CELESTIAL PEARL DANIO
Common Name: Celestial Pearl Danio
Scientific Name: Danio margaritatus
Origin: Found in shallow, clear pools and waters connected to the Salween River throughout southern Shan State, Myanmar, and northern Thailand.
SPECIES OVERVIEW
The Celestial Pearl Danio (Danio margaritatus) is a captivating small freshwater fish, known for its vibrant colours 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.
Males: Steel-to-deep blue body, with bright red and black fin striping. Their abdomen turns reddish during breeding.
Females: Blue-green base colour, 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.
CARE REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Aquarium Size: Requires at least a 45 × 30 cm base tank for a group, given their sometimes combative nature among males.
Adult Size: Approximately 2.1 cm
WATER PARAMETERS
Temperature: 20–26°C
pH: 6.5–7.5
Hardness: 90 – 268 ppm
AQUARIUM SETUP
Tank Setup: A heavily planted tank with a dark substrate and broken lines of sight reduces stress and promotes natural behaviour. 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.
Plants: The plants in its habitat include genera such as Elodea, Egeria, and Blyxa.
DIET & FEEDING
Diet: Omnivore
Feeding: Though they accept small dried foods, it’s best to offer live and frozen foods like Daphnia and Artemia to enhance colour and condition.
TANKMATES
Keep with similarly small, calm fish. Avoid boisterous companions that may outcompete them for food and avoid closely related species when breeding.
GROUP SIZE
Keep a group, preferably ten or more where space permits. Dense planting and broken sight lines help reduce competition between males.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Sex: Un-sexed.
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.
Spawning Style: An egg-scattering species, with no parental care. In heavily planted tanks, some fry may survive without intervention.
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.