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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
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Danionidae
Origin
Brahmaputra drainage, Assam, India

Overview

The Assam giant danio is a large, energetic schooling fish for the midwater of a long tank. It is easy to care for.

Did you know

The Assam giant danio's home streams carry meltwater and monsoon runoff straight off the eastern Himalaya. It evolved in some of the coolest, most seasonal water any giant danio calls home.

Caring for the Assam giant danio

Keep Assam giant danios in a school of six or more. A long tank of 42 gal (160 L) or larger suits a group, with room to sprint through the midwater. Give them brisk flow, good oxygenation, a substrate of sand and gravel and open water above scattered wood or rock. They jump, like their relatives, so fit a tight cover.

They lean cool, so keep the water at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. They are undemanding omnivores. Offer good flake and micro pellets, and add frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp to keep their colors strong.

Assam giant danios are peaceful but lively and fast. Keep them with sturdy midwater and bottom fish such as barbs and loaches, rather than delicate nano species. They are presumed to scatter their eggs like their close relatives, but aquarium breeding is not on record.

Good to know

Devario assamensis belongs to the danio family, Danionidae. It is one of the giant danios, which share a deep, keeled body and a lattice of stripes across the flank. Barman described it in 1984 and named it for Assam, its home region.

In the wild

The Assam giant danio comes from streams and tributaries of the Brahmaputra drainage in Assam, India.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Assam giant danio is a peaceful, schooling species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does an Assam giant danio need?

An Assam giant danio needs at least 42 gal (160 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Assam giant danio need?

An Assam giant danio is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does an Assam giant danio eat?

An Assam giant danio is an undemanding omnivore. Offer good flake and micro pellets, with frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp to keep its colors strong.

How big does an Assam giant danio get?

An adult Assam giant danio reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

Does an Assam giant danio need a group?

Yes. An Assam giant danio is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does an Assam giant danio breed?

The Assam giant danio is presumed to scatter its eggs, like its close relatives. Aquarium breeding is not on record.

Related species