🐟 Celestial Pearl Danio Care Guide

1. Tank Size

Minimum: 10 gallons for a small school (6–8 fish).

Recommended: 20 gallons+ for bigger, happier groups and better natural behavior.

Key: These fish are schooling fish — keep at least 6, but 10–20 is ideal.

2. Water Parameters

Temperature: 71–78°F (22–26°C)

pH: 6.5–7.5

Hardness: 3–12 dGH (soft to moderately hard)

Ammonia/Nitrites: 0 ppm

Nitrates: <20 ppm for best health.

3. Filtration & Flow

Filter: Yes — gentle sponge or low-flow filters are ideal.

Flow: Very mild — they prefer calm, peaceful water.

Water Changes: 25–40% weekly.

4. Tank Setup

Substrate: Dark fine sand or smooth gravel to make their colors pop.

Plants: Lots of live plants! Great options include:

Java Moss

Cryptocoryne species

Dwarf Water Lily

Frogbit or Duckweed (floating plants)

Hiding Places: Driftwood, caves, leaf litter.

Lighting: Moderate — dimmer lighting enhances their deep blue and red colors.

5. Feeding

Diet: Micro-predators — love tiny live/frozen foods.

Foods:

Baby brine shrimp

Daphnia

Microworms

Crushed nano pellets

Fine flake food

How Often: 1–2 small meals daily.

6. Behavior

Temperament: Peaceful, shy at first but lively once settled.

Tankmates:

Other peaceful nano fish (Chili Rasboras, Pygmy Corydoras, Emerald Dwarf Rasboras)

Shrimp (like Amanos or Cherries)

Avoid: Big, fast, or aggressive fish (they’ll stress out easily).

7. Sexing

Males: Brighter, deeper colors, slimmer body, often show off by displaying at females.

Females: Slightly rounder belly, more muted coloration.

8. Breeding

Difficulty: Moderate — easier in a separate breeding tank.

Notes: Scatter their eggs among mosses and plants. Adults may eat eggs, so separate the fry or use breeding setups with mesh or marbles at the bottom.

9. Health Notes

Common Issues:

Stress from aggressive tankmates

Fin nipping from improper companions

Poor water = faded color and sickness

Signs of Good Health:

Vibrant galaxy-like spots

Bold swimming

Active schooling