Danio cf putaoensis “mini putao danio”

[Plaamoo]

Anyone heard of these? I saw them in a shop today and my first thought was hybrid. Deep body just didn’t look right??

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/closed.cgi?view_closed_item&fwcyprinids1357776506

[BillT]

I got some of these a little more than a week ago, indirectly from the same source, because I am interested in small Devarios.

To me they look like a Devario not a Danio.

Here are some pictures I took when I got them:

 

They are small. They vary a bit in size and color. The last picture is of one of the larger ones. It is in front of a ruler which is 1.25″ wide (3.175 cm). I was thinking they were not mature, but I have been feeding them well and they some are fattening up as if they might be developing some eggs. I am hoping to breed them eventually.

 

They are in a tank with a few Danio kyathit (spotted version) and in this situation they are more on the bold end of the bold to timid behavioral axis (which I like because I can see them easily).

 

Putao is a place name, a town way north in Myanmar (AKA Burma). Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putao) says the air temp varies between 6.9˚C (44.4˚F) and 29.3˚C (84.7˚F) and that it gets a lot of rain in Monsoon months. This would seem to be the same area that the recently described Danio flagrans.

I really dislike these common names (such as mini Putao Danio), but if something is not described scientifically I guess that is all you have to go by. I believe a lot of non-scientific names are generated by the people sending the fish out to the rest of the world for the purpose of driving sales through a unique or catchy name. It seems obvious to me that it is not of the Danio genus. Makes me wonder if they really are from Putao or if someone just wants to take advantage of interest in things “Putao” due to the recent description of Danio flagrans from there.

 

I would certainly be interested in hearing other people’s opinions about these fish.

[Plaamoo]

Thanks for the pics Bill! They are attractive little buggers! Interestingly, the ones that I was looking at today were also in a tank with d. kyathit. It was the contrast in body shape that had me wondering. I know very little about danios/devarios so also looking for input from the more educated. Please keep us posted as to their progress & breeding!

 

[Matt]

Welcome to the forum Bill, and thanks for the photos! It does appear to be a Devario but I agree with Jim that something doesn’t look quite right, particularly the size of the eye and fins in comparison with the body.

A selectively-bred ‘short-bodied’ form?

[BillT]

Thanks Matt.

 

These are the theories I have heard about these fish:

a deformed fish (perhaps a runt?)

a hybrid (first post)

and yours of a selectively bred short body form

 

I hope to be able to breed them. If I can than I would not expect them to be some weird hybrid since most Danio hybrids are not fertile. Devarios maybe be different though.

 

I would be surprised if someone in Myanmar has selectively bred a short body version rather than just grabbing some wild fish, but who knows where they really come from? Selective breeding however would explain their boldness (but is not required) and might make them easier to breed (good for my purposes).

 

Of course my previous experience at being wrong before applies to all this, but speculation is fun and directs planning which drives action.

[mikev]

Interesting… I doubt it is a deformed fish, since you have many of them. Hybrids are imho unlikely too, but you should see what happens to the fry: 1st generation hybrids are not likely to all look the same. And it sounds very strange if someone would breed a “balloon” giant danio…

Perhaps, someone would want to call Anthony and ask him if the fish is tank bred or wild caught? — this will eliminate some of the options.

[BillT]

I e-mailed Anthony.

 

He thinks they are wild from Putao but will check with the vendor to see if anything else is known.

 

Also, they would not be what i think of as a typical “balloon” type of mutant. They are very thin (side to side), similar to an angelfish.

[BillT]

These fish are now about 2 and a half weeks older than the previous pictures. They have more color in their fins and a darker stripe in their tail.Some of them are also getting fatter, hopefuly with eggs.

[Matt]

The more I look at it the more it seems like an aberrant D. devario…please keep us updated as to their progress Bill!

[BillT]

Yes. The coloration does look like a D. devario. A stumpy one.

[Author]

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