Pearl Danio
Danio albolineatus
Min Tank Size
75L
Adult Size
6 cm
Lifespan
4 years
School Size
6+
About
Native to the hill streams of Myanmar, Thailand, and Sumatra, the pearl danio is a peaceful and resilient schooling fish that reaches about 5 to 6 centimeters. It has a subtle but beautiful iridescence, with a pale blue to violet body overlaid by a faint orange or gold lateral stripe and pearly scales that shimmer under aquarium lighting. Unlike the more commonly seen zebra danio, this species has a more refined, understated look that appeals to aquascapers and planted tank enthusiasts. These fish are exceptionally hardy and tolerate a broad range of temperatures and water chemistry, making them one of the more forgiving species for newer hobbyists. They prefer cooler water than most tropical community fish, doing best between 18 and 25 degrees Celsius. A tank with some current, open swimming space, and a secure lid is ideal since danios are strong jumpers. They thrive in groups of six or more and coexist peacefully with other small community species. Feeding is straightforward as they eagerly accept flakes, micro pellets, and small frozen foods.
Water Parameters
Temperature
°CpH
GH
dGHKH
dKHSwimming Level
Flow Preference
Keeping multiple Pearl Danio together
Pearl Danio are shoaling fish and need company of their own kind. Keep a group of at least 6. Smaller groups leave them stressed, washed-out in color, and prone to hiding.
Compatibility
Pearl danios fit well into a wide range of community tanks, particularly those kept on the cooler side. Good tankmates include white cloud mountain minnows, cooler-water corydoras like sterbai or aeneus, harlequin rasboras, and dwarf gourami if the tank is large enough. They're generally fine with snails and larger shrimp species like amanos, but dwarf shrimp fry are small enough to be eaten opportunistically. Avoid pairing them with very slow, long-finned fish not because pearl danios nip, but because their constant energy can stress calmer species. They also do poorly with anything tropical that needs sustained warmth above 26 degrees, as the temperature needs genuinely conflict.
Commonly kept with
Species this one is most often paired withCommonly tried but avoid
Often paired, but shouldn't beCare Notes
The biggest mistake beginners make is keeping them too warm. Pearl danios come from cooler, well-oxygenated streams and a tank consistently at 27 or 28 degrees will wear them down over time. Another common issue is understocking the school. Four fish looks okay for a week, but they become skittish and stressed without proper numbers. They're also persistent jumpers, and an uncovered tank will result in losses. Beyond those points, they're forgiving and easy. Stable water and regular small water changes are all they really need to thrive long-term.
Behavior & Aggression
Pearl danios are about as close to non-aggressive as a fish gets. There's no meaningful territorial behavior, no fin nipping to speak of, and conspecific squabbles are limited to brief, harmless chasing that rarely causes any damage. Males will occasionally chase each other during spawning drives, especially in smaller tanks, but this almost never escalates. Keep them in groups of at least six and any minor chasing gets distributed enough that no single fish is stressed. They pose no real threat to other species.
Things to Know
- Strong jumpers, a tight-fitting lid is essential.
- May harass or eat dwarf shrimp fry despite peaceful temperament.
- Needs open swimming space, don't overplant the midwater zone.
- Keep in schools of 6+ to reduce stress and nipping.
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