Golden Zebra Danio (Danio rerio)

Choose a golden zebra danio for a lively shoal

The Golden Zebra Danio is a gold colour form of the zebra danio, Danio rerio, a small, fast-swimming freshwater fish from South Asia. In place of the wild fish's dark blue stripes, the golden form shows bright gold to orange stripes on a pale, pearly body, so a shoal flashes warm colour as it moves through open water. It is the same species as the striped zebra danio and needs exactly the same care.

You will also see it sold as the gold zebra danio, golden danio or gold zebrafish. Older labels use Brachydanio rerio: the Seriously Fish species profile explains that the genus name has moved between Brachydanio and Danio, and that the Catalog of Fishes and FishBase keep it in Danio. The spotted "leopard danio" is another form of the same species, once described as Brachydanio frankei and now known to be a spontaneous mutation of the striped fish.

Seriously Fish describes the golden forms as leucistic rather than albino, which is why the eyes stay dark. This is a conventionally bred colour form, not a GloFish: GloFish are transgenic fish carrying fluorescent proteins from a jellyfish or a coral, and Seriously Fish notes that they are illegal to buy, sell or own in the European Union.

Check the identification points

These points come from the FishBase species summary. Wild zebra danios live in streams, canals, ditches, ponds and rice fields. A 2007 survey summarised by Seriously Fish found them at 28 sites in north-eastern India; at half of them the water was slow-moving or still, usually clear, over silt and among vegetation. Adults spend the dry months in permanent streams and move into flooded areas to spawn during the June to September monsoon.

Select the size and the number of fish

One purchase supplies one live Golden Zebra Danio in our Small size. Small is the youngest size we offer for this fish. It is a supplied size, not the adult size, so plan the aquarium for fully grown fish. Choose the quantity in the basket to build a group in one delivery.

Work out your group before you order

• Five fish: the minimum the Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA) gives for danios.
• Eight to ten fish: the minimum group Seriously Fish recommends, because larger groups are less nervous and behave more naturally.
• More than ten: a better display, where the aquarium and its existing stock leave room.

Sex is not selected. Mature females are usually rounder-bellied, slightly larger and a little less colourful than males, and the difference is clearest in spawning condition, when males colour up to compete for females. Each fish varies slightly in shade and stripe width, so the photographs show the colour form rather than the individual fish you will receive.

Prepare the tank for the whole group before you order, and read our delivery information for dispatch days and arrival terms. To compare this fish with other small shoaling species, browse our rasboras and danios or the wider schooling fish range.

Plan the aquarium around an adult zebra danio

The published adult sizes differ. Seriously Fish gives a maximum of 50 mm standard length (measured to the base of the tail), while FishBase lists 3.8 cm standard length. Plan for the larger figure: about 5 cm of body, plus the tail.

We follow the Seriously Fish base of 90 × 30 cm because the zebra danio is constantly on the move, and the length of the tank matters more than its height. A tall, narrow tank holding the same number of litres gives a shoal far less swimming room. Our tank volume calculator converts your tank's dimensions into litres.

Use a three-step space check

1. Measure the base: aim for at least 90 cm long and 30 cm from front to back.
2. Count complete groups: eight to ten danios plus the full group of every other shoaling species you intend to keep.
3. Plan for adult bodies: allow about 5 cm for each danio, whatever size it arrives at, and run the total through our stocking calculator.

Zebra danios are not short-lived for their size. FishBase reports that domesticated zebrafish live on average 3.5 years, with the oldest reaching 5.5 years, so set the tank up as a long-term home rather than a temporary one.

Lay out open water with planted edges

Seriously Fish says décor is not critical for this species, but colour shows best in a heavily planted tank with a dark substrate, and floating plants and driftwood soften the light and give a more natural look. OATA recommends gravel or sand, live or artificial plants and ornaments for cover, open swimming space and a moderate current.

Divide the footprint by function

Leave part of the surface open so food can be spread out and every fish can reach it. OATA lists a secure lid as optional but recommended for danios; with a fish this fast and active, we suggest you fit one. Hardy plants that cope with a busy community tank are covered in our live plants guide.

