Giant danio facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Giant danio |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Devario
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| Species: |
aequipinnatus
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The giant danio (Devario aequipinnatus) is a type of tropical fish. It belongs to the minnow family, called Cyprinidae. These fish originally come from Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the west coast of India.
Giant danios can grow to be 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) long. This makes them one of the biggest fish in the danionin group. They have a blue and yellow body shaped like a torpedo. Their fins are gray and clear.
In the wild, giant danios live in clear streams and rivers. These waters are often found among hills, up to 1000 feet (300 m) above sea level. They prefer areas with small gravel on the bottom. These fish live in a tropical climate. They like water that is 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) warm. The water should have a pH between 6 and 8.
Giant danios usually swim near the surface of the water. They mostly eat insects that fall into the water. They also eat worms and crustaceans.
When kept in tanks, giant danios usually eat most types of fish food. They can be a bit aggressive. Sometimes, they might bother other fish in a community tank. Giant danios like water that moves a lot. This reminds them of the fast-flowing rivers where they come from. They also prefer to swim together in groups, which is called schooling.
Giant danios are sometimes used as "dither fish" in aquariums with cichlids. Cichlids are larger fish. When giant danios are present, cichlids will chase them. This makes the cichlids act more naturally.
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What Giant Danios Eat
In the wild, giant danios mainly eat flying insects. They also eat small water creatures like worms and crustaceans.
When kept as pets, giant danios can eat many things. They enjoy mosquito larvae and other small worms. They also eat chopped earthworms. You can also feed them regular fish food bought from stores.
Where Giant Danios Live
Giant danios are found in fast-moving streams. These streams are usually in hilly areas. They like water that is clear and has some shade. They also prefer stream bottoms made of gravel or sand.
Giant danios are "shoaling" fish. This means they like to live and swim together in social groups.
How Giant Danios Reproduce and Grow
Giant danios can be encouraged to breed in captivity. To help them breed, people often raise the water temperature. They also create artificial rain in the tank.
Female giant danios are bigger than males. They also have a rounder belly. When males want to breed, they chase females. They gently bump the females' bellies with their heads.
Giant danios lay their eggs among clumps of plants. They can lay about 300 eggs at one time. Young giant danios start to look like adult fish after about 65 days.
Where Giant Danios Are Found
Giant danios are native to the Indian subcontinent. They are also found in most of Indochina. Their natural home stretches from Pakistan all the way to Cambodia.
Why Giant Danios Are Important to People
Giant danios are very popular in the aquarium trade. Many people buy them to keep as pets. About 85% of the giant danios exported from India are caught from the wild.
