Purple harlequin rasboras (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) are a colour variant of the very popular harlequin rasbora. A regular harlequin has a dark triangular shape on the back half of it. The purple variant has a much larger extent of this colouration extending forward and also more completely out to the edge of the fish.
Shoaling upper level fish
The rasboras are definitely social with each other and will swim together almost all of the time. Occasionally they will seem to play tag or chase, maybe these are the males having a go at each other, but eventually they all come back into a loose knit grouping. They don’t ever park right at the water surface like the panchax, but pretty much stay in the upper 25% of the water column. This is territory that used to be occupied by the ember tetras who now seem to have been displaced downwards a bit but don’t actually seem too perturbed about that.
Rasboras, purple or otherwise, have lots of great information available online. They are a super common fish, look great, easy to care for, easy to find. I used to keep the traditional harlequin morph a long time ago before ever going with live aquatic plants and they were pretty low maintenance as well. Great starter fish for a smaller size aquarium. People say they like to have hiding places, but that hasn’t really been my experience with them. They readily take flake food. I haven’t ever noticed them showing any signs of aggression to any of the other Fireplace Aquarium residents.
Purple harlequin rasboras
Purple harlequin rasboras
Purple harlequin rasboras