Set water values within the species range

The zebra danio tolerates a wide range of water, which is one reason it suits so many community tanks. The three sources we checked give slightly different ranges:

All three overlap at 18–24°C, pH 6.5–8.0 and roughly 5–12 dGH. UK tap water ranges from soft to very hard depending on where you live, so test yours or look up your water company's quality report before you buy. Our water matcher shows which fish suit the water you already have, and our water chemistry guide explains pH and hardness in plain terms.

Seriously Fish notes that a heater may not always be needed. In practice, many UK rooms drop below 18°C on winter nights, so most keepers will want a thermostatic heater to hold the temperature steady in the low 20s. Our tropical fish temperature guide explains how to choose and set one.

Separate habitat values from waste readings

Temperature, pH and hardness describe the habitat; ammonia, nitrite and nitrate measure waste. The habitat values can sit anywhere inside the range, but the waste readings have fixed targets: OATA gives zero ammonia, zero nitrite and nitrate no more than 20 mg per litre above your tap water level. A fish kept at the perfect temperature in water containing ammonia is still at risk, so treat the two groups of readings as separate checks.

Filter and maintain for a busy shoal

Seriously Fish says filtration does not need to be strong, but zebra danios appreciate some water movement, and it suggests a filter that turns the tank volume over four to five times an hour. OATA treats a filter as essential and recommends rinsing filter media in water removed from the tank, never under the tap, so the beneficial bacteria survive. Our guide to aquarium filtration covers filter types and sizing.

Follow a weekly maintenance sequence

1. Test first: check ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and hardness; OATA recommends testing weekly.
2. Siphon and change: remove about 25% of the water, taking solid waste from the gravel as you go.
3. Treat new water: add tap water conditioner to remove chlorine or chloramine, and bring it close to tank temperature.
4. Check the filter: when flow drops, rinse the media lightly in the water you have just removed.
5. Record results: a simple log shows slow changes before they become problems.

A mature filter is what turns fish waste into less harmful nitrate. If your tank is new, read how the nitrogen cycle works before you add any fish.

Feed small varied meals once a day

In the wild, the zebra danio is a micropredator. Seriously Fish lists aquatic crustaceans and insects such as mosquito larvae, and FishBase adds worms and insect larvae. In the aquarium it accepts almost anything; Seriously Fish recommends a good-quality dried food alongside small live or frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia (brine shrimp) and bloodworm.

OATA advises feeding once a day and giving only what the fish eat within a few minutes, because uneaten food breaks down into toxic waste.

Build one measured meal

1. Start small: scatter a pinch of fine flake or micro-granules across the open part of the surface so every fish can reach some.
2. Time it: watch for a few minutes and note how much is eaten.
3. Adjust: if food reaches the gravel uneaten, give less next time.
4. Vary it: on some days swap the dried food for thawed frozen daphnia, brine shrimp or bloodworm.
5. Clear up: remove anything left after a few minutes.

Introduce the shoal to a mature aquarium

Before any fish arrive, OATA says ammonia and nitrite should both read zero and the tank should be the right size. Add fish gradually, because the bacteria in the filter need time to grow with each addition; adding many fish to an immature tank causes what OATA calls new tank syndrome. Our first tropical tank guide takes you through setting up and maturing a tank.

Use the floating-bag method

1. Switch off the aquarium lights and keep the bag out of bright light.
2. Float the sealed bag in the tank for about 10 minutes to equalise the temperature.
3. Open it and add small amounts of tank water to the bag over up to 20 minutes.
4. Net the fish into the tank, keeping as much bag water out as you can, then throw the bag water away.

Our article on how to acclimate new fish explains each step in more detail. OATA then advises watching the fish and the water closely through the first week:

Watch the shoal and act on changes

OATA lists the signs of a healthy fish as clear, bright eyes, undamaged fins, intact scales, no ulcers or bumps, normal swimming and steady breathing. Warning signs include clamped fins, flicking against objects, shimmying, white spots or fluffy growths, hanging at the surface or sitting on the bottom, a change in colour, hiding more than usual, faster or slower gill movement and a reduced appetite.

Pair each observation with an action

Seriously Fish highlights some problems specific to zebra danios. Microsporidiosis caused by Pseudoloma neurofilia attacks the nervous system and can cause wasting and a curved spine, which is why it is nicknamed "skinny disease". Neon tetra disease, caused by Pleistophora hyphessobryconis, is essentially untreatable once advanced, and the bacterium Flavobacterium columnare can cause similar-looking symptoms. Mass production has also led to some inbreeding and body deformities. If a fish shows these signs, remove it from the shoal and ask a vet who treats fish for advice.

