Description

Zebra Danios (Danio rerio) originally hailed from a wider range, spanning Myanmar to Pakistan, but now are believed to be native to a more limited area in India and Bangladesh. This shift in understanding is due to the identification of similar species previously misclassified as Zebra Danios. The species is found in various habitats, from fast-moving streams to stagnant ponds.

Zebra Danios are known for their distinctive blue-purple horizontal stripes across a silver-gold body. Various color and fin variations exist, including albino, golden, and long-finned types. The popular GloFish variety features fluorescent colors such as orange, green, blue, purple, or red. They also come in a leopard variety, characterized by black spots.

As peaceful, small (2-inch) fish, they are ideal for community tanks, though they may nip at the fins of long-finned species like angelfish, bettas, or guppies. They should be kept in schools of five or more and do best with active fish that can keep up with their fast-paced nature.

Zebra Danios thrive in surface-dwelling environments with moving water and prefer cooler temperatures between 64-75°F. While adaptable, they are more susceptible to disease in lower temperatures. Their diet is omnivorous, including small live or frozen invertebrates, pellets, and vegetable matter.