TankBud

Orange hatchet danio

Laubuka dadiburjori

FreshwaterFish

Orange hatchet danio (Laubuka dadiburjori)
Frank M. Greco · CC BY 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–75°F
20–24°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
1.2 in
3 cm
Minimum tank
13 gal
50 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
India

Overview

Orange hatchet danios are tiny, peaceful shoaling fish that should be kept in a group of at least eight to ten, as a decent shoal keeps them confident and out in view. They swim in the upper and middle water and spend much of their time near the surface, so a secure lid is wise. Their small size and gentle nature make them ideal for a planted nano or a quiet community, but they should never share a tank with anything large or boisterous. Feed small foods such as fine flake, crushed micro pellets, and tiny frozen or live items. A tank around 50 liters or larger suits a shoal of these little fish.

In the wild

This little danio comes from small streams, ponds, and ditches near the coast of southwestern India, in the Kochi area of the Malabar region, where it lives in warm, still to slow moving water. It does well at about 20–24 C and a pH of 6.0–7.5. Recreate that with gentle filtration, a dark substrate, and generous planting, including floating plants that dim the light and give this surface loving fish cover. Calm water, fine foods, and plenty of plant cover keep it comfortable and coloring up.

Good to know

Laubuka dadiburjori is one of the smallest cyprinids in the hobby, a member of the family Cyprinidae that reaches only about 3 cm. It has a compressed, hatchet shaped body with a deep chest and an upturned mouth suited to feeding at the surface, and a golden orange stripe runs along each flank. It was described in 1952 and has been shuffled between the genera Chela, Laubuka, and Neochela over the years. It is an egg scattering spawner that can be bred in a quiet, densely planted tank with moderate effort.

Did you know

This fish is named after Sam Dadiburjor, an Indian aquarist who first collected and bred it from streams near Kochi in the early 1950s. Its old and still widely used name, Chela dadiburjori, and the nickname dadio both carry his name.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Orange hatchet danio 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 an Orange hatchet danio need?

An Orange hatchet danio needs at least 13 gal (50 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does an Orange hatchet danio need?

An Orange hatchet danio is comfortable at 68–75°F (20–24°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big does an Orange hatchet danio get?

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

Does an Orange hatchet danio need a group?

Yes. An Orange hatchet danio is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

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