 of these in stock which are due to go on sale shortly.]

[Update: October 12,2006. This species has just been bred for the first time by Bolton Museum Aquarium. More details and an in-depth article on the species follow in the December 2006 issue of PFK.]