Glowlight Danio Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Glowlight Danio is a small, lively danio with a striking orange-gold stripe running along the body and warm red-orange markings that become especially vivid when the fish is active or displaying. Its compact shape and quick movements make it an eye-catching inhabitant of a planted freshwater aquarium.

These danios are active, social schooling fish that spend much of their time in the middle and upper areas of the aquarium. They are generally peaceful, but their constant motion and occasional sparring displays give them a noticeably energetic character.

In the wild, Danio choprae inhabits cool, clear streams flowing through forested landscapes. The broken light, submerged roots, stones and aquatic vegetation of these habitats provide a varied environment in which the fish can forage and shelter.

Glowlight Danios are closely related to other small danios from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Their vivid colouration has made them popular with aquarists, while their relatively modest adult size allows a lively school to be kept in a well-planned community aquarium.

Glowlight Danios come from clear, fast-flowing forest streams in northern Myanmar, particularly the Kachin State region. Their native waterways are found in Southeast Asia and are typically shaded by dense vegetation, with rocky or gravelly bottoms and well-oxygenated water.

A group of Glowlight Danios should have at least 60 litres of water, with a tank measuring around 60 cm long by 30 cm wide or larger to provide uninterrupted swimming space. Use a secure lid because danios can jump, and provide strong but not excessive circulation with good oxygenation. A dark gravel or sand substrate, dense planting around the sides and rear, open water at the front, and areas of driftwood or smooth stones create a natural stream-inspired layout. Floating plants or subdued lighting can help the fish show their best colours while retaining open areas for schooling.

Up to 4 cm (1.6 inches) in length. Females are usually slightly larger and deeper-bodied than males.

Glowlight Danios are opportunistic omnivores that feed on small insects, crustaceans and other tiny invertebrates in nature, along with some plant matter and organic material. Offer a varied diet of high-quality small flakes or micro-pellets supplemented with live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and cyclops. Small portions fed regularly suit their active metabolism, and all food should be small enough for their tiny mouths.

Glowlight Danios are peaceful community fish and can be kept with similarly sized, non-aggressive species such as small rasboras, other peaceful danios, ember tetras, white cloud mountain minnows, pencilfish, small Corydoras and kuhli loaches. Their tankmates should be active enough to appreciate a lively aquarium but not large enough to regard them as prey. Avoid aggressive fish, slow long-finned species that may be stressed by constant activity, and large cichlids or predatory fish.

Glowlight Danios are egg-scattering spawners that can be bred in a separate, mature breeding tank with gentle filtration and a mesh, spawning mop or layer of marbles protecting the eggs from adult fish. Condition a group with plentiful live or frozen foods, then introduce the adults to the breeding setup. Spawning usually takes place among fine-leaved plants, with eggs scattered over the floor. Remove the adults after spawning, as they may eat the eggs. The eggs generally hatch within a few days, and the tiny fry can be raised on infusoria or other suitably fine first foods before moving on to newly hatched baby brine shrimp.

Males are generally slimmer and show stronger golden-orange or reddish colouration, particularly during courtship. Females tend to be fuller through the abdomen, especially when carrying eggs, and may appear slightly larger overall.