Edit Danio choprae

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Name

Scientific name

Danio choprae

Described by

Authority Hora, Year 1928

Family

Cyprinidae

Common names

Glowlight Danio

Photograph credits

All 9 credited

Summary

The glowlight danio, Danio choprae, is a small cyprinid from northern Myanmar, apparently restricted to the Mogaung Chaung system. Availabl…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

30mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 80 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 16–26°C, pH 6–8

Hardness

1–12dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Community-safe

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Myanmar, Ayeyarwady

Writing

Etymology

Danio: from Dhani, a Bengalese vernacular term for small, minnow-like cyprinids. choprae: named for Dr. B. N. Chopra, who collected the original specimens (see…

Distribution

The type specimens were collected from 'small rocky streams' of the Mogaung Chaung river system close to the towns of 'Kamaing' (often referred to as Kar Maing…

Habitat

This species shows a preference for small hill streams with substrates of gravel and variably-sized rocks. On habitat comprised a larger pool with muddy substr…

Aquarium size

Base dimensions of 80 ∗ 30 cm or larger are required for this active species.

Maintenance

Looks particularly effective in a heavily-planted arrangement with a darker substrate, and may appear paler in sparsely-decorated set-ups. We suggest maintaini…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Almost certain to prey chiefly on insects and their larvae in nature. In the aquarium it's a largely unfussy feeder and will accept most foods. A good quality …

Behaviour and compatibility

Generally very peaceful making it an ideal resident of the well-furnished community tank. Since it places no special demands in terms of water chemistry it can…

Sexual dimorphism

Sexually mature females are usually rounder-bellied, less colourful and a little larger than males. The differences are especially clear when the fish are in s…

Reproduction

Like many small cyprinids this species is an egg-scattering spawner that exhibits no parental care. That is to say when the fish are in good condition they wil…

Like many small cyprinids this species is an egg-scattering spawner that exhibits no parental care.

That is to say when the fish are in good condition they will spawn often and in a densely-planted, mature aquarium it is possible that small numbers of fry may start to appear without human intervention.

However if you want to increase the yield of fry a slightly more controlled approach is required.

The adult group can still be conditioned together but one or more smaller, say 10-15 litre, containers should also be set up and half-filled with water.

These should be very dimly lit and the base covered with some kind of mesh of a large enough grade so that the eggs can fall through it but small enough so that the adults cannot reach them.

The widely available plastic 'grass'-type matting can also be used and works very well; alternatively filling much of the tank with Java moss or other fine-leaved plant can also yield good results.

The water itself should be of slightly acidic to neutral pH with a temperature towards the upper end of the range suggested above.

A small power filter can be added initially and this should be positioned so that the flow is directed down the full length of the tank.

When the adult fish are well-conditioned and the females appear full of eggs one or two pairs should then be introduced to each container.

Spawning can be initiated by adding small amounts of cool water every few hours in such a way that the tank is gradually topped up and feeding small amounts of live and frozen foods.

The pair should spawn the following morning. The easiest and quickest way to tell is simply to look at the female since if the fish have spawned she will be noticeably slimmer.

The adults will eat any eggs they find and are best removed after a couple of days at which point the power filter should be switched for a mature sponge-type unit in order to avoid fry being sucked into the mechanism.

Incubation is temperature-dependant to an extent but usually takes around 72 hours with the young free-swimming a couple of days later.

Initial food should be Paramecium or or a proprietary dry food of sufficiently small (5-50 micron diameter) grade, introducing Artemia nauplii, microworm, etc., once the fry are large enough to accept them.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the pageFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Title

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Authors

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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Notes

D. choprae has been available in the aquarium trade since around 2003 but has quickly established itself as one of the most popular small danionins in the hobb…

References

8 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References