Assam giant danio

Devario assamensis

Also known as Assamese devario, Assam danio

FreshwaterFish

Assam giant danio (Devario assamensis) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 68–79°F (20–26°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 4.3 in (11 cm)
Minimum tank: 42 gal (160 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Brahmaputra drainage, Assam, India
Family: Danionidae

Overview

A large, energetic danio that does best in a school of six or more in a long tank with room to sprint through the midwater. It is peaceful but lively and fast, so keep it with sturdy midwater and bottom fish such as barbs and loaches rather than delicate nano species. Like its relatives it jumps, so fit a tight cover. It is an undemanding omnivore: offer good flake and micro pellets, and supplement with frozen bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimp to keep its colors strong. Around 160 liters suits a group.

In the wild

The Assam giant danio comes from the Brahmaputra drainage in Assam, in streams and tributaries that run cool off the eastern Himalaya. Set up a long tank with brisk flow and good oxygenation, a substrate of sand and gravel, and open water above scattered wood or rock. It leans cool, so keep it at 20 to 26 degrees Celsius with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Good to know

Devario assamensis is a member of the danio family, Danionidae, and reaches about 11 centimeters, one of the giant danios that share a deep, keeled body and a lattice of stripes across the flank. Barman described it in 1984, naming it for Assam, its home region. It is presumed to be an egg-scattering spawner like its close relatives, but aquarium breeding is not on record.

Did you know

Its home streams in Assam carry meltwater and monsoon runoff straight off the eastern Himalaya, so this danio evolved in some of the coolest, most seasonal water any giant danio calls home.