Zebra Danio
Danio rerio
The Zebra Danio (Danio rerio) is a peaceful fish that's easy to keep. Give it a tank of at least 55 litres (15 US gallons), water held at 64-79°F, and a pH of 6-8. Always keep a group of at least 6 - they feel safest in numbers.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Streams and rice paddies of the Ganges basin, India and Bangladesh.
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Zebra Danio Tank Setup
Give them a tank of at least 55 litres (15 US gallons). As open-water swimmers they care more about swimming length than height, so a longer tank is ideal. Keep the water at 64-79°F with a pH around 6-8, and avoid sudden swings. Always keep a group of at least 6 of their own kind - kept alone or in pairs they tend to turn shy, nippy, or wash out in colour.
What Do Zebra Danios Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Zebra Danio Tank Mates
Keep in groups of 6+. Very active; may nip fins of slow or long-finned tankmates. The Zebra Danio is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. It's a known fin-nipper, so avoid bettas, guppies, and other slow, long-finned fish. It's a shoaling fish, so settle a group of 6 or more of its own kind before adding anything else - a stressed, lonely fish is far more likely to nip or hide. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Zebra Danios Good for Beginners?
Often recommended to beginners, but only after the tank is cycled and you can keep a proper school - not three fish in a new setup.
Zebra Danio - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Zebra Danios need?
Zebra Danios need a tank of at least 55 litres (15 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
How many Zebra Danios should I keep together?
Keep a group of at least 6. Zebra Danios are a shoaling species and become stressed, lose their colour, or hide when kept singly or in pairs.
What water parameters do Zebra Danios need?
Keep them at 64-79°F with a pH of 6-8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Zebra Danios eat?
Zebra Danios are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Zebra Danios good for beginners?
Yes - Zebra Danios are a good beginner choice once the tank is fully cycled and you can keep a proper group. They are hardy but still need stable water and a school to feel secure.
Common mistakes with Zebra Danios
- Buying fewer than 6 - Zebra Danios need a proper school to feel secure; isolated individuals hide, fail to colour up, or become stressed.
- Mixing with long-finned fish - Zebra Danios will nip at bettas, angelfish, and other fish with flowing fins, causing stress and infection risk.
Guides that pair with this fish
- Zebra danio care guide - Movement, schools, and tank length.
- Zebra danio tank mates - Temperament matches and fin risk.
- Celestial pearl danio guide - Related nano danio pacing for contrast.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Zebra Danios
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- AxolotlPredator - Axolotl will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
