Easy
Rosy Danio (Danio roseus)
18–25°C · pH 6–7.5 · 60L
£6.99
Small, active Glowlight Danio in two approximate live size bands, for mature covered aquariums with a proper shoal, swimming length and stable water.
Danio choprai
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Small, active Glowlight Danio in two approximate live size bands, for mature covered aquariums with a proper shoal, swimming length and stable water.
18–25°C · pH 6–7.5 · 60L
24–27°C · pH 5–6.8 · 40L
20–24°C · pH 7–8 · 45L
23–28°C · pH 6–7.5 · 60L
Celestial pearl danios — also called galaxy rasboras — are one of the most beautiful nano fish in the hobby. Stunning spotted pattern, easy care, shrimp-safe.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Glowlight Danio (Danio choprai) is a small, energetic shoaling fish with orange-red lines, dark blue markings and a lively midwater display. It is best suited to a mature, covered aquarium that offers swimming length, planted shelter, clean oxygen-rich water and a proper social group. The fish stays compact, but its constant movement means aquarium length and group planning matter more than its body size alone.
This page offers two approximate live size bands. One selected quantity is one live, unsexed fish in the chosen band; it is not a pair or a pre-made shoal. For a new group, select at least eight compatible individuals, with 10-12 preferred where aquarium space and filtration allow. The smaller option needs particularly careful feeding, protected filter intakes and calm acclimation because a fish near 1 cm cannot compete with large or forceful tank mates.
The accepted name used here is Danio choprai. Scientific and aquarium literature also contains the spelling Danio choprae, but neither spelling should be confused with Danio margaritatus, the Celestial Pearl Danio. The two are separate species with different appearance, pace and planning needs. Read the identity, water and group sections below before choosing a size or adding this fish to an existing community.
Choose by the aquarium you already have, not by the smallest fish that will fit today. Dispatch sizes are approximate live bands, not promises of exact length, age, sex, maturity or colour intensity.
| Selected option | What one quantity means | Extra planning |
|---|---|---|
| Approximately 1 cm | One live, unsexed juvenile | Use tiny foods, a guarded filter intake and tank mates unable to swallow or outcompete it |
| Approximately 2-3 cm | One live, unsexed fish in this size band | Still juvenile or subadult; do not assume sex, final colour or adult body shape |
| New social group | Select at least eight individual fish | Ten to twelve gives a fuller display where length, volume and filtration are sufficient |
| Accepted name used here | Danio choprai (Hora, 1928) |
|---|---|
| Alternative spelling in literature | Danio choprae |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Natural range | Mogaung Chaung drainage, a tributary of the Ayeyarwaddy system in Kachin State, northern Myanmar |
| Published size record | FishBase records 3.1 cm maximum standard length; allow roughly 3.5-4 cm total length for adult planning |
| Care level | Moderate: hardy when established, but small size, activity and water-quality needs require preparation |
| Temperament | Peaceful, fast-moving and socially active |
| Minimum group | Eight for a new group; 10-12 preferred where space allows |
| Practical aquarium | From 60 litres and about 60 cm frontage for eight; 75 litres or more preferred for a larger group or community |
| Practical temperature | Stable 20-25°C |
| Practical pH | 6.5-7.8 |
| Practical hardness | Approximately 4-12 dGH |
| Diet | Omnivore; small complete foods with appropriately sized live or frozen variety |
| Tank region | Middle and upper water |
FishBase currently lists Danio choprai, which is the name used in the product title and structured facts. A detailed scientific redescription by Sven Kullander uses Danio choprae and discusses why both spellings occur in earlier work. Customers may therefore encounter both when researching the same Glowlight Danio. This page does not turn the spelling variation into repeated keyword copy; it records the variation once so the animal can be identified consistently.
