Sittaung danio

Danio sysphigmatus

Also known as Chain danio, Purple danio

FreshwaterFish

Sittaung danio (Danio sysphigmatus) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–81°F (22–27°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 3.3 in (8.5 cm)
Minimum tank: 29 gal (110 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Sittaung drainage and coastal rivers, Myanmar
Family: Danionidae

Overview

The Sittaung danio is one of the larger chain danios, an active schooling fish that wants space and numbers, so keep at least six in a roomy tank. It swims in the middle water, stays peaceful, and does well with other lively, similarly sized community fish that can keep up with its pace. It is an easy, unfussy eater, taking flake, pellets, and frozen or live foods without complaint. Give a group a tank of around 110 liters or more with open swimming lanes and a secure lid, since danios are keen jumpers.

In the wild

It comes from streams of the Sittaung drainage and nearby coastal rivers in Myanmar, flowing water that runs a little cooler than full tropical. Recreate that with a planted tank, some current, and open water to cruise. It takes a broad temperature range, from 22 to 27 C, with the pH from 6.5 to 7.5 and soft to neutral hardness.

Good to know

Danio sysphigmatus, family Danionidae, was described in 2015 and reaches about 8.5 centimeters, making it one of the larger danios. The species name refers to its chain-like pattern of linked bars along a brassy body, which is where the common name chain danio comes from. It belongs to the Danio dangila species group and, like its relatives, is an egg-scattering spawner, though home breeding is not documented.

Did you know

The chain danios were long treated as one wide-ranging fish; only in 2015 were several of them, this one included, formally separated, with the linked-bar pattern along the flank as a key clue to telling them apart.