Not furry, but we like them anyway.

Bengal Danio

Devario devario

Also called Sind danio

SpeciesShort profile

From South Asia: Ganges and Brahmaputra basins and beyond in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh (also reported from Afghanistan); rivers, canals, ponds and flooded fields1 2 3

At a glance the quick version

Length8 to 10 cm1 2 3

Sizemedium

Seriously Fish gives 8 cm SL; FishBase and Wikipedia give 10 cm TL

Hardy and adaptable

Lively schooler

Copes with cooler water

1 2

Looks how to spot one

Deep-bodied, laterally compressed scaled cyprinid

A fairly large, deep-bodied danio with a silvery body. Each flank carries a light-coloured stripe that breaks into sections, and unlike many danios it has no barbels on the upper jaw. Females are rounder, a little larger and less colourful than males.1

Colourssilveryblue-greylight interrupted stripesyellowish fins1

Personality what they are like

Active and busy but not aggressive. Its energy can unsettle very shy fish, so it fits best with robust tankmates of a similar size.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

A fast, energetic swimmer that needs a long tank with plenty of open water.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Keep the water clean and moving with regular partial changes. It jumps well, so a secure lid is needed.1

Home where they are happiest

A tank with a base of at least 120 x 45 cm (about 243 litres). Temperature 15-26 °C, pH 6.0-8.0, hardness 2-15 °H (FishBase 5-19 °H). Open swimming space with some plants and rocks works well.1 2

Food basics what goes in the bowl

An omnivore that mainly eats insects in the wild, plus algae, worms and small crustaceans. Offer quality dried food with live or frozen bloodworm and Artemia.1 2

Company who they like around

Keep at least 8-10 together. Choose robust, similar-sized community fish as companions.1

The story where it all began

Francis Hamilton described this fish in 1822 from the rivers of Bengal, making it one of the earliest danios known to science. It is now kept by aquarists, and the trade also offers a short-bodied form and an albino form.2 3 1

Fun facts for the dinner table

1
It was described in 1822, more than two centuries ago.2
2
Unlike many of its danio relatives it has no barbels on the upper jaw.1
3
Besides insects, wild fish also graze on filamentous algae and diatoms.1
4
Aquarium breeders have produced both a short-bodied form and an albino form.1

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List: Assessed as Least Concern (January 2010)2
FishBase: Described by Hamilton in 1822; used in fisheries and the aquarium trade2

The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you

A typical home-care rhythm for a Bengal Danio. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.

FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
Temperature checkevery day
Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
Water testevery week
Glass cleanevery week
Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month

Start a free diary

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Where this comes from

Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.

Seriously Fish - Devario devario seriouslyfish.comused for origin, size, tank and water parameters, diet, behaviour, appearance, varieties
FishBase - Devario devario fishbase.seused for author/year, IUCN status, size, habitat, water parameters, diet
Wikipedia - Bengal Danio en.wikipedia.orgused for other names, size, distribution

Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.