Giant danio
Devario aequipinnatus
A big, fast danio with blue and gold stripes that needs a long tank, current, very clean water and a tight lid.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 76 gallons
- Group
- 8+
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 1 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Flakes, pellets, frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp
- Origin
- India, Bangladesh and Nepal
- Hardier than77%
- Bigger than46%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Giant 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
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets 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
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGiant danio outcompetes the slow-eating Otocinclus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- BettaToo fast and boisterous for bettas.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidGiant danio outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Giant danio.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Giant danio.Risky
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat young or small Giant danio; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Giant danio: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Giant danio: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Giant danio: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Giant danio: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for giant danios: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 7.5 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 9.15 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 4.91 BU
- Min. water
- 243 L net
- Min. footprint
- 120 × 45 cm per group
- Group
- 8+ (best 10)
- Swims in
- top, middle
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- nitrate
Sources: Seriously Fish: Devario aequipinnatus · FishBase: Devario aequipinnatus
Care notes
Giant danios come from rocky hill streams of India, Bangladesh and Nepal. They are about 3 inches long, never stop moving and are notorious jumpers.
A school of eight to ten needs a tank around 55 gallons with a 4-foot footprint, good current and large weekly water changes. They are not aggressive, but their energy and greed at feeding time stress slow tank mates.
Questions
What size tank does a giant danio need?
At least 76 gallons (243 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3 inches without fins.
How many giant danios should be kept together?
Keep at least 8, ideally 10 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do giant danios need?
72–75 °F, pH 6–8 and 2–15 dGH. Giant danios come from India, Bangladesh and Nepal.
How long do giant danios live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with giant danios?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Cherry shrimp. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.