The more important boundary is between species. Celestial Pearl Danio is Danio margaritatus, a dark-bodied, spotted fish with a different look and generally calmer presentation. Emerald Dwarf Danio is Danio erythromicron. Pearl Danio is commonly listed as Danio albolineatus. These names are useful comparisons, but none is an alternative scientific name for the fish sold on this page.
| Name seen online | What it means | Use on this page |
|---|---|---|
| Danio choprai | Accepted name used by FishBase and common in the aquarium trade | Primary scientific name |
| Danio choprae | Spelling used in important taxonomic literature for the same species | Nomenclature note only |
| Celestichthys choprae | An older genus combination still found in trade searches | Historic search context, not the primary name |
| Danio margaritatus | Celestial Pearl Danio | A separate species, never a synonym |
| Danio flagrans | A closely related species described from the Putao area | Separate range and identity |
The species is native to northern Myanmar within the Ayeyarwaddy river system. The 2012 redescription records it from the Mogaung Chaung drainage near Kamaing and Mogaung, south-west of Myitkyina. The original material came from small rocky streams around Kamaing and Namma. FishBase summarises the habitat as streams and wells. This is a more precise identity boundary than the broad statement that every similar red-orange danio from northern Myanmar is the same fish.
Its body shape and behaviour reflect moving freshwater. A slim profile, forked tail and constant midwater activity suit an environment with current and high gas exchange. In the aquarium, that does not mean placing the group directly in a harsh jet. It means using distributed flow, a clean filter, open swimming lanes and enough surface movement to keep oxygen available throughout the tank.
Seasonal river systems can vary, but variation in nature is not permission for abrupt changes in captivity. A home aquarium should remain stable. Match replacement water sensibly, avoid sudden heating or cooling, and make changes in measured steps. Stability is especially important for the smallest available fish because low body mass gives less margin when oxygen, temperature or water chemistry moves quickly.
FishBase records a maximum standard length of 3.1 cm. Standard length excludes the tail fin, so an adult can appear closer to roughly 3.5-4 cm in total length. This remains a small fish, but a group uses horizontal space continuously. A short cube can have enough litres on paper yet provide less useful swimming length than a conventional rectangular aquarium.
The selected size is the approximate live size at dispatch, not the fish's final capacity requirement. A 1 cm juvenile should not be treated as a permanent nano-tank resident simply because it looks tiny on arrival. Plan the mature group before purchase. Growth depends on genetics, sex, diet, social conditions and water quality, so exact adult length and timing cannot be guaranteed.
Sex is not guaranteed. Mature females in spawning condition are usually fuller-bodied, while males may look slimmer and show more intense colour during display. Those differences can be subtle in young fish. Choosing a quantity on this page selects a size band, not a male, female, breeding pair or particular pattern.
OATA gives 45 litres as a general minimum for a small shoal of smaller danios. For this active species, 60 litres with about 60 cm of frontage is a more cautious starting point for eight. A 75-litre or larger aquarium is preferable for 10-12 fish, mixed species, or a layout with substantial wood and planting that reduces open water.
Volume must be considered with shape, stocking and filtration. A tall narrow tank may hold the same amount of water as a long tank but offer less useful midwater runway. Count every adult resident, not only the new group. Bottom fish still add to waste and oxygen demand, while upper-water fish may compete directly for the same space and food.
| Plan | Starting space | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Eight small danios | From 60 litres and about 60 cm frontage | Mature filter, open swimming lane, secure lid and no predatory residents |
| Ten to twelve | Prefer 75 litres or more | Longer frontage, feeding access across the group and adequate plant cover |
| Mixed community | Increase from the group-only plan | Adult size, activity, temperature, total bioload and each species' territory |
| Fish near 1 cm | Use the adult group plan, not a temporary bowl | Guard filter intakes and exclude fish able to swallow or dominate them |
Danios are social fish. OATA advises at least five, with more being better; for a new group of this species, use at least eight. Ten to twelve usually spreads display pressure, reduces the focus on one subordinate fish and produces the coordinated movement people expect from a shoal. One fish bought to join a compatible established group is different from starting with one alone.
Activity between group members is not automatically aggression. Short chases, parallel swimming and display can be normal, particularly among maturing fish. Persistent cornering, torn fins, refusal to feed or one fish remaining isolated requires investigation. Check group size, swimming room, visual cover, feeding distribution and water quality before assuming that medication is needed.
