TankBud

Dracula fish

Danionella dracula

Also known as Dracula minnow, Dracula danio, Burmese green neon cypris

FreshwaterFish

Dracula fish (Danionella dracula)
AngryBurmese · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F
20–26°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
0.7 in
1.7 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Known from a small area of clear forest streams in northern Myanmar.

Overview

The Dracula fish is a tiny, translucent schooling fish for a quiet species tank. It is a delicate specialist rather than a beginner fish.

Did you know

The Dracula fish is one of the smallest vertebrates known to grow anything like teeth. The rest of the Danionella group lost its true teeth during its miniaturized evolution.

Caring for the Dracula fish

Keep Dracula fish in a group of at least ten, in a mature tank of 11 gal (40 L) or more. A quiet species tank suits them best, or one shared with dwarf shrimp, since they are far too small for normal tank mates.

Use gentle filtration and keep the water clean, gently moving and rock steady. Give them soft water at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Feed tiny foods such as baby brine shrimp, microworm, cyclops and finely crushed flake.

Adult males grow fang-like points on the jaws, and the clear fangs show right through their transparent heads. Males use them to spar with each other. Dracula fish are moderately hard to breed.

Good to know

The Dracula fish, Danionella dracula, is a member of the family Cyprinidae. Like its relatives, it keeps a larval-like, see-through body, with the spine visible through the skin. The males' fangs are not real teeth, since they have no enamel or pulp. Keeping this unique jaw armament at such a tiny size gave the fish its name. It also goes by Dracula minnow, Dracula danio and Burmese green neon cypris.

In the wild

The Dracula fish is known from a small area of clear forest streams in northern Myanmar. It swims in small groups in open water there.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Dracula fish 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 Dracula fish need?

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

What temperature and pH does a Dracula fish need?

A Dracula fish is comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a Dracula fish eat?

A Dracula fish eats only tiny foods, such as baby brine shrimp, microworm, cyclops and finely crushed flake.

How big does a Dracula fish get?

An adult Dracula fish reaches about 0.7 in (1.7 cm).

Does a Dracula fish need a group?

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

How can you tell a male Dracula fish from a female?

Males grow fang-like points on the jaws as adults. The clear fangs show right through their transparent heads.

Related species