Glowlight danio

Danio choprae

Also known as Choprae danio, Celestichthys choprae, Glolight danio

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: Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity: Common
Family: Cyprinidae
Origin: Northern Myanmar (Mogaung Chaung, Irrawaddy basin)

Overview

The glowlight danio is a small, mostly peaceful schooling fish for a planted community tank. It is easy to care for.

Did you know

The glowlight danio was formerly placed in the genus Celestichthys, so you may still see it sold under that name.

Caring for the glowlight danio

Keep glowlight danios in a group of 8 to 10, in a tank of at least 20 gal (75 L). A larger group brings out their color and spreads out the nipping, since dominant males will harass subordinates in small numbers. They school through the middle of the tank.

Give them a planted tank with a darker substrate, which also brings out their color, plus some open swimming space across the middle. Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed small flakes, micro pellets and frozen foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp.

Glowlight danios are mostly peaceful, so keep their tank mates small and calm. They are egg scatterers with no parental care. The adults drop eggs over plants and substrate, then eat any they can reach.

Breeding them is rated medium, because it takes a mature, well-planted tank to pull off. A thick layer of moss or fine-leaved plants gives the eggs somewhere to fall out of sight. Such a tank may give you spawns on its own. A separate, heavily planted spawning setup raises your odds if you want to grow out fry.

Good to know

The glowlight danio is a tiny danio in the family Cyprinidae. Most fish in the trade are commercially bred.

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.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The glowlight danio is a mostly 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 glowlight danio need?

A glowlight danio needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a glowlight danio need?

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

What does a glowlight danio eat?

A glowlight danio eats small flakes, micro pellets and frozen foods such as daphnia or baby brine shrimp.

How big does a glowlight danio get?

An adult glowlight danio reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).

Does a glowlight danio need a group?

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

How does a glowlight danio breed?

Glowlight danios are egg scatterers that drop eggs over plants and substrate, then eat any they can reach. Moss or fine-leaved plants hide the eggs, and a separate, heavily planted setup helps if you want to raise fry.