A larger group is not a substitute for enough water. Adding fish to solve social stress can make oxygen and waste problems worse when the aquarium is already at capacity. Work from both sides of the plan: provide the social number the species needs and provide the volume, length and filtration that number requires.
A practical long-term target is 20-25°C, pH 6.5-7.8 and approximately 4-12 dGH. OATA's broader danio guidance spans 17-27°C, pH 6.5-8.0, 4-12 dGH and 3-10 dKH. The broad range describes the group, not a reason to move this aquarium between extremes. Choose a stable point that also suits every tank mate.
| Measure | Practical target | Action boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 20-25°C | Avoid rapid change; use a heater if the room cannot maintain a stable suitable range |
| pH | 6.5-7.8 | Consistency is safer than chasing a decimal with sudden chemical correction |
| General hardness | About 4-12 dGH | Measure the source water and remineralise consistently if necessary |
| Ammonia | 0 mg/L | Any detectable reading requires immediate water-quality action |
| Nitrite | 0 mg/L | Any detectable reading is unsafe |
| Nitrate | Controlled and stable | OATA advises no more than 20 mg/L above the tap-water baseline |
Test the aquarium before ordering and again after adding livestock. A clear-looking tank can still contain ammonia or nitrite. New aquariums need a completed nitrogen cycle, and mature filters need oxygen and flow to keep working. Never rinse all biological media under untreated tap water or replace all mature media at once.
An unheated aquarium is suitable only when its measured daily and seasonal temperatures remain within the chosen range. A warm room can overheat as easily as a cold room can chill. Position the tank away from direct sun, radiators and draughts, and use a thermometer rather than judging by room comfort.
Use mature biological filtration sized for the whole aquarium. A sponge filter, internal filter or external filter can work when it produces distributed movement without pinning small fish against the glass. The goal is steady circulation and good surface exchange, not a narrow high-speed jet. Baffles or spray bars can spread an outlet where necessary.
Protect every intake for the smaller size option. A fine pre-filter sponge stops a 1 cm juvenile being pulled into slots and also creates a grazing surface for tiny foods. Check that the guard does not clog and reduce flow. After maintenance, confirm that the filter restarts and the water surface is moving normally.
Warm water holds less oxygen, and heavy feeding consumes oxygen as waste is processed. Fast gill movement, surface gathering or a group suddenly leaving its normal zone can signal an urgent water or oxygen problem. Test first, increase gas exchange, and perform an appropriate conditioned water change rather than adding medication blindly.
Combine planted edges with a clear central or front swimming lane. Fine-leaved plants, moss and branching wood can provide shelter without filling every part of the water column. A darker substrate or background may make the fish feel more secure and can help the orange-red markings appear clearer, but colour will still vary with age, sex, lighting, stress and individual genetics.
Keep a close-fitting cover. Small active danios can jump through surprisingly narrow gaps, especially when startled or chased. Check openings around cables, filter pipes and automatic feeders. A lid also needs safe ventilation and must not block gas exchange at the surface.
Aquascaping should not trap waste. Leave access for a siphon around wood and dense plants, and inspect quiet areas where uneaten micro-food can settle. Visual complexity helps fish break line of sight, while an accessible layout helps the keeper maintain stable water. Both contribute to welfare.
This species is omnivorous and feeds readily in the water column. Use a nutritionally complete fine flake, micro-granule or appropriately sized pellet as the staple. Add small live or frozen foods such as daphnia, cyclops, baby brine shrimp or finely chopped bloodworm in modest amounts. Variety supports condition, but rich foods should not replace a balanced staple.
