Zebra Danio (Brachydanio rerio)
Zebra Danios are a favourite hobbyist because of their ease of care, charm, and grace. These fish are easy to recognize by their distinctive horizontal stripes. Blue-purple horizontal lines that run from gill to tail, setting off the slim, compressed, golden-silvery body of this attractive fish that looks similar to that of a zebra
Zebra Danios are peaceful and will get along with most tankmates; however, they may nip fins of individual species such as betas and angelfish, but that aside they make a great addition to the community tank.
They are very hardy and can withstand an impressive range of water conditions and temperatures.
This species will do just fine without a heater as they are pretty comfortable at low temperatures.
Zebra Danio Variants
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Brachydanio rerio |
| Other Names | Zebra Fish, Striped Danio |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Genus | Danio |
| Origins | Eastern India |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Aquarium Level | Middle - Top |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Shoaling | Yes |
| Best kept as | Groups 6+ |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Reproduction | Egg-Scatterer |
| Lifespan | 2 - 4 years |
| Water Parameters | |
|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater |
| PH | 6.5 - 7.0 |
| GH | 5 - 12 |
| KH | 1 - 5 |
| TDS | 100 - 500 |
| Temperature | |
| 64 - 74℉ 17.8 - 23.3℃ | |
Natural Habitat
The Zebra Danio inhabits moving waters with a silty and densely vegetated substrate in streams, ponds, rivers and channels in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Bhutan.
In the wild, the places you will find them depends on the season; in the dry season, you will encounter them in flooded rice fields and puddles where they will eat and spawn, and after the rainy season, they will return into the rivers, streams etc.
Other Danios of interest
What to feed the Zebra Danio
Zebra Danios will eat most food such as flakes, pellets, tablets, live or freeze-dried, but it does need to float on the surface because that's where they prefer to eat. They will go after food that starts to sink, but they will not touch food at the bottom of the tank.
Balance the diet by also feeding them vegetable matter.
These fish will do best when offered food several times a day.
How to Sex the Zebra Danio
There isn't much that defines a male from a female species except that the female is more rounded and slightly larger than the male.
In contrast, the male is more streamlined and torpedo-shaped.
You will not be able to differentiate until they are adults as they look identical to juveniles.
How to Breed the Zebra Danio
Zebra danios are prolific breeders; therefore, they are ideal for beginners looking to breed their first aquarium fish.
Mated pairs of Zebra Danios remain together for life; they hardly ever spawn with others even after the partner dies. The best way to succeed with a mating couple is to have six or more young zebras and let them choose their mate.
Your breeding tank should be pretty shallow and decorated with fine-leaved plants such as java moss, and you should also have course gravel, small rocks or marbles at the bottom as this is where the eggs will be dropped and protected from the adults. Once spawning has occurred and the eggs have been scattered, remove the mating pair as they will more than likely eat their eggs.
The female can usually lay from 50-500 eggs, and it usually takes around two days for them to hatch.