TankBud

Bengal glass danio

Danionella priapus

Also known as Glass micro danio, Vampire danio

FreshwaterFish

Bengal glass danio (Danionella priapus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
0.7 in
1.9 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Danionidae
Origin
Streams of northern West Bengal, India

Overview

The Bengal glass danio is one of the smallest fish in the hobby, a peaceful schooler for a quiet nano tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

Danionella, the Bengal glass danio's genus, is so clear that scientists can image a living fish's brain firing through its own skin. That has turned a fish under two centimeters long into a laboratory window on the vertebrate brain.

Caring for the Bengal glass danio

A small, mature, gently filtered tank of 11 gal (40 L) is enough for Bengal glass danios. Add fine-leaved planting and a soft dark substrate, with dim light to bring out what little color they have.

Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed the smallest foods, such as microworm, baby brine shrimp, cyclops and finely powdered dry food.

Keep at least a dozen together, since the group hangs in loose formation and single fish are almost impossible to observe. Because they are tiny and delicate, their only tank mates should be equally small, gentle species, or none at all. They can spawn in stable, mature water, and breeding them is moderately tricky.

Good to know

Danionella priapus is a miniature member of the danio family, Danionidae, and it stays transparent and scaleless for life. Britz described it in 2009.

In the wild

The Bengal glass danio comes from shallow, gently flowing streams in northern West Bengal, India. It lives there among fine plants, over a soft bottom.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Bengal glass 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 a Bengal glass danio need?

A Bengal glass danio needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Bengal glass danio need?

A Bengal glass danio is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Bengal glass danio eat?

A Bengal glass danio needs the smallest foods, such as microworm, baby brine shrimp, cyclops and finely powdered dry food.

How big does a Bengal glass danio get?

An adult Bengal glass danio reaches about 0.7 in (1.9 cm).

Does a Bengal glass danio need a group?

Yes. A Bengal glass danio is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

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