Food size is critical for fish near 1 cm. A particle that an adult can swallow may be unusable to a tiny juvenile. Crush flake finely, choose true micro-foods and watch several individuals eat. Spread food across the surface or current so dominant fish cannot take every particle from one point. Remove obvious leftovers before they decay.
| Fish or situation | Useful food form | Keeper check |
|---|---|---|
| Approximately 1 cm | Finely crushed complete flake, very small granule, baby brine shrimp or cyclops | Confirm particles enter the mouth and the whole group gains access |
| Approximately 2-3 cm | Fine complete flake or micro-granule with small frozen/live variety | Use portions consumed promptly without a cloud of waste |
| New arrivals | Familiar small complete food offered lightly after settling | Do not compensate for travel by giving one heavy meal |
| Conditioning adults | Balanced staple plus modest daphnia, brine shrimp and similar variety | Keep water quality stable and body condition lean, not swollen |
Feed according to body condition, temperature and competition rather than a rigid scoop. The abdomen should look filled after a meal but not remain distended. If food reaches the substrate before the group can take it, reduce particle size or portion. Bottom residents must receive their own appropriate food rather than relying on danio leftovers.
The fish is peaceful, but its speed can unsettle slow or timid species. Good companions share the same temperature and water chemistry, are too large to swallow the smallest danios, and can feed without being overwhelmed. Matching the word "peaceful" is not enough; compare activity, mouth size, adult size, flow preference and tank region.
| Compatibility group | Examples or boundary | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Often suitable after exact checks | More of the same species, selected small active danios, peaceful rasboras and suitable small bottom fish | Overlapping water and activity can create a balanced community |
| Use caution | Very calm nano fish, long-finned fish, tiny shrimp colonies and mixed-size juveniles | Fast feeding, constant movement or predation on shrimplets can create conflict |
| Avoid | Large predators, persistent fin nippers, territorial aggressive fish and residents requiring sustained high temperatures | Risk of injury, stress, predation or incompatible water |
| Never use as a shortcut | A new uncycled community or an overstocked tank | Compatibility cannot correct ammonia, nitrite, low oxygen or insufficient space |
For same-family comparisons, see the Danio collection. A larger, strong-swimming option is the Pearl Danio. The Celestial Pearl Danio is a separate spotted species and should not be treated as another name for this fish. The Emerald Dwarf Danio is another separate small species with its own pace and requirements.
White Clouds can help illustrate the temperature decision, but they are not an automatic companion. Review the detailed White Cloud Mountain Minnow page and compare preferred temperature, activity and total space. Use the Water Parameter Matcher as a planning aid, then verify the needs of every exact species from reliable care sources.
Like other danios, this is an egg-scattering fish with no parental care. Well-conditioned adults may scatter eggs among fine plants, moss, spawning mops or gaps in a suitable substrate. Adults and other residents may eat eggs and newly hatched fry, so a community aquarium is unlikely to produce many survivors.
A dedicated breeding project requires a mature separate setup, gentle filtration, an egg-protection method and food small enough for newly free-swimming fry. The fry are far smaller than the 1 cm sale option. Infusoria or another proven first food may be required before they can take baby brine shrimp. Water stability must be maintained without exposing fry to strong suction.
Do not encourage spawning without a plan for space, food, grading and responsible homes. A small adult species can still produce more fish than one aquarium can support. Never release fish, eggs, plants or aquarium water into a pond, stream or drain connected to natural waterways.
Daily observation is more useful than waiting for a named disease. A settled group should move together and separately, respond to food, hold fins normally and maintain steady breathing. Compare each fish with its usual behaviour. A single pale or isolated fish may be experiencing social pressure, injury, infection or a water problem.
| Observation | Check first | Safe next step |
|---|---|---|
| Fast breathing or surface gathering | Temperature, oxygen, ammonia, nitrite and filter operation | Increase gas exchange and correct measured water problems promptly |
| One fish hiding or losing colour | Group pressure, injury, feeding access, tank mates and water tests | Add visual breaks or isolate safely if the fish is being injured |
| Clamped fins, spots or lesions | Recent additions, water quality and progression across the group | Seek a confident diagnosis before selecting treatment |
| Weight loss despite feeding | Food size, competition, faeces and repeated observation | Use an appropriate hospital or quarantine setup and obtain expert advice |
| Uneaten food and cloudy water | Portion size, particle size, dead spots and filter flow | Remove waste, test water and reduce feeding until conditions recover |
Do not add salt, antibiotics, parasite treatments or copper-containing products simply because the fish looks stressed. Different problems can share the same symptom, and some treatments harm invertebrates or filter bacteria. Test the environment, document the signs and consult an aquatic veterinarian or experienced aquatic professional when the cause is unclear.