Screen every tank mate before mixing

Seriously Fish describes the zebra danio as very peaceful and suggests other small cyprinids, tetras, livebearers, rainbowfishes, anabantoids (gouramis and their relatives), catfish and loaches as companions, while reminding keepers to allow for its small adult size. OATA adds that a danio's constant activity may stress more timid species.

Use the same five questions every time

1. Do the water ranges overlap? The tank must stay inside 18–25°C for the danios and inside the companion's own range.
2. Does every shoaling species get its full group? Reserve room for eight to ten danios first.
3. Could anything swallow a danio? If a companion's mouth is big enough, leave it out.
4. Will a shy fish cope with constant movement? Very slow or timid species may not.
5. Can every fish feed? Fast danios reach food first, so spread food out for slower companions.

Check any mix with our tank mates tool. You can also browse every danio we stock on the Danio category page and the wider danios, rasboras and Tanichthys category. For another hardy cool-water shoaling fish, read our White Cloud Mountain Minnow guide.

Breed zebra danios in a spare tank

Zebra danios scatter their eggs and give no parental care, and Seriously Fish calls them an excellent choice for a first attempt at breeding. In a dense, mature planted tank some fry may survive without help, but the adults eat eggs, so a separate set-up produces far more young. FishBase notes that the eggs are released a few at a time after energetic chasing and settle freely without sticking to anything.

Set up a simple spawning container

1. Use a small, dimly lit container half-filled with water, with mesh or matting over the base so eggs fall through out of reach of the adults.
2. Keep the pH slightly acidic to neutral and the temperature towards the top of the range, with a small filter directed along its length.
3. Add one or two pairs when the females look full of eggs. Seriously Fish suggests triggering spawning by slowly adding cooler water over several hours and offering small live or frozen foods.
4. Spawning usually happens the next morning. Remove the adults after a couple of days and swap the filter for a sponge filter to protect the fry.
5. Eggs hatch in about 24–36 hours and the young swim freely a few days later. Start them on Paramecium or a very fine dry food of 5–50 microns, then move on to brine shrimp nauplii or microworm.

Answer golden zebra danio buying questions

Is the Golden Zebra Danio a different species from the zebra danio?

No. It is a gold colour form of Danio rerio, so its size, water needs, diet and behaviour match the striped zebra danio.

Is it an albino or a GloFish?

Neither. Seriously Fish describes golden zebra danios as leucistic rather than albino, so the eyes stay dark, and this is a conventionally bred colour form, not a transgenic GloFish.

How many golden zebra danios should I keep?

At least five according to OATA, and eight to ten or more according to Seriously Fish. Larger groups are calmer and show more natural behaviour.

How big does a golden zebra danio grow?

Seriously Fish gives up to 50 mm standard length and FishBase 3.8 cm. Plan for about 5 cm of body plus the tail.

What size tank does it need?

We recommend a base of at least 90 × 30 cm (about 81 litres), the Seriously Fish minimum, because the shoal swims constantly.

Does it need a heater?

Its range is 18–25°C. Many UK rooms fall below that on winter nights, so most keepers use a thermostatic heater to keep the temperature steady.

What should I feed it?

A good dried food once a day, with small live or frozen foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm, giving only what is eaten within a few minutes.

Which fish can live with it?

Peaceful small community fish that share its temperature range, such as other danios, White Cloud Mountain Minnows, tetras, livebearers, rainbowfish, gouramis, catfish and loaches. Avoid fish big enough to eat it.

What size will I receive?

One live fish in our Small size, the youngest size we sell. It is a supplied size, not the adult size.

Consult the care references

• Seriously Fish: Danio rerio: taxonomy, the 2007 habitat survey, adult size, aquarium base, water values, diet, behaviour, sexing, breeding, golden and GloFish notes, and health notes.
• FishBase: Danio rerio: family, distribution, identification features, wild diet, recorded maximum length, lifespan and spawning behaviour.
• OATA: How to look after danios & White Cloud Mountain Minnows: water quality targets, maintenance, group size, tank size, feeding, acclimatisation and health signs.