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Zebra Danio Care

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The zebrafish (Danio rerio), also known as “zebrafish”, is a freshwater fish from the danios family (Danionidae). It comes from Asia and can reach a maximum length of about 5-6 cm. The zebrafish is a popular aquarium fish. Its English name is “Zebra danio” or “zebrafish”, the synonym of the zebrafish is “Brachydanio rerio”.

  • the body structure of the zebrafish is elongated and flattened laterally;
  • the back line of this rasbora is brownish, the flanks of the body and the belly are whitish-yellow with a silvery shimmer in places;
  • 4 broad, dark blue to blackish longitudinal bands run on its body flanks from the head to the base of the caudal fin;
  • depending on the incidence of light, these dark longitudinal bands shimmer silvery to golden
    the gill covers of the zebrafish also have this color pattern;
  • there is also another form, the “leopard danio”. In this form, the dark vertical bands are interrupted, creating a dot pattern. This form was formerly also known as “Danio frankei”, but has not been recognized by science as an independent species, since it is probably a

cultivated form;

  • the anal fin of the zebrafish is yellowish and shows dark stripes, as is the caudal fin. The remaining fins are transparent;
  • the mouth of the zebrafish is slightly above, on the upper and lower jaw there are 1 pair of barbels;
  • female specimens of the zebrafish are not as intensively coloured, somewhat longer and somewhat more heavily built than the males.

Offspring with a size of approx. 2.5 – 3.5 cm

These animals are offspring which we get directly from the breeder. In order to pass on the very good breeder quality to you, we need some lead time for the procurement. In general, we proceed as follows: All orders for these fish that we have received and paid for by Thursday will be shipped the following week.

The zebrafish is a very beautiful, peaceful and popular ornamental fish for a long time. These fish can be excellently socialized with other mini fish and dwarf shrimp.

When caring for these danios you should make sure that at least 5-10 animals are kept in a swarm. It reaches a maximum body length of max. 6 cm.

If possible, the aquarium length should not be less than 60 cm. The aquarium should be well planted so that the animals have enough places to retreat. Provided the right attitude and optimal water values ​​are maintained, this rasbora can certainly be brought to reproduce in the aquarium.

A partial water change should be carried out regularly. The pH value should be between 6.0 and 8.0 and the water hardness up to 25° dGH. An ideal water temperature for the Danio rerio is in the range of 20 to 26° Celsius.

The zebrafish are very frugal when it comes to food intake and eat live food as well as commercially available flake and frozen food.

These fish are what are known as ‘special order items’, which we can only procure for you at your request (order). The revocation is thus restricted or excluded. Thank you for your understanding.

Feeding:

Omnivores: small live, frozen and dry food, also vegetable food

The zebrafish should be kept in a group of at least 8 animals. The tank should have plenty of free swimming space for this lively schooling fish, contain a gentle current and have plants around the edges. Since the zebrafish likes to jump out of the water, the tank must be well covered. The zebrafish socializes well with other species.

Breed:

The zebrafish is a free spawner. Feeding with high-quality live food and slight fluctuations in water temperature increase the willingness to spawn. In the wild, the spawning season is at the beginning of the rainy season (monsoon).

The breeding tank should (absolutely!) contain dense, fine-leaved planting (e.g. java moss) and a spawning grid. After the eggs have spawned, the parent fish should be removed from the breeding tank (spawning predators). The young fish can initially be fed with infusoria and fine pond food (also powdered food).

How many zebra danios should be kept together?

Danios are schooling fish, so they need to be kept in groups of at least 5. As with most other schooling fish, if the numbers are too low, they can become stressed, and start acting out of the ordinary, and can portray symptoms such as aggression towards other tank mates, and loss of appetite.

Are zebra danio easy to care for?

Zebra Danios are very popular and enjoyable freshwater fish to keep. In fact, this is one of the species that we recommend the most! The combination of their colors, low-maintenance care requirements, and high activity level makes them a great fit for just about any aquarist.

What do zebra danios need in their tank?

Water Requirements for Danios:

pH should be between 7.0 and 7.8, alkalinity between 3° and 8° dkH (50 ppm to 140 ppm) and temperature between 70° and 78° F. If the aquarium is kept in rooms below 70°, use an Aqueon Aquarium Heater to maintain the correct temperature.

How do you keep zebra danios happy?

Do zebra danios need a bubbler?

Yes, zebra danios need an air pump. Zebra danios are very active fish, so they benefit from the extra oxygen and movement in the water that an air pump can provide. Because of these benefits, zebra danios should have an air pump in their tanks.

What is the lifespan of a zebra danio?

Outbred zebrafish have a mean lifespan of 3.5 years and can live up to 5.5 years. They exhibit a gradual ageing process. A spinal curvature was reported to be a common age-related phenotype.

Do zebra Danios need a heater?

Danios are hearty and are comfortable in temperatures from 65 to 75 Fahrenheit. You can often maintain this temperature without a heater, but a heater will help. A slightly higher temperature, 78 Fahrenheit, is optimal for encouraging breeding.

