Celestial Pearl Danio

Looks how to spot one

Tiny, compact cyprinid

A miniature fish covered in pearly white to golden spots on a blue body, like a small night sky. Its fins carry bands of red or orange edged with black. Males are steel to deep blue with bright red fins, and develop a red belly when courting. Females are greener and rounder, with softer orange fin markings.12

Personality what they are like

A shoaling fish that can be shy, spending time among plants. Males spar with rivals in short displays, which spreads out harmlessly when the group is large.1

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Moves in loose shoals through dense plants rather than racing in open water. A calm, well planted tank shows off its natural behaviour.1

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Thick planting, steady water quality and a varied diet of small foods keep colours at their best.1

Home where they are happiest

Water at about 20 to 26 C, pH roughly 6.5 to 7.5 and hardness 5 to 15 dGH. A base of at least 45 x 30 cm (around 40 litres) for a group. Its wild home is shallow, spring fed, densely vegetated grassland ponds about 30 cm deep.13

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Eats tiny invertebrates and zooplankton in the wild. Accepts small dry foods, but regular live or frozen Daphnia and brine shrimp help colour and breeding condition.13

Company who they like around

Best in a group of 20 or more. Good tankmates are other tiny, calm fish; it should not be kept with the Emerald Dwarf Rasbora as the two can crossbreed.1

The story where it all began

Found in 2006 by the exporter Kamphol Udomritthiruj and first sold as the Galaxy Rasbora, it caused a sensation in the hobby. Tyson Roberts formally described it in 2007. Once rare and costly, it is now widely farm bred.12

Recognised by the official bits

IUCN Red List

Data Deficient (assessed January 2010)3

FishBase

Listed as a commercial aquarium species3