Zebra Danios

[Lydia]

Common names- Zebra Danios, Long-finned Zebra Danio, Zebra Fish
Scientific Name- Brachydanio rerio
( Brak-ih-DAY-nee-oh REAR-ee-oh )
Family- Cyprinidae
Native geographical area- East India
Native habitat- Swamp & stream
Maximum Size- 2 inches (5 cm)
Minimum Aquarium Size- 15-20 gallons
Natural & captive Diet- Carnivore: Will eat flakes, pellets, dried bloodworms, mosquito larvae, etc. They are not picky.
Tank zone- Mainly top, some middle
Temperament & compatibility- Peaceful, but be careful as they might nip at long fins. Should be kept in a school
Hardness range- 5-20
Optimal hardness- 15
pH range- 6-8
Optimal ph- 7
Temperature range- 65-82 F (18-28 C)
Optimal temperature- 78 F (26 C)
Salinity range- They can stand a small amount of salt, but don't need it. Optimal salinity-[/color] Freshwater
Photoperiod-10-11 hours each day, unless you are trying to stimulate summertime, which would be 12 hours
Seasonal changes critical? No
Notable sensitivities- They are sensitive to large pH swings.
Hardiness & Lifespan- Very hardy. Lifespan is 2-3 years.
Physical description- On the body, a kind of yellowish-white with thick dark blue stripes. The fins have a reddish tint, with the same stripes. There is also a long-finned variety. Has an upturned (superior) mouth. http://fishbase.org/Photos/PicturesS...3&what=species (click on link for picture of a short-finned danio courtesy of fishbase.org)
Activity peak- Diurnal
Habits- They school somewhat, but can often be seen just as a pair or a trio, chasing each other around. Almost perpetual swimmers. Their constant activity may be bothersome to some fish, but the Zebra danio has been considered a good community fish for decades.
Spawning notes- Easy to spawn. Should be in an aquarium with marbles or large pebbles on the bottom, so that the eggs can fall between the cracks, since danios will eat their eggs. Each spawning produces around 400 eggs, scattered & fertilized during the chase. The fry are very easy to raise as egglayers go, eating any tiny foods offered.
Sexing- Males are slightly smaller and slimmer than females.
Other notes- A very hardy fish that is often used for cycling. When they are in the fish stores, they often look somewhat plain, but once they are in a permanent home, if the conditions are right, they will get a lot nicer looking. They like plants but also should have a lot of open spaces as they are active. The Zebra danio is also a favorite subject of genetic research, since it's genome is so well-mapped, and many research firms use them for their experiments. The Glofish is a modified version which has fluorescent jellyfish DNA added to it. Most research strains consist of genetically identical clones, which makes them not only very expensive, but very useful since the baseline genome is known, making variations & their effects easy to catalog.