TankBud

One species · 2 varieties

Zebra danio

Danio rerio

Also known as Leopard danio, Danio frankei

FreshwaterFish

Zebra danio (Danio rerio)
Azul · Copyrighted free use

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–75°F
18–24°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
2 in
5 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
41 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Schooling
Swim level
Middle
Difficulty
Beginner
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Very common
Family
Cyprinidae
Origin
Eastern India, Bangladesh

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One setup covers every line on this page: care is the species' care.

Overview

The zebra danio is a small, quick schooling fish for the upper half of a community tank. It is hardy and a good first fish.

Did you know

The zebra danio was one of the first vertebrates to have its genome fully sequenced. The see-through Casper and the glowing GloFish were both developed from it in research labs.

Caring for the zebra danio

Keep zebra danios in a group of at least five or six, in a tank of 11 gal (41 L) or more. They are constant, fast swimmers that cruise the middle and top of the tank. Give them open swimming space and a current, since they are built for moving water.

Zebra danios handle cooler water than most tropicals, at 64 to 75°F (18 to 24°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. That makes them one of the few community fish that work in an unheated room. They eat just about anything, including flake, small pellets and live or frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms.

Zebra danios are mostly peaceful, but their energy can pester slow or long-finned tank mates. They are egg scatterers that drop their eggs over the bottom and give no parental care afterward. Breeding them is moderately difficult.

Good to know

The zebra danio, Danio rerio, is a small cyprinid in the same family as carp and barbs. Other names for it include leopard danio and Danio frankei. The IUCN lists it as Least Concern. It is also a major laboratory animal, so its biology is unusually well documented.

In the wild

Zebra danios come from streams, rivers and rice paddies across eastern India and Bangladesh. The water there is shallow and slow to moderate, with some plants.

Other named lines

The named shop forms are all line-bred zebra danios. Color and fin lines change the look and nothing else.

Golden
pale gold body, faint stripes

Weekly picks

Tank mates

Every variety on this page wants the same water, so one set of picks fits them all. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a zebra danio need?

A zebra danio needs at least 11 gal (41 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a zebra danio need?

A zebra danio is comfortable at 64–75°F (18–24°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a zebra danio eat?

A zebra danio eats just about anything. Offer flake and small pellets, with live or frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms.

How big does a zebra danio get?

An adult zebra danio reaches about 2 in (5 cm).

Does a zebra danio need a group?

Yes. A zebra danio is a schooling species and should be kept in a group, not singly.

How does a zebra danio breed?

Zebra danios are egg scatterers. They drop their eggs over the bottom and leave them with no parental care, and breeding them is moderately difficult.

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