Rakhine danio

Devario xyrops

Also known as Razor-eye devario, Blue moon danio

FreshwaterFish

Rakhine danio (Devario xyrops) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 68–79°F (20–26°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 3.7 in (9.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 29 gal (110 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Rakhine Yoma streams, southwestern Myanmar
Family: Danionidae

Overview

The Rakhine danio is a hardy, mid-sized devario that swims in tight, restless shoals, so keep at least six and give them room to move. They spend the day patrolling the middle of the tank and remain peaceful, but they are fast and always hungry, which makes them better suited to other active, similarly sized fish than to slow or timid ones. They eat almost anything offered: flake, pellets, and frozen or live foods. Because of their size and pace, house a group in a long tank of around 110 liters or larger with brisk, well-oxygenated water.

In the wild

It lives in small, clear streams on the western slope of the Rakhine Yoma in southwestern Myanmar, cooler foothill water that in the dry season shrinks to a chain of connected pools. Give it a long tank with some current, open water, and dark decor to show off its markings. It tolerates a wide temperature band, from 20 to 26 C, with the pH from 6.5 to 7.5.

Good to know

Devario xyrops, family Danionidae, was described in 2009 and reaches about 9.5 centimeters. The species name comes from the Greek for razor and eye, a nod to the sharp bony ridge above the eye that also forms the blue mask running through it. It is traded as well under the name blue moon danio. Home breeding is not recorded, though as an egg-scattering danionin it is likely to spawn in the usual way given the chance.

Did you know

The name xyrops means razor-eye: it points to a sharp-edged bony margin around the eye, which shows in the living fish as a bright blue blade of colour across the face.