Bengal Danio (Devario devario)
The Bengal Danio makes a stunning addition to the community aquarium. They are hardy, very active and relatively peaceful. These Danios are not an aggressive fish but may upset timid, slow-moving tankmates with their constant activity and vigorous feeding behaviour. Therefore, it is most suited to larger aquariums containing robust, similarly-sized fishes.
Bengal Danios are a schooling species by nature, and you should ideally keep them in groups of 8 to 10 individuals. Maintaining them in decent numbers will make the fish less nervous and result in a more effective, natural-looking display. Since these fish are sociable, they do not fare very well if kept singly.
Any aggression will also be restrained as the fish concentrate on maintaining their hierarchical position within the group, and males tend to display better colours in rivals' presence.
The Bengal Danio is an elongated fish with a high-back and lateral compression. Their body is rounded, and they have no barbels. The colour varies depending on the population.
Their back and belly are golden-brown, and the flanks are blue with some subtle, transverse yellow stripes. They present a broad, dark blue bar on each side that extends from the rear part of the mid-section to the fork of the caudal fin. The fins are usually transparent.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Devario devario |
| Other Names | Sind Danio, Bengal Turquoise Danio |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Devario |
| Origins | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Top |
| Difficulty | Beginner - Intermediate |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 8+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 3 - 5 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 8.0 |
| GH | 5 - 20 |
| TDS | 36 - 268 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 59 - 79℉ 15 - 26.1℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Bengal Danio will readily accept most good quality dried foods such as granules, flakes and sinking pellets. These modern food products have been developed to provide all adequate nutrition to maintain your fish's health and dietary requirements.
Providing additional foodstuffs such as live, frozen, and freeze-dried meals such as bloodworm, daphnia, and tubifex once or twice a week will provide additional benefits to your fish's health and well-being but is not a must for this fish.
It should be noted that bloodworms should only be given as an occasional treat and should not be used as the staple diet as they are difficult for fish to digest and can potentially cause blockages.
This fish is an omnivore in the wild, meaning it will consume some vegetable matter. Although most modern fish foods take this into account and include them in their products, you can still supplement your fish's diet with blanched vegetables such as spinach, broccoli, and zucchini. Ensure you do not overfeed your fish and remove any leftovers the following day.
Tank Mates
1 interesting tank mate ideas for the Bengal Danio could include:
Sexual Dimorphism
It is easy to differentiate male from female Bengal Danios. Males are typically slimmer, smaller, and far more colourful than females, whereas females are rounder bellied, less colourful and slightly larger than males.