Pearl Danio
[Pictures]
Brachydanio albolineatus SYN: Danio
albolineata, Nuria albolineata PD: A slender and elongated species with a forked tail.
The body ranges in colors depending
on the lighting.
In reflected light, the body is iridescent violet to blue, The belly is faintly blue, while
the back is slightly darker blue.
An iridescent orange, lateral stripe extends from the caudal fin to the middle of the body.
Below
this, is a shorter line with the same color.
Two pairs of barbels are located on the lips of the mouth.
SIZE: To 2.4" (6 cm) SS: None HAB: Inhabits rice patties, canal, and slow parts of brooks and creeks.
Southeast Asia; Burma (Myanmar), India,
Malay Peninsula, Sumatra, Thailand. S: middle, bottom TANK: A tank measuring 30" (76 cm) with a capacity of 20-25 gallons (75-98 L) is an excellent
size for a school of this species.
The essential ingredient for this fish is a large, open swimming area.
Suggest
heavy planting along the sides and back of the tank.
The tank must be well covered as this fish is a confirmed jumper.
The
Pearl Danio enjoys morning sunlight. WATER: pH 6-7.5 (6.8), 2-18 dH (8), 66-81°F (19-27°F)
SB: A lively, schooling fish that should be kept in groups of six or more.
The
Pearl Danio can be kept in a community tank with other small schooling fish and
Colisa species.
SC: Gouramis, Barbs, Danios, Bala Shark, Loaches,
Corydoras, Loricarids, tetras.
FOOD: Live; insects; insect larvae,
Daphnia , Brine Shrimp,
Tubifex ;
flakes, pellets. SEX: Females, when mature, are larger and rounder.
Males are more colorful.
B: Increase the water temperature to 79-86°F (26-30°C) and lower the water level
to four to six inches (10-15 cm).
The tank should be packed with fine-leafed plants, and a substrate of round marbles is
recommended.
Place one male with several females in this tank, with the female having a couple days to acclimate,
before the male is added.
The eggs are scattered among plants.
The adults must be removed right after spawning.
Keep
the tank dark to reduce chances of fungal infections.
The eggs, numbering as many as 600, hatch after 24-36 hours, and the
fry are free-swimming six to seven days later.
The young can be raised on liquid foods, small Infusoria, and roftiers.
BP: 4.
An easily bred, prolific species. R: The iridescent colors of this fish only show when kept in a tank with reflected, overhead
light.
A "Yellow Danio" color morph is occasionally available.
DC: 1.
A hardy, schooling fish which is recommended for any beginner.
Leopard Danio
[Pictures]
Brachydanio "frankei
" ( rerio
) SYN: None PD: An elongated fish with an appearance virtually identical to
B. rerio .
The only difference is the coloration,
with this "species" having a brownish back and a brownish-white body coloration.
Instead of stripes, many small, blue
spots are present.
The fins retain the same pattern. SIZE: To 2.4" (6 cm) SS: Zebra Danio ( B.
rerio ) HAB: India S: middle, top TANK: A tank measuring 28" (71 cm) with a capacity of 20 gallons (75 L) is recommended.
See
B. rerio
for other suggestions. WATER: pH 6-7.7 (7.0), 2-20 dH (8), 66-77°F (19-25°C)
SB: As for B.
rerio . SC: As for B.
rerio. FOOD: Flakes; live;
Drosophila , other insects, insect larvae, crustaceans;
occasionally algae. SEX: Females are plumper when mature. B: As for B.
rerio . BP: 5.
An easily bred species. R: This "species" is said to have been developed in Czechoslovakia from
B. rerio .
Since
B. rerio
and B. "frankei"
crosses produce fertile offspring, this theory looks to be correct.
Crosses with other
Brachydanio species produce infertile offspring.
Two
forms have been produced; an albino variation and a veiled or long-finned form.
DC: 2.
A lively species with easy care.
Zebra Danio
[Pictures]
Brachydanio rerio SYN: Cyprinus
rerio, Danio rerio, Perilampus striatus PD: A slender fish with two pairs of barbels.
The back is brownish-gold, while the
body has gold and blue alternating, lateral stripes.
The fins have the same coloration, and the belly is white.
The
fins may be elongated depending on the variety.
The mouth is up-turned toward the surface.
SIZE: To 2.4" (6 cm) SS: Spotted Danio (
B. nigrofasciatus )
HAB: Clear, fast-flowing streams; and rice patties in Eastern India and Bangladesh.
S: All TANK: A tank measuring 30" (76 cm) with a capacity of 20-25 gallons (75-98 L) is recommended
for a school of Zebra Danios, although a 20" (50 cm) or 10 gallon tank is possible.
The tank should have large, open swimming
areas and a tight-fitting cover.
A substrate of coarse gravel or pebbles is recommended.
Use planting along the sides and back
of the tank.
This species is a jumper-so cover the tank well. WATER: pH 6-8 (7.0), 2-20 dH (8), 64-75°F (18-24°C)
SB: An active schooling species which can be kept in almost any community tank.
Do
not combine the Zebra Danio with species that are frightened with constant movement.
The Zebra Danio forms pairs, and will
often not spawn with different partners. SC: Gouramis, Barbs, Danios, Bala Shark, Loaches,
Corydoras, Loricarids, tetras.
FOOD: Flakes; live;
Drosophila , other insects, insect larvae, crustaceans;
occasionally algae. SEX: Males are smaller and slimmer.
Often they are more colorful.
B: Use warmer water with a temperature from 75-79°F (24-26°C).
Use a tank with a water level of four
to six inches deep, with heavy planting and a substrate of marbles.
Condition the pair with insect larvae
and Brine Shrimp.
Add the female to the tank first, with the male being added 12-24 hours later.
