Pearl Danio
Danio albolineatus
Cyprinidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The pearl danio is a 6 cm, exceptionally fast cyprinid ranging from Myanmar and Thailand south through Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. Its flanks carry an iridescent mother-of-pearl sheen that shifts violet, green or pink depending on the light, crossed toward the tail by a pale orange stripe. Like the zebra danio it is a subtropical hill-stream fish rather than a tropical one, and it needs far more swimming length than its size suggests.
Care
Give it a tank of at least 90 cm length, a group of 8-10, some current and cool 20-24 °C water. A tight lid is not optional - this is one of the most determined jumpers in the hobby.
Diet
Surface-hunting insectivore; takes flake and granules readily but relishes frozen daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (52)
Amano ShrimpAssassin SnailBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBladder SnailBloodfin TetraBlue Tiger ShrimpBlue Velvet ShrimpBorneo SuckerButterfly Hillstream LoachCelestial Pearl DanioCherry ShrimpCochu's Blue TetraDenison BarbDoctor FishDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Orange CrayfishFlame TetraFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden Dwarf CichlidJapanese Trapdoor SnailJulii CoryLeast KillifishLeopard DanioLittle CorydorasMalaysian Trumpet SnailMedaka RicefishMystery SnailOdessa BarbOtocinclusPanda CorydorasParaguay EartheaterPeppered CorydorasPictus CatfishPlatyPygmy CorydorasRamshorn SnailReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRubber Lip PlecoSalt and Pepper CoryScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSiamese Algae EaterUmbrella Dwarf CichlidWhite Cloud Mountain MinnowZebra Danio
Possible with care (172)
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 GouramiClown KillifishClown PlecoCobalt Blue ZebraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCompressiceps CichlidCongo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraConvict CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDiamond TetraDogtooth CichlidDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Pea PufferDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Yellow LabElephantnose FishEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmber TetraEmerald CoryEmperor TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFantail GoldfishFeatherfin SqueakerFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidForktail RainbowfishGlowlight 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 CichlidMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMollyMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOranda GoldfishParadise FishPeaceful BettaPeacock CichlidPearl GouramiPenguin TetraPolka Dot LoachPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidPurple Emperor TetraRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRainbow SharkRanchu GoldfishRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Whiptail CatfishRed Zebra CichlidRed-Tail SharkRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieRosy Red MinnowRosy TetraRummynose TetraRusty CichlidRyukin GoldfishSailfin MollySand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidSerpae TetraSeverumShubunkin GoldfishSilver Tip TetraSimilis Shell DwellerSkunk CorySparkling GouramiSpotted HoploStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraStriped KribensisSunshine 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 (47)
Adonis PlecoAltum AngelfishAngelfishBala SharkChocolate CichlidClown LoachCommon PlecoDemon EartheaterDiscusDuboisi TropheusElectric Blue AhliEndlicheri BichirFrontosaGerman Blue RamGoby CichlidGreen DiscusGreen Spotted PufferfishGreen TerrorHeckel DiscusIridescent SharkJack DempseyJaguar CichlidKoiLivingstoniMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRed DevilRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRoyal PlecoSailfin PlecoSalvini CichlidSilver ArowanaSilver MoonyStriped Raphael CatfishSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpTexas 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 Pearl Danio need?
- A Pearl Danio needs an aquarium of at least 90 litres (23.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 90 cm (35.4 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Pearl Danio need?
- Pearl Danio does best at 16–25 °C (60.8–77 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–20 °dGH.
- What group size does a Pearl Danio need?
- Pearl Danio is a social species — keep a group of at least 8 so natural behaviour emerges and stress stays low.
- Is the Pearl Danio suitable for beginners?
- Yes — 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
Temperature16–25°C
Optimal temp.20–24°C
pH6–8
Hardness (GH)2–20°d
Carbonate (KH)1–12°d
Adult size6 cm
Min. volume≥ 90 L
Min. tank length≥ 90 cm
Group size≥ 8
Swimming zoneTop
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~5 yrs
Try in the calculator