Celestial Pearl Danio
Danio margaritatus
Cyprinidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: verified
About
The celestial pearl danio, first traded as the 'galaxy rasbora', is a stunning miniature cyprinid discovered in 2006 in shallow, heavily vegetated spring-fed pools on the Salween basin plateaus of Myanmar. Deep blue flanks scattered with pearl-white spots and fiery orange-red fins make it one of the most beautiful nano fish available. Males display and spar constantly but harmlessly, so keeping a group with more females spreads out this activity.
Care
Keep in a group of 8+ with more females than males in a well-planted nano tank with gentle flow and cover. Slightly timid; avoid boisterous tankmates.
Diet
Micro-omnivore; feed small dry foods plus regular small live/frozen foods for peak colour.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (49)
Agassiz's CoryAmano ShrimpBanjo CatfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBladder SnailBloodfin TetraBlue Tiger ShrimpBlue Velvet ShrimpBorneo SuckerBristlenose PlecoButterfly Hillstream LoachCherry ShrimpChinese Algae EaterCochu's Blue TetraDwarf Orange CrayfishEmerald CoryFlame TetraFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden Dwarf CichlidHarlequin RasboraHoney GouramiJapanese Trapdoor SnailJulii CoryKeyhole CichlidLemon TetraLeopard DanioLittle CorydorasOdessa BarbOtocinclusPanda CorydorasPearl DanioPeppered CorydorasPygmy CorydorasReticulated Hillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoSalt and Pepper CoryScarlet BadisSkunk CoryThai Micro CrabUmbrella Dwarf CichlidVenezuelan CoryZebra Danio
Possible with care (112)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAssassin SnailBamboo ShrimpBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Phantom TetraBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBrichard's TeleogrammaBronze CorydorasBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee GobyCelebes RainbowfishCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbCherry BarbChili RasboraChocolate CichlidClown KillifishClown PlecoCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailCongo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraConvict CichlidDenison BarbDiamond TetraDoctor FishDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Pea PufferDwarf RasboraElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidEmber TetraEmperor TetraEndler's LivebearerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Firemouth CichlidForktail RainbowfishGerman Blue RamGlowlight TetraGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGreen Neon TetraGuppyHead-and-Tail-Light TetraKissing GouramiKribensisKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLeast KillifishMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarble HatchetfishMedaka RicefishMoonlight GouramiMystery SnailNeon TetraNerite SnailParaguay EartheaterPeaceful BettaPearl GouramiPenguin TetraPlatyPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPurple Emperor TetraRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRainbow SharkRamshorn SnailRed RainbowfishRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkRedhead CichlidRosy BarbRosy TetraRummynose TetraScissortail RasboraSerpae TetraSeverumSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSparkling GouramiSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraStriped KribensisSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterT-Bar CichlidThick-lipped GouramiThreadfin AcaraThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbTurquoise RainbowfishUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpWhite Cloud Mountain MinnowWrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraYoyo Loach
Avoid (110)
Acei CichlidAdonis PlecoAfrican ButterflyfishAltum AngelfishAngelfishAuratus CichlidBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Brevis Shell DwellerBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bumblebee CichlidCalvus CichlidCardinal TetraChocolate GouramiClown LoachCobalt Blue ZebraComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDemon EartheaterDiscusDogtooth CichlidDuboisi TropheusDwarf Petricola CatfishElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabElongate MbunaEndlicheri BichirEven-spotted SynodontisFantail GoldfishFeatherfin SqueakerFigure-8 PufferFive-bar CichlidFrontosaGoby CichlidGolden JulieGolden Wonder KillifishGreen DiscusGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorHeckel DiscusHongi CichlidIridescent SharkJack DempseyJaguar CichlidJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKoiLemon CichlidLivingstoniMaingano CichlidMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMollyMultifasciatus Shell DwellerOcellatus Shell DwellerOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarParadise FishPeacock BassPeacock CichlidPictus CatfishPike CichlidPowder Blue CichlidRanchu GoldfishRed DevilRed EmpressRed TerrorRed Zebra CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRusty CichlidRyukin GoldfishSailfin MollySailfin PlecoSalvini CichlidSand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonySimilis Shell DwellerSpotted HoploStar SapphireStriped Raphael CatfishSwordtailTaiwan Reef CichlidTelescope GoldfishTexas CichlidThreadfin PetrochromisTropheusUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)Wolf CichlidZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Full tank-mates guide with reasons →Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Belly depthA hint only · only on well-fed adults, and only as a comparison
For most tetras, barbs and rasboras this is all there is: a conditioned female is deeper through the belly than a male of the same length.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Celestial Pearl Danio need?
- A Celestial Pearl Danio needs an aquarium of at least 40 litres (10.6 US gallons) with a footprint at least 45 cm (17.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Celestial Pearl Danio need?
- Celestial Pearl Danio does best at 20–26 °C (68–78.8 °F), pH 6.5–7.5 and a general hardness of 4–12 °dGH.
- What group size does a Celestial Pearl Danio need?
- Celestial Pearl Danio is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Celestial Pearl Danio suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Celestial Pearl Danio is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature20–26°C
Optimal temp.22–24°C
pH6.5–7.5
Hardness (GH)4–12°d
Carbonate (KH)2–10°d
Adult size2.5 cm
Min. volume≥ 40 L
Min. tank length≥ 45 cm
Group size≥ 8
Swimming zoneMid
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowLow
Lifespan~4 yrs
Try in the calculator