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The Celestial Pearl Danio (Danio margaritatus) is a captivating small freshwater fish, known for its vibrant colors and intricate markings. Native to eastern Myanmar, it was initially thought to be a rare species but is now more commonly available in the aquarium trade.

 

Distribution:

  • Origin: Found in shallow, clear pools and waters connected to the Salween River throughout southern Shan State, Myanmar, and northern Thailand.
  • Type Locality: The area around Hopong, Myanmar, at around 1,040 meters elevation, where it inhabits pools at the foot of mountains. These pools are typically densely vegetated and maintain clear, shallow water.

 

Natural Habitat:

  • Environment: Lives in permanently flooded grasslands with transparent, shallow water (about 30 cm deep) and dense aquatic plant growth, mostly from the family Hydrocharitaceae. It shares these waters with species like Devario sondhii and Microrasbora.
  • Plants: The plants in its habitat include genera such as Elodea, Egeria, and Blyxa.

 

Aquarium Requirements:

  • Tank Size: Requires at least a 45x30 cm base tank for a group, given their sometimes combative nature among males.
  • Tank Setup: A heavily planted tank with a dark substrate and broken lines of sight reduces stress and promotes natural behavior. Floating plants are beneficial, but avoid driftwood and leaf litter as they’re not a natural part of their habitat.
  • Water Flow: Use gentle filtration, such as an air-powered sponge filter. Aim for water flow of 4-5 times the tank volume.

 

Water Conditions:

  • Temperature: 20 – 26°C
  • pH Range: 6.5 – 7.5
  • Hardness: 90 – 268 ppm

 

Diet:

  • Feeding: Though they accept small dried foods, it’s best to offer live and frozen foods like Daphnia and Artemia to enhance color and condition.
  • Feeding Habit: They rarely rise to the surface, so provide food that sinks or remains mid-water.

 

Behavior and Compatibility:

  • Nature: Generally timid, and they may be outcompeted by larger or more aggressive fish.
  • Best Tank Mates: Keep with similar small, peaceful fish like Celestichthys choprae and Microdevario. Avoid C. erythromicron, which can hybridize with them. Shoal them in groups of 20+ to spread out aggression and encourage bold, vibrant behavior.

 

Sexual Dimorphism:

  • Males: Steel-to-deep blue body, with bright red and black fin striping. Their abdomen turns reddish during breeding.
  • Females: Blue-green base color, with less prominent red or orange on fins and a rounder body, especially when gravid. A small dark marking appears near the vent during spawning.

 

Breeding:

  • Spawning Style: An egg-scattering species, with no parental care. In heavily planted tanks, some fry may survive without intervention.
  • Controlled Breeding: Use a small, densely planted tank with fine-leaved plants. Isolate a pair or a small group, removing adults post-spawning to prevent egg predation.
  • Fry Care: Incubation takes around 72 hours, with fry becoming free-swimming in 3-4 days. Feed fry with Paramecium or finely powdered food, moving to Artemia nauplii as they grow.

 

Species Overview:

  • Species: Danio margaritatus
  • Common Name: Celestial Pearl Danio
  • Origin: Eastern Myanmar
  • Diet: Omnivore
  • pH Range: 6.5 – 7.5
  • Temperature: 20-26°C
  • Max Size: Approximately 2.1 cm
  • Sex: Un-sexed

 

The Celestial Pearl Danio’s stunning appearance and unique behaviors make it a captivating addition to a peaceful, well-planted aquarium. With the right conditions and care, they can thrive and showcase their natural beauty in home aquariums.

Celestial Pearl Danio

AU$27.00 Regular Price
AU$24.30Sale Price
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