Species description

Care, breeding and tankmates

Fish profile

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

The Orange Finned Danio is a peaceful, highly gregarious schooling fish. They are never aggressive toward other species, though their boisterous activity can be annoying to quieter fish. Intraspecific interactions consist of constant, harmless chasing and sparring among males establishing a loose hierarchy.

Diet

Omnivore

They are unfussy omnivores that naturally feed on insects, small crustaceans, and plant matter. In the home aquarium, they will readily accept high-quality flakes, micro-pellets, and freeze-dried foods. Supplementing with live or frozen foods like bloodworms and daphnia will bring out the intense orange coloration in their fins.

Sex ratio

Group

Females are slightly larger, significantly plumper, and have less intense orange coloration on their fins. Males are slender and display bold, bright orange fins, especially when displaying to rivals or females. They must be kept in a group of at least 8-10 individuals with a roughly equal mix of males and females.

Feeding frequency

Twice daily

Being highly active, they benefit from being fed small amounts two to three times a day. They are enthusiastic surface and mid-water feeders that will rapidly consume anything offered. Care should be taken to ensure slower tank mates get their share before the danios eat everything.

Bioload

The Orange Finned Danio produces a relatively low bioload individually, but typical schools will generate a moderate amount of waste. They are highly active fish that require regular feeding, which contributes to their bioload. Standard biological filtration and routine weekly water changes will easily maintain the necessary water parameters.

Flow

Stagnant

Originating from small, fast-flowing streams in Myanmar, they thrive in aquariums with moderate to strong water flow. A powerhead or a strong filter return will encourage them to swim actively against the current, which they enjoy. Strong flow also ensures high oxygenation, which is crucial for these energetic fish.

Reproduction

Oviparous

They are prolific egg scatterers that will easily breed in a well-conditioned tank. A separate breeding setup with a mesh bottom or dense marbles is required, as the adults will ravenously consume their own eggs. Once spawning is complete, usually in the early morning, the adults must be promptly removed.

Compatibility & tankmates

They are an excellent community fish, known for being peaceful and active. They mix well with other similarly sized, robust community fish like tetras, corydoras, and other danio species. However, their constant, high-speed darting may stress out slow-moving or highly timid species like certain gouramis.

Tank level

Top/Middle

They are predominantly top and mid-level swimmers, constantly patrolling the upper reaches of the tank. They are almost always in motion, requiring a long aquarium to provide adequate swimming space. While they don't hide much, they appreciate floating plants to break the water surface.