Pearl danio facts for kids
The pearl danio (Danio albolineatus) is a small, colorful tropical fish. It belongs to the minnow family called Cyprinidae. These fish come from places like Sumatra, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. People sometimes keep them as pets in home aquariums.
Quick facts for kids Pearl danio |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Danio
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| Species: |
albolineatus
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| Synonyms | |
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Brachydanio albolineatus Blyth, 1860 |
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Contents
About the Pearl Danio
This fish can grow up to about 2.6 inches (6.5 cm) long. It usually lives for around five years. Pearl danios can have bodies that are brownish-yellow, pink, or silver. They often have two light yellow, white, blue, or red stripes. Their scales have a special iridescent look, which means they shimmer with different colors like a pearl. Female pearl danios have two pairs of small whiskers, called barbels, near their mouths.
Where Do Pearl Danios Live?
In the wild, pearl danios live near the surface of small, clear rivers and streams. They prefer a tropical climate. The water they live in is usually between 68–77 °F (20–25 °C). The water's pH level is typically between 6.0 and 8.0. The water hardness can range from 5 to 19 dGH.
What Do Pearl Danios Eat?
Pearl danios mostly eat insects that fall into the water. They also eat tiny water creatures called zooplankton. This diet helps them stay healthy in their natural habitat.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Pearl danios are egg-layers. This means the female fish lays eggs, and the male fish fertilizes them. The young fish then hatch from these eggs.
Different Types of Pearl Danios
You might see golden varieties of pearl danios in pet shops. These are actually semi-albino fish. This means they have less color pigment than typical pearl danios.
There are also types known as the blue-redstripe danio (D. a. var. pulcher) and the Kedah danio (D. a. var. tweediei). While these were once thought to be separate species, most scientists now consider them to be just different varieties of the pearl danio.