The
pair usually will spawn with the coming of morning sunlight.
400-500 eggs are scattered on plants.
The
pair can be fed on white worms to keep them from consuming their spawn.
After spawning is complete, remove the
pair.
The fry hatch in two days and are free-swimming after 5-7 days.
Start feeding with paramecia, and a
couple days later with powdered dry foods. BP: 4.
A prolific, easily bred species. R: The Zebra Danio was introduced to the hobby in 1905.
Several selectively-bred varieties are
available.
These include a long-finned variety, a gold morph, and an albino type.
Virtually all specimen sold in fish
stores are captive-bred.
DC: 2.
A robust species that makes an attractive addition to any hobbyist's community tank.
Giant Danio
[Pictures]
Danio aequipinnatus SYN: Danio
alburnus, D. aurolineatus, D. malabaricus, Perilampus aurolineatus, P. malabaricus PD: An elongated fish with one pair of barbels.
The body is laterally compressed and
the mouth is up-turned.
The back is gray-yellow to gray-green while the flanks are bluish-green.
This area is marked with various yellow
spots and stripes.
The outer parts of the fins are transparent, while their may have a green or pink tinge.
SIZE: To 4.8" (12 cm) SS: Bengal Danio ( D.
devario ), Queen Danio (
D. regina )
HAB: Inhabits still and slow-moving rivers on the western coasts of Sri Lanka and India.
S: All TANK: A school can be kept in a tank measuring 36" (91 cm) with a volume of 30 gallons
(114 L), although they would prefer a longer tank (48").
Leave open swimming areas and plant the corners
with robust plants.
Use a tight-fitting cover. WATER: pH 6-8 (7.0), 2-20 dH (8), 70-75°F (21-24°C)
SB: An active, schooling fish that should only be combined with species that can tolerate
its activity.
Pairs form bonds, although they are not as strong as those of
Brachydanio species.
SC: Loaches, Epalzeorhynchus
, Loricarids, Armored Catfish (
Corydoras ), Danios, Gouramis, Acaras, Eartheaters,
larger barbs. FOOD: Flakes; live; insect larvae, crustaceans, worms, insects.
SEX: Males are smaller, slimmer, and more colorful.
B: Use water with a temperature from 77-82°F (25-28°C).
Add the female a day prior to adding
the male.
Spawning is initiated by the morning sun,.
10-20 eggs are laid at each pairing until 300-1000
eggs have been scattered among plants.
Throughout the spawning the parents should be fed with whiteworms so
they do not consume their spawn.
The young hatch in two days and are free-swimming five to seven days later.
Start
feeding with powdered dry foods and small live foods. BP: 5.
The Giant Danio is easy to breed in a large breeding tank.
R: A few color varieties are known.
Fish are mature from 2.8" (7 cm) in length.
DC: 2.
A robust species.
Bengal Danio
[Pictures]
Danio devario SYN: Cyprinus
danio PD: A high-backed, elongated fish with lateral compression.
No barbels are present the belly profile
is rounded.
The color varies depending on the population. The back is golden-brown in color as is the belly.
The
flanks are blue wit some fine, transverse yellow stripes.
A broad, dark blue stripe extends from the rear
part of the mid-section, back
to the fork of the caudal fin.
The fins are generally transparent.
SIZE: To 6" (15 cm) SS: Giant Danio ( D.
aequipinnatus ), Queen Danio (
D. regina )
HAB: In the floodplains of rivers from the Indus River to the Assam (India) in Pakistan,
India, and Bangladesh. S: All TANK: A tank measuring 36" (91 cm) with a capacity of 30 gallons (114 L) is suggested.
Follow
recommendations for D. aequipinnatus
. WATER: pH 6-8 (7.1), 4-20 dH (8), 59-77°F (15-25°C)
SB: An active and peaceful species that should be maintained in a school.
SC: See D.
aequipinnatus. FOOD: Flakes; insects, insect larvae, worms, crustaceans
SEX: Males are slimmer, smaller, and more colorful
B: Follow suggestions for
D. aequipinnatus .
BP: 5.
An easily bred species. R: The Bengal Danio has the longest dorsal fin of all Danios.
Sexually mature from 2.8" (7 cm).
DC: 3.
A hardy and peaceful species that does poorly when kept singly.
Queen Danio
[Pictures]
Danio regina SYN: Cyprinus
regina PD: An elongated fish with an elaborate dorsal fin.
The mouth points toward the surface
and the caudal fin is forked.
The back is violet and the flanks are deep purple.
The belly and the head are lighter violet.
The
body is marked with four to five, slender, golden lateral stripes.
The fins have a violet tinge.
SIZE: To 5" (13 cm) SS: Giant Danio ( D.
aequipinnatus ), Bengal Danio (
D. devario )
HAB: Southeast Asia; southern parts of Thailand and the Malay Peninsula.
S: All TANK: A tank measuring 36" (91 cm) with a capacity of 30 gallons (114 L) is suggested.
Follow
recommendations for D. aequipinnatus. WATER: pH 6-8 (6.8), 2-18 dH (7), 73-79°F (23-26°C)
SB: An active, but peaceful schooling fish that can be combined in a community tank.
SC:
As for D.
aequipinnatus. FOOD: Flakes; insects, insect larvae, worms, crustaceans
SEX: Males are more slender and more colorful.
B: As for D.
aequipinnatus . BP: 6.
Breeding is more difficult than other
Brachydanio and
Danio species.
R: This attractive species is not widely available to the hobby.
DC: 4.
The Queen Danio is not as robust as other
Danio species.
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The copy for fish.mongabay.com was written in 1994-1995. Therefore some information such as scientific names may be out of date. For this, I apologize. Feel free to send corrections to me.
