Celestial Pearl Danio
Danio margaritatus
Quick Facts
- Adult Size
- 1 in
- Minimum Tank
- 5 gal
- Recommended Tank
- 10 gal+
- Temperature
- 68–78°F
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 3–12 dGH (Moderate)
- Temperament
- peaceful
- Schooling
- Groups of 6+
- Lifespan
- 3–5 yrs
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care Level
- easy
Overview
A gem-like nano danio speckled with pearl dots. Perfect for a small planted species tank, but too tiny to live with anything that has a big mouth.
Tank Requirements
- Minimum footprint: 5 gallons; a 10+ gallon tank gives real swimming room.
- Preferred swimming zone: middle of the water column.
- Social — keep a group of at least 6.
- Care level: easy.
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 68–78°F
- pH: 6.5–7.5
- Hardness: 3–12 dGH (Moderate)
Stable parameters matter more than perfect ones — aim for consistency before chasing an exact number.
Temperament
peaceful
schoolingnanopeacefulmidwater
Feeding
An omnivore — offer a staple flake or pellet plus regular frozen or live foods (daphnia, bloodworm, brine shrimp) and some vegetable matter for balance.
Tank Mates
Fish to Avoid
- Angelfish — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
- Bolivian Ram — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
- Dwarf Gourami — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
- Tiger Barb — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
- Yoyo Loach — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
- Kribensis — Occasional chasing or fin nipping is possible.
Recommended Tank Sizes
Standard tanks at or above the recommended 10 gallons:
Stocking Considerations
- Start from a 5 gallon minimum and plan the full group size (6+) before you buy.
- Activity level is moderate, which affects how much of the tank it uses and how much it adds to the bioload.
- Zoning matters: this species lives mostly in the middle zone, so choose tank mates that occupy other levels.
Compatibility
Compatibility depends on tank size, water chemistry, temperament, and adult size. Run a full check against any species in our database.
In-depth guides for Celestial Pearl Danio:
Check Celestial Pearl Danio tank matesSources
- FishBase(Scientific Database, accessed 2026-09-20)
- SeriouslyFish(Specialist Publication, accessed 2026-09-20)
- Aquarium Forge editorial guidelines(Editorial Interpretation, accessed 2026-09-22)
Data reviewed: September 2026 · Data version: 2026.11
Editorial note: Minimum tank recommendations may vary by source and husbandry approach. Our figures synthesise the sources above for planning purposes.
Related Tools
Last reviewed: · Data version 2026.11