[Ebook] Encyclopedia of Aquarium & Pond Fish – Directory of Freshwater Fish – Cyprinids – Danios

• ORIGINS Asia, occurring in eastern India, where it ranges from Kolkata to Masulipatam.
• SIZE 21⁄2 in (6 cm).
• DIET Flake and live foods.
• WATER Temperature 68–75°F (20–24°C); soft (50 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0–6.5).
• TEMPERAMENT Lively, shoaling fish.

These small danios show well in shoals as part of a community aquarium. The basic body patterning of horizontal blue and cream stripes varies between individuals, with the blue stripes sometimes being broken into streaks and spots. Few fish are more devoted to their mates than Zebras. Whiteworm is a good conditioning food for spawning purposes, with males becoming more brightly colored at this time and the females swelling with eggs. The water in a spawning tank for danios must be about 6 in (15 cm) deep. Placing a grid on the bottom will prevent the pair from eating their spawn. Egg- laying occurs in the morning, triggered partly by sunlight falling on the tank. The adults should then be removed. The young Zebras emerge two days later and are free-swimming in another five days.

• ORIGINS Asia, probably a domestic variant, although its precise origins are not documented.
• SIZE 21⁄2 in (6 cm).
• DIET Flake and live foods.
• WATER Temperature 72–75°F (22–24°C); soft (50 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0–6.5).
• TEMPERAMENT Lively, shoaling fish.

First described in 1953, the Leopard was initially thought to be a species in its own right, but recent genetic studies have revealed that it is a variant of the Zebra Danio. The Leopard can be identified by its predominantly spotted rather than lined body pattern, with the lines being more obvious close to the caudal fin. Its care and breeding requirements are identical to those of the Zebra. A long-finned form of the Leopard Danio has also been bred.

• ORIGINS: Southern Asia, occurring only within the boundaries of Myanmar (Burma).
• SIZE: 2 in (5 cm).
• DIET: Flake and live foods.
• WATER: Temperature 72–75°F (22–24°C); soft (50 mg/l) and acidic to neutral (pH 6.5–7.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Lively and social.

A strong, dark stripe, becoming blue above the anal fin, helps to distinguish this danio. There is also an irregular pattern of spots occurring below this stripe on the lower half of the body. Males are smaller than females and have a light brown edge to the anal fin. Increasing the water temperature slightly will help to trigger spawning behavior. These danios maintain a strong pair bond, even though they live in shoals. They scatter their eggs in batches among fine-leaved plants.

• ORIGINS: Asia, occurring in northern and eastern parts of India, as well as in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
• SIZE: 6 in (15 cm).
• DIET: Flake and live foods.
• WATER: Temperature 72–75°F (22–24°C); soft (50 mg/l) and acidic to neutral (pH 6.5–7.0).
• TEMPERAMENT: Active and social.

The Bengal Danio’s attractive patterning of yellow markings on a bluish background is seen to best effect in relatively dark surroundings where floating plants diffuse the lighting. Keep Bengals in shoals to maintain their appearance, since single individuals may feel nervous and become paler as a result. There is usually some slight variance between the sexes, with the female (the upper fish in the pair shown here) having a broader body than the male. The eggs will be strewn around the spawning tank and should hatch within two days. Young Bengal Danios require fry food or a suitable substitute once they are free-swimming. They can then be reared on a variety of other foods, ranging from powdered egg yolk and flake to small live foods. Carry out regular partial water changes to maintain good water quality as the young danios grow, and divide them into separate groups to prevent overcrowding.