Giant Danio

Species Profile

• Scientific Name: Devario aequipinnatus
• Common Name: Giant Danio
• Adult Size: 10–15 cm (4–6 inches)
• Life Expectancy: 5 to 7 years
• Habitat: Native to South and Southeast Asia (India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh), found in fast-moving streams, rivers, and clear freshwater bodies with rocky substrates.

Tank Requirements

• Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallons or more
  (best kept in schools of 6 or more due to their social nature and swimming needs)
• Ideal Temperature: 22°C to 28°C (72°F to 82°F)
• pH Range: 6.5 to 7.5
• Water Hardness: 5 to 15 dGH
• Temperament: Peaceful, active, and social Best suited for community tanks with similarly sized, non-aggressive tank mates. Avoid slow-moving or long-finned fish due to their energetic swimming.

Diet & Nutrition

Omnivorous – Accepts a wide variety of foods:

• Flake and pellet foods
• Live/frozen foods like daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworms

• Occasional vegetable matter (blanched spinach, peas)

Breeding & Spawning

• Egg scatterers
• Requires a separate breeding tank with fine-leaved plants or spawning mops
• Males chase females during spawning
• Eggs hatch in about 24–36 hours

• Fry should be fed infusoria or powdered fry food

Appearance

Distinctive Features:

• Slender torpedo-shaped body
• Iridescent blue and gold horizontal stripes from head to tail
• Clear fins with slight yellow or gold tint
• Fast swimmers with strong schooling behavior

• Males are typically slimmer and more vibrant in color than females