TankBud

Danionella cerebrum

Also known as Danionella translucida, Translucent danio, Glass danio

FreshwaterFish

Danionella cerebrum (Danionella cerebrum)
AngryBurmese · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
0.5 in
1.3 cm
Minimum tank
8 gal
30 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Native to shallow, slow streams and pools in the Bago region of southern Myanmar.

Overview

Danionella cerebrum is a tiny, peaceful schooling fish for a mature nano tank. It is a specialist that suits a keeper with some experience.

Did you know

Danionella cerebrum is so clear that you can see straight through it to the brain and spine. That has made it a major laboratory model for studying how vertebrate brains work in a living, moving animal.

Caring for the Danionella cerebrum

Keep Danionella cerebrum in a group of at least ten, in a mature, gently filtered tank of 8 gal (30 L) or more. It is very sensitive to poor conditions, so stable water and low flow matter more than any exact number. Aim for 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Its very small size means it can take only tiny foods. Feed baby brine shrimp, microworm, cyclops and finely crushed flake.

Danionella cerebrum is far too small for most tank mates. A species-only nano tank suits it best, or a tank shared with dwarf shrimp. Breeding it is of medium difficulty.

Good to know

Danionella cerebrum, described in 2021, is the species behind most fish traded and studied under the older name Danionella translucida. That name belongs to a genuinely different fish. It also goes by glass danio and translucent danio. Its larval-like body never fully ossifies, which leaves it transparent. Despite the tiny size, males can produce clicks louder than 140 decibels by drumming a muscle against the swim bladder.

In the wild

Danionella cerebrum comes from shallow, slow-moving and standing waters in the Bago region of southern Myanmar. It swims in loose groups in open midwater.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Danionella cerebrum 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 Danionella cerebrum need?

A Danionella cerebrum needs at least 8 gal (30 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a Danionella cerebrum need?

A Danionella cerebrum is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a Danionella cerebrum eat?

Danionella cerebrum can take only tiny foods because of its very small size. Feed it baby brine shrimp, microworm, cyclops and finely crushed flake.

How big does a Danionella cerebrum get?

An adult Danionella cerebrum reaches about 0.5 in (1.3 cm).

Does a Danionella cerebrum need a group?

Yes. A Danionella cerebrum is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

Related species