Lake Inle danio

Devario auropurpureus

Also known as Inlecypris auropurpurea, Barilius auropurpureus, Purple danio

FreshwaterFish

Lake Inle danio (Devario auropurpureus) — Elizabeth Barrett / animal.photos · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 64–77°F (18–25°C)
pH: 7.0–8.0
Adult size: 3.1 in (8 cm)
Minimum tank: 24 gal (90 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Endemic to Inle Lake and its surrounding waters in the Shan hills of Myanmar.
Family: Cyprinidae

Overview

Keep Lake Inle danios in a group of at least eight in a tank of 90 litres or more, with cool, slightly alkaline water at 18 to 25 C and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. They are fast, active swimmers that want length and a tight lid. Feed flakes, micropellets, and frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworm. They are peaceful and pair well with other cool-water fish that like harder, alkaline water.

In the wild

The Lake Inle danio is found only in and around Inle Lake, a cool, high lake in the Shan hills of Myanmar. It forms fast shoals in open midwater in slightly alkaline conditions. Males show a purple and gold sheen along the flank that gives the species its name. Like other Inle fish it prefers cool water rather than tropical warmth.

Good to know

This danio is listed under several names, including Inlecypris auropurpurea and Barilius auropurpureus, though it is still widely traded as Devario auropurpureus. It reaches about 8 cm and comes from the same cool, alkaline lake as the red dwarf rasbora. Its color deepens to purple and gold in mature, well kept males.

Did you know

It is one of the small group of fish found nowhere on earth except Inle Lake, and it does best in the cool, hard water many keepers struggle to use for typical tropicals.