Celestial Pearl Danio – Profile, Care & Facts

The Celestial Pearl Danio is a gorgeous freshwater fish mainly found in vegetated ponds in Southeast Asia. This fish has rich coloration and striking marks that make it a great addition to your aquarium.

The base coloration of the danios is deep blue, while their bodies have pearl-like spots to create the galaxy-like pattern. Their fins are quite prominent when compared to the shape and size of their bodies, and they take on a red color or deep orange.

Discovered in 2006, many aquarium hobbyists have fallen in love and adopted these little danios. These fish flourish in tanks that are packed with vegetation and friendly tank mates.

They can be timid sometimes, so they prefer to live in communities full of other colorful fish. In this article, we will look at how to take care of Celestial Pearl Danio, their ideal habitat, tank requirements, diet, and reproductions, amongst other topics. 

Celestial Pearl Danio Natural Habitat

As mentioned above, the Celestial Pearl Danio is a freshwater fish that is found in permanently-flooded grassland. It is crucial to know that these fish can live in a series of ponds, not just one as it has been reported.

The ponds are mostly found in the mountainous area in the Shan Plateau. The area is mostly rice paddies and grassland, so ponds are open to the sun and has a variety of aquatic plants. 

Celestial Pearl Danio Fish Tank Requirements

Celestial Pearl Danio can thrive in most aquatic environments, but it is important to provide them with the right conditions since they are prone to stress. The good thing is that they are small in size, so they can survive in small aquariums.

The minimum tank size for these fish is 10 gallons. With this size, you can keep about 5 of these fish together. A good rule of the thumb is to allow about 2 gallons per fish to provide them with enough space to swim and hide. 

Given that they can fit in a small space doesn’t mean that Celestial Pearl Danios won’t appreciate more room. In fact, they might love spacious aquariums with several hiding spots.

Since danios love to hide, you need to provide plenty of plants for them to hide in, and this is especially necessary if you have several male fish. 

Besides providing good hiding places, the vegetation will also keep the water in good condition. It also provides the fish with plenty of things to snack on. That is why Celestial Pearl Danios have become a favorite among hobbyists who like aquascaping. 

Celestial Pearl Danio Water Conditions

It is not only the tank size that you have to worry about, but you also need to make sure that the water mimics their natural habitat. The temperature should range between 73-79°F. When it comes to the hardness of the water, make it soft or medium.

Anything between 2 – 10 dKH, with a pH level of about 6.5 – 7.5 is good for them. Since these are fairly normal aquarium water conditions, it is safe to say that these fish aren’t too hard to care for. 

Buying a good water testing kit is highly desirable if you want to get accurate readings each time. This way, you will be able to make adjustments as necessary. 

Celestial Pearl Danio Diet and Feeding Schedule

Typically, danios are omnivorous, and they aren’t too picky. So, their diets can vary significantly. In their natural habitat, these fish feed on plants and algae. They may also eat plankton and small vertebrae to replenish them with protein.

In captivity, Celestial Pearl Danios can feed on pellets or flakes. They have tiny mouths, so you need to provide them with small pellets. And since they spend most of their time at the bottom half, you need food that will sink.

You should also note that these fish don’t like being fed on the same food each day. So, try a more varied diet to prevent boredom. Other good choices are small worms, brine shrimp, and live daphnia. 

While these fish belong to the same species, they will have unique personalities. You may find some that are more forward than others, while others could be a little shy. So, it can be an issue when feeding them.

When it is food time, there is always the risk of some of them not getting the food. You can resolve this problem by feeding the aggressive danios on one side of the tank, and then tend to the slower ones on the other side of the tank simultaneously. 

Celestial Pearl Danio Tank Mates

The Danio is a tiny fish and goes about life peacefully. As long as you provide them with food, a few aquatic plants for them to hide, and friendly partners, they will be happy. Due to their laid back and pacific nature, you need to pair them with peaceful fish.

Please note that even large peaceful fish can threaten them, so choose friendly fish of the same size. Non-aggressive fish such as Neon Tetras, Guppies, Cory catfish, Mollies, and Killifish are great tank mates. 

Celestial Pearl Danio Breeding 

For Celestial Pearl Danios, breeding is usually a straightforward process. Since there is no specific season that they can breed, it is recommended that you feed your fish with several live foods to stimulate the breeding process.

Despite their small size, these fish are egg layers, a female Celestial Pearl Danio can lay upwards of 30 eggs in a single instant. The main challenge is that these eggs are tiny. You need to constantly keep an eye on where they are.

Moreover, male danios are known to eat eggs. So, you should remove them immediately and transfer them to a spawning tank to incubate for 2 – 4 days. After that, the fry will hatch.

Since they are so tiny, you can give them nutritious microfood to help them grow. As they grow, you can introduce them to baby shrimp, flakes, and small worms.  

Conclusion

If you are looking for a natural yet strikingly beautiful addition to your aquarium, the Celestial Pearl Danio is your ideal fish. These little jewels are a sight to be seen.

The good thing is that they are easy to take care of, as long as you provide quality water with stable water parameters. Even though they are a popular choice for nano aquarists, they are more versatile than most people realize.

Hopefully, this article provided all you need to know about caring for the Celestial Pearl Danio.