Celestial pearl danio
Danio margaritatus
A tiny, pearl-spotted danio with orange fins, the star of planted nano tanks; shy, with males sparring constantly.
Key facts
- Body length
- 0.8 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 13 gallons
- Group
- 10+
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shy
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Micro pellets, baby brine shrimp, frozen daphnia and cyclops
- Origin
- Salween basin, Shan State, Myanmar
- Hardier than32%
- Bigger than4%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Celestial pearl danio tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Celestial pearl danio.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Celestial pearl danio.Risky
- DemasoniDemasoni attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Celestial pearl danio.Risky
- Golden mbunaGolden mbuna attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Celestial pearl danio.Risky
- Peacock cichlidMalawi butterfly peacock attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Celestial pearl danio.Risky
- Rainbow sharkRainbow shark attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Celestial pearl danio.Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish can eat Celestial pearl danio: prey body depth 0.5 cm ≤ mouth 2.3 cm.Avoid
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Celestial pearl danio: prey body depth 0.5 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Celestial pearl danio: prey body depth 0.5 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Firemouth cichlidFiremouth cichlid can eat Celestial pearl danio: prey body depth 0.5 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- GoldfishGoldfish can eat Celestial pearl danio: prey body depth 0.5 cm ≤ mouth 3.0 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Celestial pearl danio: prey body depth 0.5 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for celestial pearl danios: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 2.1 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 0.12 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.24 BU
- Min. water
- 41 L net
- Min. footprint
- 45 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 10+ (best 20)
- Swims in
- middle, bottom
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- micropredator
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Danio margaritatus · FishBase: Danio margaritatus
Care notes
Celestial pearl danios come from small, overgrown marshy meadows in the Salween basin of Shan State, Myanmar. Their bodies are dotted with pearly spots and the fins are orange.
Keep ten or more, ideally twenty, in a 10 gallon tank or larger with dense plants and shade. Small live or frozen foods work best, since they rarely feed at the surface, and minor fin damage from male sparring is normal.
Questions
What size tank does a celestial pearl danio need?
At least 13 gallons (41 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 0.8 inches without fins.
How many celestial pearl danios should be kept together?
Keep at least 10, ideally 20 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do celestial pearl danios need?
72–75 °F, pH 6.5–7.5 and 5–15 dGH. Celestial pearl danios come from Salween basin, Shan State, Myanmar.
How long do celestial pearl danios live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with celestial pearl danios?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Otocinclus. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.