A separate quarantine aquarium is useful when the keeper has one ready, mature and appropriately sized. It allows observation without exposing an established community. It should not be an unfiltered emergency container, and this page does not claim a fixed quarantine history for the exact fish available today.
Prepare the aquarium before dispatch: test ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and temperature; confirm the filter and heater operate; guard intakes; and check that the lid closes. Do not order a social group first and plan its aquarium afterwards. The smaller size option especially needs appropriately tiny food available on arrival.
Follow the current live-fish delivery and acclimation guidance supplied with the order. Keep lights low, equalise temperature as directed, and avoid pouring transport water into the aquarium where the instructions advise against it. Do not prolong acclimation unnecessarily in a small opened bag, because water chemistry changes once the bag is exposed to air.
After release, allow the group to settle. Offer only a modest feed when the fish are swimming and breathing normally. Watch the smallest individuals at the first several meals. Record any arrival concern using the evidence and timing required by the current Live Arrival Guarantee terms.
It can suit a prepared newer keeper, but "small and peaceful" does not mean maintenance-free. The keeper must understand cycling, water tests, conditioned water changes, group size, filter safety and temperature stability. A mature 60-litre or larger aquarium is a much safer first home than a new desktop nano tank.
The 2-3 cm option is generally easier to feed and observe than a fish near 1 cm. That does not make the smaller option unsuitable, but it raises the need for micro-food, intake guards and careful tank-mate selection. Choose the size that fits the keeper's equipment and experience, not only the lowest visible starting size.
Success should be measured by stable behaviour, body condition and water results over time. Bright colour on one day is not proof of health, and subdued colour immediately after travel is not automatically disease. Good records help distinguish a temporary response from a developing problem.
The four gallery images are not verified photographs of the exact stock and not the fish that will be dispatched. They can illustrate a general small danio shape and orange-red/blue colour concept, but they must not be used to promise exact markings, sex, body proportions, fin shape or maturity.
Live fish vary. Juveniles can look paler or less patterned than mature settled adults, females may be fuller-bodied, and lighting or stress can change apparent colour. The side-view render is an identification aid rather than taxonomic evidence. Use the scientific sources and written range boundaries on this page for identity, and treat the gallery as labelled visual reference material.
The media IDs, files, dimensions and order remain protected. Only the alt descriptions and disclosure are being made accurate and useful.
Pearl Danios are larger and strong-swimming, so a mixed group needs more room than either product minimum alone. Celestial Pearl Danios are smaller-looking spotted fish that often favour a calmer, densely planted presentation. Emerald Dwarf Danios have vertical bars rather than the same orange-red horizontal emphasis. White Clouds are cool-water minnows from another genus. Each comparison should lead to a separate care decision, not a combined block of unrelated keywords.
The closest-looking scientific issue is Danio flagrans, described from the Putao area in the same 2012 paper that redescribed this species. The two share elaborate red or orange markings, but differ in morphology, colour details and genetic evidence. This listing does not claim Putao locality or use D. flagrans as an alternative product name.
When comparing listings, check the scientific name, actual selectable size, one-fish or pack basis, current stock selector, gallery disclosure and adult care. A lower dispatch size does not reduce the mature aquarium requirement, and a shared common word such as "danio" does not make every species interchangeable.
The identity and adult-size boundary uses the FishBase species summary for Danio choprai. Natural-range and lookalike boundaries draw on Kullander's peer-reviewed description of Danio flagrans and redescription of D. choprae.
Water, group, feeding and welfare boundaries are cross-checked against OATA's UK danio and White Cloud care sheet. The naming, size and Myanmar overview is also compared with Practical Fishkeeping's Glowlight Danio profile.
