Spotted danio

Danio nigrofasciatus

Also known as Dwarf danio

FreshwaterFish

Spotted danio (Danio nigrofasciatus) — David M, Parichy · CC BY 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 64–79°F (18–26°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 1.5 in (3.7 cm)
Minimum tank: 11 gal (40 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Schooling
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Common
Origin: Myanmar
Family: Cyprinidae

Overview

Keep them in a school of at least six in a tank of around 40 liters. They get nervous and nippy when kept in small numbers. They are fast, active swimmers in the middle and upper water and stay peaceful in a proper group. Feed quality flakes, small pellets, and occasional brine shrimp or bloodworms. They take a wide range of conditions but prefer soft, slightly cool, well-oxygenated water.

In the wild

Spotted danios come from clear, shallow streams and rivers in Myanmar, with moderate flow, plants, and submerged rocks. The water is soft and runs from slightly acidic to neutral. They handle cooler water than many tropicals, doing fine anywhere from the high teens to mid-20s C, so they suit an unheated or lightly heated room tank. Give them some current and open swimming space.

Good to know

Danio nigrofasciatus is a small cyprinid, in the same family and genus as the zebra danio. It stays small at under 4 cm. Its pattern mixes rows of spots with horizontal striping along the lower body. It is an egg scatterer with no parental care, and eggs hatch in about two days. It is hardy and not considered threatened, though local habitat loss is a concern.

Did you know

For a long time the spotted danio was thought to be just a variant of the zebra danio because the two look and act so much alike, and they will even hybridize. It was later confirmed as its own separate species.