Danio Facts:
| average adult size: | 1.2 inches long |
| average life span: | 1-3 years |
| diet: | omnivore - flakes/pellets |
| minimum aquarium size: | 10+ gallons |
| water parameters: | temp:73-81°F pH: 5-8 |
Diet
A well-balanced Danio diet consists of:
- Food may be flaked, pellet, frozen or live.
- Avoid exclusive food which is not nutritionally complete.
Feeding
Things to remember when feeding your Danio:
- Feed small amounts 1-3 times daily, no more than fish will eat in 3-5 minutes.
- Thaw frozen foods if you choose to feed frozen.
Housing
- Keep in an appropriate size aquarium; provide plants for hiding, various species may prefer sparse or thick vegetation.
- Stable water quality, water temperature, and pH levels are critical to the health of the aquatic life. If you are unsure of your water quality or pH levels, Home Aquatics offers water testing.
Characteristics
- The differences are often too subtle to notice unless these fish are in breeding condition, though the males are slightly smaller than the females
- When spawning, the males become even more colorful and darker with a brighter middle stripe.
- The females become rounder when carrying eggs.
Habitat Maintenance
Daily: Check filter, water temperature and other equipment.
Weekly: Check water quality at least once a week.
Monthly: Change 10-25% of the total volume of water every 2-4 weeks, or as needed.
Introduce new inhabitants to the aquarium gradually.
Compatibility
Danio are compatible with most peaceful species of fish, however may become nervous when around tankmates of different species. They should be kept in groups of 8 or more of their own kind.
Health
Signs of a Healthy Fish
- Clear eyes
- Healthy appetite
- Bright, even coloring
- Clean in appearance
Avoid overcrowded conditions; they are a major cause of stress and disease. Maintain good water quality with regular water changes and adequate filtration.
Red Flags
- loss of color or appetite
- spots or fungus on body or mouth
- erratic swimming
- frayed fins
Common Health Issues
| Health Issue | Symptoms or Causes | Suggested Action |
|---|---|---|
| Fin rot | Frayed or disintegrating fins; the base of the fins usually reddens. | Improve water quality; consult your aquatic veterinarian for treatment. |
| Ich | White spots appear on fins and body; fish rubs against hard objects or swims awkwardly. | Quarantine fish immediately; use a commercial ich remedy for at least two weeks |
These fish will generally get along with their own kind. They may chase each other around a little, but without harm. They must be kept in a school of at least 8 to 10 individuals, but more is even better. Without a good-sized school, they will become lethargic, refuse to eat, and waste away. Mixing the sexes makes the males much brighter in coloration.
Danios are fairly shy fish. They should be kept either with small, calm tankmates or in a species tank. Any large tankmates, peaceful or not, tend to scare them into hiding. They do very well with other small cyprinids and danios, except the Giant Danio, which is much larger and will often harass smaller fish. They can also be combined with most tetras, livebearers, rainbowfish, anabantoids, catfish, and loaches.
Since they are omnivorous, these fish will accept most fish food, live or prepared, though the food does need to float at the surface. As with all danios, these fish are quite active and have high nutrient requirements, so select a flake food that will provide for their needs.