Edit Danio rerio
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Name
Scientific name
Danio rerio
Described by
Authority Hamilton, Year 1822, Bracketed
Family
Cyprinidae
Common names
Zebra Danio
Photograph credits
All 12 credited
Summary
The zebra danio, Danio rerio, is a small cyprinid from India and Bangladesh, found mostly in slow or still pools and mature rice paddies. P…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
50mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 90 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 18–25°C, pH 6–8
Hardness
5–20dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Bangladesh, India, Ganges, Koshi, Shella
Writing
Etymology
Danio: from Dhani, a Bengalese vernacular term for small, minnow-like cyprinids. rerio: appears to be derived from a local vernacular name for the species.
Distribution
Described from the Kosi River, a tributary of the Ganges system in Uttar Pradesh state, northern India. It was traditionally considered to range westwards from…
Habitat
A 2007 survey by Engeszer et al. recorded D. rerio at 28 sites in north-eastern India and found that in half of them water flow was either slow or non-existent…
Aquarium size
An active species so even a small group needs an aquarium with minimum base dimensions of 90 ∗ 30 cm.
Maintenance
Choice of décor is not especially critical though it tends to show better colouration in a heavily-planted set-up with a dark substrate. The addition of some f…
Water conditions
Temperature: The temperature range in its native waters was recorded to be 76.2 - 101.5°F/24.6 - 38.6°C during the month of July but presumably drops somewhat …
Diet
Stomach analyses of wild specimens have shown it to be a micropredator, feeding on aquatic crustaceans and other invertebrates such as mosquito larvae. In the …
Behaviour and compatibility
This species is very peaceful indeed and can be combined with many of the most popular fish in the hobby including other small cyprinids as well as tetras, liv…
Sexual dimorphism
Sexually mature females are usually rounder-bellied, slightly less colourful and a little larger than males. The differences are especially clear when the fish…
Reproduction
An excellent choice for those new to breeding fishes in aquaria. Like many small cyprinids it is an egg-scattering spawner that exhibits no parental care. When…
Notes
D. rerio is one of the most popular and ubiquitous fishes in the aquarium hobby, and its popularity is well deserved since it is peaceful, hardy and inexpensiv…
References
References
17 on this profile