Leopard Danio
Danio rerio var. frankei
Cyprinidae
FishDifficulty: ●○○○○Data: well-established
About
The leopard danio is not a separate species but the spotted morph of the zebra danio, Danio rerio - originally described as Brachydanio frankei and now treated as D. rerio var. frankei, a spontaneous mutation of the striped form that also turns up in the wild. Instead of horizontal stripes it wears a dense scatter of fine dark spots over a gold body; size, behaviour and requirements are identical to the striped fish. It is a subtropical cyprinid that is perfectly happy in an unheated room-temperature tank.
Care
Keep at least 6, ideally 8-10, in a long tank with some flow and a secure lid at 18-24 °C. It interbreeds freely with striped zebra danios, so keep the forms apart if you intend to breed either.
Diet
Undemanding surface-feeding omnivore; varied dry foods with occasional frozen daphnia, brine shrimp or bloodworm.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (48)
Amano ShrimpAssassin SnailBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBladder SnailBloodfin TetraBlue Tiger ShrimpBlue Velvet ShrimpBorneo SuckerButterfly Hillstream LoachCelestial Pearl DanioCherry ShrimpCochu's Blue TetraDenison BarbDoctor FishDwarf Orange CrayfishFlame TetraFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden Dwarf CichlidJapanese Trapdoor SnailJulii CoryLeast KillifishLittle CorydorasMedaka RicefishMystery SnailOdessa BarbOtocinclusPanda CorydorasPearl DanioPeppered CorydorasPygmy CorydorasRamshorn SnailReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRosy Red MinnowRubber Lip PlecoSalt and Pepper CoryScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSiamese Algae EaterUmbrella Dwarf CichlidWhite Cloud Mountain MinnowZebra Danio
Possible with care (175)
Acei CichlidAfrican Butterfly CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's CoryAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAuratus CichlidBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Moor GoldfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBoesemani RainbowfishBolivian RamBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Brevis Shell DwellerBrichard's TeleogrammaBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bristlenose PlecoBronze CorydorasBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyCalvus CichlidCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbCherry BarbChili RasboraChinese Algae EaterChocolate CichlidChocolate GouramiClown KillifishClown PlecoCobalt Blue ZebraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCongo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraConvict CichlidCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDiamond TetraDogtooth CichlidDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Pea PufferDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Yellow LabElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmber TetraEmerald CoryEmperor TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFantail GoldfishFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidForktail RainbowfishGerman Blue RamGlowlight TetraGolden JulieGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishGreen Neon TetraGuppyHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiHongi CichlidJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKeyhole CichlidKissing GouramiKribensisKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLemon CichlidLemon TetraMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMollyMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOranda GoldfishParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeaceful BettaPeacock CichlidPearl GouramiPenguin TetraPictus CatfishPlatyPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidPurple Emperor TetraRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRainbow SharkRanchu GoldfishRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Whiptail CatfishRed Zebra CichlidRed-Tail SharkRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieRosy TetraRummynose TetraRusty CichlidRyukin GoldfishSailfin MollySand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidSerpae TetraSeverumShubunkin GoldfishSilver Tip TetraSimilis Shell DwellerSkunk CorySparkling GouramiSpotted HoploStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraStriped KribensisSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterSwordtailT-Bar CichlidTaiwan Reef CichlidTelescope GoldfishThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiThreadfin AcaraThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTiger BarbTurquoise RainbowfishUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryWrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraYoyo LoachZebra Mbuna
Avoid (48)
Adonis PlecoAltum AngelfishAngelfishBala SharkClown LoachCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCuckoo CatfishDemon EartheaterDiscusDuboisi TropheusElectric Blue AhliEndlicheri BichirFeatherfin SqueakerFrontosaGoby CichlidGreen DiscusGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorHeckel DiscusIridescent SharkJack DempseyJaguar CichlidKoiLivingstoniMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRed DevilRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRoyal PlecoSailfin PlecoSalvini CichlidSilver ArowanaSilver MoonyStriped Raphael CatfishTexas CichlidTropheusUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)Wolf CichlidZebra Pleco
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
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Leopard Danio need?
- A Leopard Danio needs an aquarium of at least 75 litres (19.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 60 cm (23.6 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Leopard Danio need?
- Leopard Danio does best at 16–26 °C (60.8–78.8 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–16 °dGH.
- What group size does a Leopard Danio need?
- Leopard Danio is a social species — keep a group of at least 6 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Leopard Danio suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Leopard 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
Temperature16–26°C
Optimal temp.18–24°C
pH6–8
Hardness (GH)2–16°d
Carbonate (KH)2–12°d
Adult size5 cm
Min. volume≥ 75 L
Min. tank length≥ 60 cm
Group size≥ 6
Swimming zoneTop
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~4 yrs
Try in the calculator