Can zebra Danios live without a filter?

Another fish that can survive an aquarium without a filter is the Zebra Danios. This species is one of the easiest fish to be in your aquarium. They can live in a bowl without a filter and can still survive. All you have to do is keep them healthy, and they will be fine.

Can zebra Danios eat cucumber?

Zebra danios can eat cucumbers as they are rich in vitamin C required for growth and development. Cucumbers also hold a decent amount of vitamin k and magnesium, which make your fish active. Consider feeding cucumber 3-4 times a week as overfeeding can lead to digestive issues in zebra danios.

How can you tell if a zebra danio is male or female?

Both sexes have two pairs of barbels and the same stripes, but females are usually larger. Males are a bit smaller and more slender than females. Male zebras appear more torpedo-shaped, while females tend to have a larger belly.

Do danios like plants?

You rarely see them in a planted tank because they are notorious vegetarians and are not picky about the type of plant they eat like some other fish.

Are zebra danios fin nippers?

Zebra Danios aren’t normally fin nippers. As long as conditions in your tank are favorable to them, you won’t have a problem with them nipping each other or tankmates.

What do danios like in their tank?

Water type: Medium-hard, slow-flowing freshwater
Tank size: Minimum 10 gallons, plus 2 gallons per extra fish
Water temperature: 64–77°F
Substrate: Soft, fine sand
Tank setup: Plants, smooth rocks, caves
Acidity: 6.8–8.0 pH
Water hardness: 5–19 dGH
Filter: Yes, to provide a current that replicates the slow-flowing waters in the zebra danio’s habitat
Pump: Yes, to provide oxygen and water movement
Bubbler: Not necessary, but can supplement an air pump to further oxygenate the water
Lighting: Yes, standard aquarium lighting is needed for plant growth and to mimic the day-to-night cycle. GloFish zebra danios require a blue light to show off the fish’s neon colors
Water heater: Yes, if the fish are housed in a location where ambient temperatures fall below 60°F

Can I put a betta with zebra danios?

Providing the tank is large enough, Zebra Danios make an excellent choice of tank mate to live with a Betta. Zebra Danios are a hardy breed of fish that broadly like the same water conditions, tank setup, and food as a Betta.

Do danios breed easily?

But you’ll be happy to hear that zebra danios are very easy to breed. They’re probably breeding in your aquarium right now, although you won’t know it because the tiny eggs and fry are eaten by the fish and sucked up by the fish tank filters.

How long are danios pregnant?

They can carry their eggs for any amount of time really, and it all depends on when they are ready to lay eggs and if there is a male around to fertilize them. Technically speaking, if there are males around and they are developing eggs, they should not be carrying them for more than 4 days.

Is 4 Zebra Danios enough?

Since they are a schooling fish, they need to be kept in groups of at least five, and five danios can quickly become cramped in a 10-gallon (37 litre) aquarium. Any zebra danios that aren’t kept in a school, will often become stressed and may begin to display aggressive behavior towards other fish in the aquarium.

Why are my danios chasing each other?

Zebra danios sometimes behave fiercely when they’re not in the company of many other fish. In an underpopulated tank, they’ll often nip or chase after fish of lower ranking. When they have more company, they typically don’t act as fiercely.

Do danios lay eggs?

One female danio can lay around 100 eggs during one breeding session. Therefore, if you put 2-3 female danios in a breeding tank, you can expect several hundred eggs.

Do danios like heavily planted tanks?

They enjoy having a heavily planted tank, to mimic what they’d find in their natural habitat. While plain sand or gravel can be used with success, your plants will grow better with the use of a specialty substrate.

How do zebra Danios sleep?

In most cases, when fish sleep, they remain still, their breathing slows down and some can even be picked up in your hand. Researchers at Stanford University discovered that Zebra Danios sleep much the same way we do.

How much should I feed my zebra Danios?

Each danio should only need a couple bites of food each feeding, 2–3 times per week, but can be fed each day if the other fish in the aquarium need feeding each day. Overfeeding can cause bloating as well as harmful chemical build-up in your water. Only feed the fish as much food as they can eat in 3 minutes.

Do danios jump out of tank?

Danios are known to jump out of tanks. Some even say they have the uncanny ability to find holes in aquarium lids. They’re smart, quick, and have strong muscles that enable them to jump high or far if they choose to. Strong and active swimmers, such as Danios, tend to be jumpers.

Can danios live with guppies?

Yes, they do if you consider their friendly, peaceful, and acceptant demeanor. Both guppies and zebra danios measure about the same, around 2.5 inches in length, and will share the same swimming space. Guppies prefer the mid-to-top tank area, while the danios are top swimmers.

How fast do zebra Danios grow?

As well as reaching sexual maturity by 10-12 weeks, zebra danio fry will usually reach 75-80% of their adult size by this time. If you are keeping your fish in a tank with the correct conditions and a good and constant source of food then you can see them reach their maximum size within another 6-12 weeks.

Are danios bottom feeders?

Zebra Danios are not bottom feeders, but they’ll eat anywhere including at the bottom of the tank!

