Glowlight Danio (Celestichthys choprae)
Glowlight Danios are very peaceful, stunning fish, making them an ideal resident of a community tank. Since these Danios have no particular demands when it comes to water chemistry, you can combine them with most fish in the hobby, including other small Cyprinids, Tetras, livebearers, Rainbowfish, Catfish and peaceful Loaches.
Glowlight Danios are schooling species by nature; therefore, you should keep them in a group of 8 to 10 individuals. These fish will develop a pecking order among themselves. In addition, maintaining glowlight danios in more significant numbers will not only help make the fish less nervous but will also allow the lesser dominant fish of both sexes some respite from the alpha males, which can be pretty aggressive at times.
Glowlight Danios will thrive if you maintain them in a well-planted aquarium or a set-up created to mimic a flowing river or stream, with a substrate of different sized rocks and gravel and some large smooth boulders.
You can use additional powerheads or filter outlets to provide a decent flow; however, you should avoid torrent-like conditions since small Danios tend to occupy calmer waters and marginal zones in nature. These fish also appreciate hardy aquatic plants that can be grown attached to the decor, as well as branches and driftwood roots.
A tight-fitting lid for your aquarium will also be required as this species is an accomplished jumper and can fir through the smallest gaps.
The bodies of Glowlight Danios are slender and shaped like torpedoes. Greenish-golden bodies are adorned with blue vertical bars and a blue horizontal bar running dorsally across the entire body. In contrast with the translucent fins, the caudal fin has a black and gold tip. Additionally, a yellow line runs horizontally across the dorsal fin. Finally, there is a white line across the anal fin.
Photos
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Celestichthys choprae |
| Classification | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Danio |
| Origins | Myanmar |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 1 -4 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.0 - 8.0 |
| GH | 1 - 12 |
| TDS | 20 - 250 |
| Temperature | |
|---|---|
| 64 - 75℉ 17.8 - 23.9℃ | |
Feeding
In the home aquarium, the Glowlight 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
10 interesting tank mate ideas for the Glowlight Danio could include:
Sexual Dimorphism
It is relatively easy to differentiate between male and female Glowlight Danios. Sexually mature females are usually rounder-bellied, less colourful and slightly larger than males. However, when in spawning conditions, the males colour intensifies, and the female will be noticeably full with eggs.