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Malabar Danio
Devario malabaricus
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii
📍 India
A large danio from the Indian subcontinent reaching up to 6 inches, displaying a striking pattern of blue horizontal stripes on a silver body with yellow-orange accents in the fins. Active and fast-swimming, it needs a spacious tank of 55+ gallons with plenty of open water and does best in schools of 6 or more.
Care Guide
Diet
Malabar Danios are omnivorous and should be fed high-quality flake foods, micro pellets, and small frozen foods like brine shrimp and daphnia once daily in small portions. They readily accept vegetable matter and will benefit from occasional blanched vegetables or algae-based supplements to support their active metabolism.
Behavior
Highly active and fast-swimming, Malabar Danios are energetic schooling fish that require significant open water space to display natural darting and chasing behaviors. They are peaceful but can be boisterous, occasionally nipping at slower-moving fish or long-finned species, and thrive in groups of 6 or more where they establish a loose hierarchy.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity is possible but challenging and rarely achieved by hobbyists. They require very large tanks (75+ gallons), cool water temperatures (64-68°F), and heavy vegetation or spawning mops; eggs are scattered and parents do not guard them, making fry collection and rearing difficult.
Tank Mates
Similar size, peaceful temperament, and comparable water parameter requirements make them ideal companions
Closely related danio species with matching activity levels and schooling behavior
Compatible danio that shares the same active swimming style and water preferences
Peaceful bottom-dweller that occupies different water zones and helps with algae control
Peaceful catfish that forages on the bottom without competing for space in the upper water column
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, flashing against objects, lethargy
Increase water temperature gradually to 28-30°C, perform daily 25% water changes, use ich medication (malachite green or formalin) following product instructions, and ensure excellent water quality
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, fin loss
Improve water quality with frequent partial water changes, reduce stocking density, treat with antibacterial medication, and remove any sharp tank decorations that may cause injury
Bacterial Infection
Open sores, ulcers, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, color fading
Perform large water changes, maintain optimal water parameters, use broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, and isolate severely affected fish in a quarantine tank
Parasitic Infection
Excessive scratching, visible parasites, weight loss, clamped fins
Treat with anti-parasitic medication (salt baths or commercial treatments), increase aeration, perform frequent water changes, and quarantine new fish before adding to main tank
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Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- temperature
- 64–73°F (18–23°C)