Laos giant danio

Devario acrostomus

Also known as Acrostomus danio, Sharp nose danio

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F (22–27°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 4.4 in (11.3 cm)
Minimum tank: 42 gal (160 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Mekong basin, Laos
Family: Danionidae

Overview

A large, easy giant danio for a long tank, kept as a school of six or more where it swims hard back and forth through the midwater and turns feeding time into a scramble. It is peaceful but big and fast, so keep it with sturdy companions rather than small or timid fish, and fit a tight lid over open swimming length. Feed generously and variously: good flake and pellets with frozen bloodworm, daphnia, and brine shrimp, plus the odd small insect. A tank of around 160 liters of length keeps a group swimming.

In the wild

This danio lives in forested tributaries of the Mekong in Laos, in clear water over boulders, in habitats that range from still, deep pools to fast-flowing runs. Give it a long tank with good flow and oxygen, a substrate of sand and rounded stone, some wood, and plenty of open water. Aim for 22 to 27 degrees Celsius and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Good to know

Devario acrostomus is a member of the danio family, Danionidae, reaching about 11 centimeters, with the deep, keeled body and blue lattice flank of the giant danios. Fang and Kottelat described it in 1999; the name acrostomus means point-mouthed, for the shape of its jaws. It has no documented aquarium breeding.

Did you know

The hobby lumps the bigger Devario together as giant danios, and this Lao species earns the label honestly, an eleven-centimeter fish of solid muscle built to hold its place in fast water.