Glowlight danio

Danio choprae

Also known as Choprae danio, Celestichthys choprae

FreshwaterFish

Glowlight danio (Danio choprae) — Melanochromis · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 1.2 in (3 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Northern Myanmar (Mogaung Chaung, Irrawaddy basin)
Family: Cyprinidae

Overview

Keep them in a group of 8 to 10, in a tank of at least 75 liters. A larger group brings out their color and spreads out the nipping, since dominant males will harass subordinates in small numbers. They are mostly peaceful and school through the middle of the water column. Hold the temperature from 22 to 26 C and the pH between 6 and 7.5. Feed small flakes, micro pellets, and frozen foods like daphnia or baby brine, and keep tankmates small and calm.

In the wild

Glowlight danios come from clear, shallow streams in northern Myanmar, in the Mogaung Chaung and the wider Irrawaddy basin. These are cooler, well planted waters with open patches for swimming. To match that, give them a planted tank with a darker substrate to bring out their color, plus some open space across the middle of the tank. Keep the water from 22 to 26 C and the pH between 6 and 7.5.

Good to know

This is a tiny danio in the family Cyprinidae, reaching only about 3 cm as an adult. It was formerly placed in the genus Celestichthys, so you may still see it sold under that name. It is an egg scatterer with no parental care, and a mature, well planted tank may give you spawns on its own. Most fish in the trade are commercially bred.

Did you know

The breeding is rated medium because it takes a mature, well planted tank to pull off. As egg scatterers the adults drop eggs over plants and substrate and then eat any they can reach, so a thick layer of moss or fine leaved plants gives the eggs somewhere to fall out of sight. A separate, heavily planted spawning setup raises your odds if you want to grow out fry.