Giant Danio
Devario malabaricus
Danionidae
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About
It leaves the shop at 4 cm with 'giant danio' on the label, and two things about that label are worth knowing before the bag is opened. The first is the name. Seriously Fish files this fish as Devario malabaricus under the heading Giant 'Danio' - scare quotes theirs - and its notes state that 'Genetic and morphological data has revealed the fish in the aquarium trade which is usually referred to as "giant danio" and labelled with the scientific name D. aequipinnatus in the majority of older aquarium literature is actually D. malabaricus'. Devario aequipinnatus is a real and separate species, which Seriously Fish places in the Brahmaputra system of northeastern India and FishBase records from India and Nepal to Indochina at up to 15 cm TL. Wikipedia states the confusion from the other side: the Malabar danio 'was at a time incorrectly considered a synonym of Devario aequipinnatus, which is a valid name for a different species.' Assume the fish in front of you is D. malabaricus unless someone has checked. The second is size and speed. FishBase gives 12.0 cm TL with a common length of 8 cm; Wikipedia gives a 15 cm maximum but says it 'rarely exceeds 10 cm in a home aquarium'; Seriously Fish gives 70-80 mm standard length. Whichever figure you take, it is two to three times the fish in the bag, and it spends the whole day cruising in straight lines. That is why Seriously Fish asks for a base of 120 x 45 cm - about 240 litres - for a fish barely 10 cm long. Here the requirement is length, not volume.
Care
A group of eight to ten, a tank at least 120 cm long, cool 20-24 C water, moderate flow and a lid that genuinely seals - Seriously Fish notes all Devario are accomplished jumpers. It is not aggressive, but the same profile warns it 'may upset slow-moving or timid tankmates with its constant activity and vigorous feeding behaviour', so pair it with robust, similarly sized fish rather than with a betta or a gourami. It comes from clear hill streams and wants clean, well-oxygenated water: 30-50% weekly changes are routine and it should not go into an immature tank. Hardness is a non-issue, with 36-268 ppm quoted, so ordinary tap water is fine.
Diet
Insectivore that hunts at and just below the surface. A good dried staple plus frozen or live bloodworm, Daphnia and Artemia for colour and condition.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (245)
Possible with care (139)
Avoid (34)
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
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
Similar species
Same category and the closest water parameters — if this species isn't quite it, start here.
Sold in Lithuania
These Lithuanian shops listed this species in their public catalogue (checked August 8, 2026). Stock moves — ask before you travel.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Giant Danio need?
- A Giant Danio needs an aquarium of at least 240 litres (63.4 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Giant Danio need?
- Giant Danio does best at 18–25 °C (64.4–77 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.
- What group size does a Giant Danio need?
- Giant Danio is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Giant Danio suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Giant Danio is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.