The celestial pearl danio is a beautiful freshwater fish that is perfect for beginner aquarium hobbyists. They are relatively easy to care for and are very active swimmers.
This guide will teach you everything you need to know about celestial pearl danio care. You’ll learn about their diet, size, lifespan, and more!
Table of contents
Species overview
The Celestial Pearl Danio (Danio margaritatus) is a freshwater fish that is native to Myanmar.
They are found in slow-moving streams and rivers with a lot of vegetation. This is because they feed primarily on small insects that live among the plants.
The Celestial Pearl Danio is a very popular fish in the aquarium trade. This is because they are very easy to care for and their bright colors make them a great addition to any freshwater tank.
These fish are very peaceful and can be kept with a wide variety of other fish. However, they are known to be fin nippers, so it is best to avoid keeping them with fish that have long fins.
Appearance
The Celestial Pearl Danio is an incredibly beautiful freshwater fish that is a favorite among aquarists of all levels of experience.
The body of this fish is very slender and elongated. They have a beautiful pearlescent coloration that gives them their name. This color can range from white to yellow to pink and everything in between.
One of the most unique things about this fish is the patterns on their fins. The dorsal and anal fins are both decorated with a black “net” pattern. Their caudal fin is forked and has the same black net pattern on it.
The pectoral fins of the Celestial Pearl Danio are very long and thin. They almost look like little wings!
This species also has a very long barbels. The barbels are used for sensing their surroundings and are also used for finding food.
Lifespan
The typical lifespan for a Celestial Pearl danio is 3 to 5 years. However, there are reports of these fish living up to 10 years in captivity.
As with any other fish, the lifespan of a Celestial Pearl danio can be increased or decreased by a number of factors.
For example, if the fish is kept in a crowded tank then its lifespan will be shorter because of the increased stress levels. On the other hand, if the fish has plenty of space to swim and is well-fed then it will probably live for the full 5 years.
Size
The average Celestial Pearl danio size is only about 1.5 inches when fully grown. These delicate little freshwater fish are some of the smallest in the world and make a great addition to any nano aquarium.
Tank
Tank Size
The recommended minimum tank size for Celestial Pearl Danios is 10 gallons. This is assuming you’re keeping them in a school of at least 5 or 6 fish (which you should).
We personally recommend a slightly larger tank if you can accommodate it. Every extra space will make a big difference and allow you to keep a larger school or more tank mates if you’re interested in a community tank.
Water Parameters
The celestial pearl danio is a delicate little fish that hails from Myanmar. In the wild, they live in slow-moving streams and rivers with plenty of vegetation.
To maintain healthy celestial pearl danios, you need to provide similar water conditions in the aquarium. The good news is that they’re not too picky.
While they prefer a bit of warmth, they can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. The water should be well-filtered and well-oxygenated. A small amount of flow is also appreciated.
Here are the recommended water parameters for celestial pearl danios.
- Water temperature: 72 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit
- pH levels: 6.0 to 7.8
- Water hardness: 5 to 15 dGH
- Alkalinity Levels: 3-10 dKH
What To Put In Their Tank
celestial pearl Danios are one of the most popular freshwater fish for beginners and experienced aquarium hobbyists alike.
One of the reasons they’re so popular is that they’re very easy to care for. They don’t have any specific requirements when it comes to their habitat.
With that being said, we still recommend using some basic common sense when setting up their tank.
Your substrate should be soft and sandy. This will protect their delicate fins and make it easier for them to move around.
As for plants, they’re not really necessary but can add a splash of color to the tank. If you do decide to go with live plants, make sure they’re well anchored since these fish love to dig.
Celestial Pearl Danios also love hiding places. Driftwood, caves, and rocks are all great options. Just make sure whatever you use is safe for them and doesn’t have any sharp edges.
Common Diseases
The Celestial Pearl Danio is a hardy little fish that doesn’t usually fall ill. However, like all animals, they can still get sick if the conditions in their tank are not ideal.
The most common disease that these fish experience is ich. This is a parasitic infection that will present itself as white spots on the body, fish, and gills of your fish.
While ich is not always fatal, it can be if it’s left untreated. The good news is that ich is relatively easy to treat if you catch it early.
Other potential diseases include infections from cuts or scrapes, as well as various parasites. These are not as common as ich, but they can still affect your fish if the conditions in their tank are not ideal.
As always, the best way to prevent your fish from getting sick is to maintain the quality of the water in their tank. A tank with clean and stable water conditions will always lead to healthier fish who are more resistant to disease.
Behavior & Temperament
The Celestial Pearl danio is a schooling fish, which means it does best when it’s in a group. In the wild, these fish travel in large schools of 100 or more. So, if you’re keeping them in captivity, you should try to replicate that environment as best as you can.
Ideally, you should have at least six of these fish in your tank. But, the more the merrier! They are very active fish, so a larger tank is better. That way, they have plenty of room to swim around and explore.
Celestial Pearl Danios are not aggressive fish. In fact, they are quite peaceful. They tend to get along with other fish that are similar in size and temperament.
The only time you might see aggression is when they are competing for food. But, even then, it’s nothing to worry about. These fish are not known for being aggressive.
Tank Mates
The best tank mates for Celestial Pearl Danios are other small, peaceful fish. These little beauties are too delicate for anything else.
Celestial Pearl Danios are also fast swimmers. So, you need to be careful about choosing tank mates that won’t outcompete them for food.
Here are some species that make good Celestial Pearl Danios tank mates:
- Neon Tetras
- Ghost Shrimp
- Harlequin Rasboras
- Ember Tetras
- Guppies
- Platies
Breeding
The Celestial Pearl Danio is a beautiful fish that’s perfect for beginner aquarium hobbyists. They’re easy to care for and even easier to breed! In fact, the hardest part about breeding them is telling the males and females apart.
The easiest way to do that is to look at their fins. Males have much longer and more colorful fins than females. Once you’ve got that figured out, setting up a breeding tank is a breeze.
A breeding tank should hold at least 10 gallons of water. The water should be clean and well-filtered. You can use a sponge filter to ensure that the fry don’t get sucked up.
As for plants, live plants are best but Artificial plants will also do the trick. Just make sure that there are plenty of places for the fry to hide.
Now it’s time to add your fish. Start with two males and two females. The males will do the majority of the work when it comes to breeding, so you don’t need too many.
Once the fish are in the tank, it’s time to wait. The spawning process will happen on its own. The female will lay the eggs and the male will fertilize them. After that, it’s just a waiting game.
The eggs will hatch in about 24 hours. Once they’ve hatched, you can remove the adults from the tank. They might eat the fry if you leave them in.
The fry will be too small to eat anything but Infusoria at first. You can buy a culture of Infusoria or make your own. Once they’re big enough, you can start feeding them baby brine shrimp.
Conclusion
The Celestial Pearl Danio is an absolutely stunning freshwater fish. They’re relatively easy to care for and make a great addition to any community tank.
We highly recommend this fish to any aquarist who is looking for a beautiful and low-maintenance addition to their tank!