Sources describe ranges and observations, not guarantees about one dispatched animal. The practical targets on this page are deliberately narrower than OATA's broad danio range. Measure the actual aquarium and source water, then make gradual, consistent changes.
One quantity is one live, unsexed fish in the selected approximate size band. It is not a pair, breeding group or pre-made shoal. Set the quantity to the total number of individuals required for the group and available aquarium capacity.
Choose at least eight. Ten to twelve is preferable where a longer 75-litre or larger aquarium, mature filtration and total stocking allow. OATA's broad minimum is five danios, but a larger group better supports this active species' social behaviour.
No. They are approximate live bands. Fish are not manufactured objects, so exact length, age, sex, maturity and colour cannot be promised. The smaller option also needs micro-food, a protected intake and companions unable to swallow it.
FishBase records 3.1 cm maximum standard length, which excludes the tail fin. For aquarium planning, allow roughly 3.5-4 cm total length. The fish is small but uses substantial horizontal space because it swims actively.
Begin around 60 litres and 60 cm frontage for eight. Prefer 75 litres or more for 10-12 fish or a community. Layout, shape, adult stocking and filtration matter as well as nominal volume.
Use a stable practical target of 20-25°C. OATA's broad danio guidance spans 17-27°C, but stability and the needs of every tank mate are more important than moving between the extremes.
Only if the aquarium stays naturally stable within the selected range through day, night and seasonal changes. Measure the water. Use a heater when the room cannot prevent unsuitable drops or swings, and protect the tank from sun and radiators.
A practical target is pH 6.5-7.8 and about 4-12 dGH. Test the source water and avoid rapid chemical adjustment. A stable suitable value is safer than repeatedly chasing one ideal decimal.
Offer a small complete flake or micro-granule as the staple, with modest daphnia, cyclops, baby brine shrimp or other appropriately sized live and frozen foods. Match particle size to the smallest fish and remove leftovers.
Yes, but it is fast and constantly active. That pace can stress timid or slow fish even without biting. Use a proper group, enough swimming room and tank mates that share its temperature, water and feeding style.
Selected small peaceful danios, suitable rasboras and compatible small bottom fish can work after exact checks. Avoid predators, persistent fin nippers, very timid feeders and species needing sustained high temperatures.
This is not a preferred match. Bettas often favour calmer flow and may be stressed by fast upper-water activity, while individual betta temperament varies. Choose companions with a closer swimming pace and flow preference.
Adult shrimp may coexist in a planted aquarium, but tiny shrimplets can be eaten. Fish near 1 cm must also be protected from any large or territorial invertebrate. Provide cover and do not describe any omnivorous fish as completely shrimp-safe.
No. Celestial Pearl Danio is Danio margaritatus, a separate spotted species. This product is Danio choprai. Their search popularity and shared genus do not make the names interchangeable.
Both spellings appear in scientific and aquarium literature because of the species' nomenclatural history. FishBase currently uses Danio choprai; Kullander's 2012 redescription uses D. choprae. The listing uses FishBase's form consistently.
It is an older genus combination used for this species in some aquarium sources. The accepted name used here is Danio choprai. This is separate from the similarly worded Celestial Pearl Danio.
Mature females in spawning condition tend to be fuller-bodied, while males may be slimmer and more intensely coloured. Young fish are difficult to sex reliably, and neither size option carries a sex guarantee.
Eggs may be scattered, but adults and other fish often eat them. Reliable breeding needs a separate mature setup, egg protection, gentle filtration and extremely small fry foods. Plan homes before encouraging a spawn.
No. The four gallery images are not verified photos of the exact stock. Live markings, colour, sex, body proportions and fin development vary.
It can suit a prepared newer keeper with a fully cycled 60-litre or larger covered aquarium, water tests, suitable filtration and a proper group. The 2-3 cm option is usually easier to feed and observe than a fish near 1 cm.
Eligible livestock orders are covered by the current Live Arrival Guarantee under its published terms. Active code WELCOME10 currently provides 10% off where checkout eligibility and current terms allow. Offer wording does not replace the need to confirm aquarium readiness, group size and long-term capacity before ordering.
