GloFish® Starfire Red® Danio

The GloFish® Starfire Red® Danio is an energetic freshwater schooling fish with vivid fluorescent red coloration. Based on the zebra danio, this active community fish is known for fast swimming, lively group behavior, and frequent movement through the upper and middle portions of the aquarium.

Starfire Red® Danios look colorful under standard white aquarium lighting and appear especially vibrant under blue LED lighting. GloFish® fluorescent fish are not painted, injected, or artificially dyed. Their fluorescent coloration is inherited from their parents.

Key Features

• Vivid Starfire Red® fluorescent coloration
• Active freshwater schooling fish
• Fluorescent variety of the zebra danio
• Fast-moving upper- and midwater swimmer
• Best maintained in a group of compatible danios
• Suitable for established freshwater community aquariums
• Color is visible under white lighting and especially vivid under blue LEDs
• Not painted, injected, or artificially dyed
• Can school with other GloFish® danio colors and standard zebra danios

Fish Information

• Common Name: GloFish® Starfire Red® Danio
• Fish Type: Fluorescent zebra danio
• Water Type: Freshwater
• Temperament: Generally peaceful, active, and energetic
• Adult Size: Approximately 2–2.5 inches
• Recommended Group Size: At least 6 compatible danios
• Recommended Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons, preferably a longer aquarium
• Swimming Level: Upper and middle levels
• Diet: Omnivore

Recommended Water Parameters

• Temperature: Approximately 72–80°F
• pH: Approximately 6.5–7.5
• Water Hardness: Soft to moderately hard
• Ammonia: 0 ppm
• Nitrite: 0 ppm
• Nitrate: Kept as low as practical through regular maintenance

Stable water conditions are more important than reaching one exact pH or hardness value. Avoid sudden changes in temperature or water chemistry.

Schooling and Behavior

Starfire Red® Danios are social schooling fish and should not be kept alone. Maintain a group of at least six compatible danios, with a larger school preferred when aquarium space allows.

Different GloFish® danio colors can generally be combined in the same school. Standard zebra danios may also be kept with them because they share similar behavior and care requirements.

Danios are fast, energetic swimmers. Their constant activity may overwhelm very slow, timid, or delicate long-finned fish, so tankmates should be selected carefully.

Aquarium Setup

Provide a fully cycled and filtered freshwater aquarium with plenty of open horizontal swimming room. A longer aquarium is generally preferable to a tall, narrow tank because danios spend much of their time swimming back and forth.

• Use a properly cycled freshwater aquarium
• Provide dependable filtration and good oxygenation
• Leave ample open swimming space
• Add live or artificial plants around the sides and rear
• Use a secure lid because danios may jump
• Provide moderate water movement
• Perform routine partial water changes
• Maintain a regular day-and-night lighting schedule

Lighting

Starfire Red® Danios remain colorful under standard white aquarium lighting. Blue LED lighting can make their fluorescent red coloration appear especially vivid.

Aquarium lighting should not be left on continuously. GloFish recommends no more than approximately 12 hours of lighting per day so fish receive a normal period of darkness.

Compatible Tankmates

Choose peaceful, active community fish that can comfortably live with the danio’s fast swimming and energetic behavior.

• Other GloFish® danios
• Standard zebra danios
• Active tetras
• Peaceful barbs
• Rasboras
• Corydoras catfish
• Peaceful livebearers
• Small rainbowfish
• Other similarly sized, non-aggressive community fish

Avoid aggressive fish, species large enough to eat them, and very slow or delicate long-finned tankmates that may be stressed or chased.

Feeding

GloFish® Starfire Red® Danios are omnivores and should receive a varied diet of appropriately sized foods.

• Quality tropical flakes
• Micro pellets or small slow-sinking pellets
• Frozen brine shrimp
• Frozen daphnia
• Frozen or freeze-dried bloodworms as an occasional food

Feed small amounts once or twice daily, offering only what the fish can consume within a few minutes. Avoid allowing excess food to accumulate in the aquarium.

Acclimation

1. Turn off the aquarium lights before introducing the fish.
2. Float the unopened transport bag for approximately 15–20 minutes to equalize temperature.
3. Gradually introduce small amounts of aquarium water into the bag or acclimation container.
4. Carefully net the fish into the aquarium.
5. Avoid pouring transport water into the display aquarium when practical.
6. Leave the aquarium lights off for several hours while the fish settle.

Quarantine new fish before adding them to an established aquarium whenever a suitable quarantine system is available.

Important Care Notes

• Keep in a group rather than as a single fish.
• Provide ample horizontal swimming room.
• Use a secure aquarium lid.
• Do not add to an uncycled aquarium.
• Maintain stable temperature and water quality.
• Avoid overcrowding and incompatible tankmates.
• Provide a regular light-and-dark cycle.
• Never release aquarium fish into local waterways.
• Commercial reproduction of GloFish® fluorescent fish is restricted by the manufacturer’s licensing terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Starfire Red® Danios dyed?
No. GloFish® fluorescent fish are not painted, injected, or dyed. Their fluorescent red coloration is inherited.

Do they require special food or water?
No. Their general care is the same as standard zebra danios. Provide stable freshwater conditions and a varied, high-quality diet.

Do they glow in complete darkness?
No. Their fluorescence is visible when illuminated and appears especially vivid under blue LED aquarium lighting.

Can different GloFish® danio colors live together?
Yes. Different GloFish® danio colors can generally be kept together and count toward the same school.

Can I keep only one?
Keeping one alone is not recommended. Danios are social fish and should be maintained in a group of at least six.

Are they suitable for a five-gallon aquarium?
No. These are fast, active schooling fish that need more swimming room. A 20-gallon-long-style aquarium is a more appropriate starting point for a group.

Can they live with GloFish® tetras?
They may be kept with compatible GloFish® tetras in a properly sized community aquarium, but each fish type should have enough members of its own group.

Will the red color fade?
The inherited coloration remains with the fish, although its appearance may vary with lighting, health, stress, diet, and water quality.

Available at Tropical Treasures Wyo

GloFish® Starfire Red® Danios are available at Tropical Treasures Wyo in Cheyenne, Wyoming, when in stock. Live fish are available for in-store purchase or local pickup only and are not available for shipping.

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