Rose danio

Danio roseus

Also known as Purple passion danio, Brachydanio rosea, Rosy danio

FreshwaterFish

Rose danio (Danio roseus) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 70–79°F (21–26°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 1.8 in (4.6 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Upper Mekong basin, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar
Family: Danionidae

Overview

The rose danio is an easy, good-natured schooling fish that swims in the middle of the tank and looks its best in a group of at least eight. It is peaceful and active, mixing well with rasboras, small loaches, and other calm community fish of similar size. It eats almost anything small, from flake and micro-pellets to frozen and live foods, and colours up over a week or two of good feeding and calm surroundings. Give a group a planted tank of around 75 liters with open swimming space; like all danios it jumps, so a well-fitting lid is essential.

In the wild

It comes from streams of the upper Mekong basin in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, flowing water with plants and wood. Set it up with a planted tank, some driftwood, gentle current, and open lanes to swim. Cooler than average tropical suits it, from 21 to 26 C, with the pH from 6.5 to 7.5. Hardy Anubias, Bolbitis, or ferns attached to wood work well and take the light it prefers.

Good to know

Danio roseus, family Danionidae, was described in 2000 from northern Thailand and reaches about 4.6 centimeters. It is pearl-blue with a rose-pink wash along the belly and fins that deepens as the fish settles and comes into condition. It is now sometimes placed in the genus Brachydanio. Breeding is of moderate difficulty: it is an egg-scatterer that spawns readily but eats its own eggs given the chance.

Did you know

In a shop tank a rose danio often looks like a plain silver fish; a week or two of good food and quiet light brings up the pink flush, rather like a photograph slowly developing.