How many danios Can I put in a 10 gallon tank?

You can keep up to 10 Celestial Pearl Danios in a 10-gallon tank. If you choose to keep 10, then keep it a species-only tank. If you have less than that, you could perhaps include some Cherry Shrimp.

Do danios eat bloodworms?

You can feed numerous types of live foods to your zebra danios. Bloodworms are one of them as it is high in protein and other essential nutrients.

Do danios like current?

Danios are native to southern Asia, where they live in freshwater streams. What is this? These school fish like to live in strong currents near the surface, where they’re very active. Danios love to play fast-flowing water, and since they’re very energetic, they can be pretty fun to watch.

What kind of algae do zebrafish eat?

General observations and gut content analyses indicated that zebrafish consume a wide variety of animal and plant matter, including zooplankton and insects, phytoplankton, filamentous algae and vascular plant material, spores and invertebrate eggs, fish scales, arachnids, detritus, sand, and mud.

How long can danios live without air pump?

Fish can survive about two days without an air pump in completely still water.

How long can zebra danios go without food?

Zebra danios can go up to 14 days without food. Zebra danios are very hardy and have a higher fasting tolerance compared to other species. A healthy adult danio has sufficient body mass and fat reserves to help them survive without food.

How many zebra danios Can I put in a 5 gallon tank?

Zebra Danios are schooling fish, so we recommend having at least five in your aquarium (you can mix and match colors!). Because they are relatively small fish, you can safely add two Danios per gallon of tank space.

How cold can danios survive?

The truth is that Danios can live without a heater in areas where room and ambient temperatures don’t fall below the 60s. The safest cold-water temperature would be around 68 deg Fahrenheit.

Can zebra danios live with neon tetras?

Neon tetras and zebra danio can live together peacefully in a colorful tank. They are unique species that provide colorful life for your aquarium. Freshwater fishes such as neon tetra and zebras significantly promote health benefits for you as the owner and it is hard to ignore their stunning features.

Do zebra Danios like caves?

In a freshwater tank, zebra danios are curious fish who love to race around and explore caves, cubby holes, and the ins and outs of clusters of aquarium plants.

Do danios like to hide?

Zebra danios do not hide when they are about to pass away; instead, they prefer to hide when they are sick, threatened by their tankmates, or stressed. You should always provide a lot of hiding spots in your zebra danios tank as it helps to eliminate stress in your fish.

How do I know if my danios are happy?

Your fish are happy and healthy when they: Swim actively throughout the entire tank, not just hanging out or laying at the bottom, floating near the top or hiding behind plants and ornaments. Eat regularly and swim to the surface quickly at feeding time.

Do danios like cucumber?

Zebra danios can eat cucumbers as they are rich in vitamin C required for growth and development. Cucumbers also hold a decent amount of vitamin k and magnesium, which make your fish active.

Can zebra danios live with goldfish?

Zebra danios are a choice pet for many reasons; they are very sociable, peaceful, and easy to care for. To this end, they should make a good companion for goldfish.

How can you tell if a zebra danio is male or female?

Both sexes have two pairs of barbels and the same stripes, but females are usually larger. Males are a bit smaller and more slender than females. Male zebras appear more torpedo-shaped, while females tend to have a larger belly. More full-bodied than the males, a female’s belly balloons when it fills with eggs.

Do zebra fish fight each other?

Zebrafish sometimes behave fiercely when they’re not in the company of many other fish. In an underpopulated tank, they’ll often nip or chase after fish of lower ranking. When they have more company, they typically don’t act as fiercely.

How long are danios pregnant?

They can carry their eggs for any amount of time really, and it all depends on when they are ready to lay eggs and if there is a male around to fertilize them. Technically speaking, if there are males around and they are developing eggs, they should not be carrying them for more than 4 days.

Can I put 6 zebra danios in a 10 gallon tank?

However, danios are schooling fish that need to be ideally kept in groups of 6 or more. On top of that, they’re highly active and need ample space to dart around. A 10-gallon tank simply doesn’t have enough room to accommodate their needs.

How many zebra danios to cycle tank?

The best fish for cycling a new freshwater aquarium are hardy minnows, such as danios.

Will zebra danios eat mosquito larva?

Their small size, usually less than 2.5 inches long, makes them ideal for a community tank. They do best when they’re kept in groups of at least five or more. Zebra danios not only eat mosquito larvae but also consume mosquito pupae.

How many zebra danios in a 20 gallon tank?

12

Common diseases in tetra species (Characidae) and danios (Danionidae):

  • Fish tuberculosis;
  • Foot and mouth rot (Columnaris disease);
  • Neon sickness (false);
  • Neon sickness (real);
  • Fungal disease (mycosis);
  • Samtkrankheit.
Mary Allen

Written by Mary Allen

Hello, I'm Mary! I've cared for many pet species including dogs, cats, guinea pigs, fish, and bearded dragons. I also have ten pets of my own currently. I've written many topics in this space including how-tos, informational articles, care guides, breed guides, and more.

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