Zebra Danio Behavior

Zebra danios are also known as zebrafish. Their scientific name is Brachydanio rerio. These tropical freshwater fish only grow to around 2 inches long, and they can live between two and five years. Zebrafish are characterized by long blue stripes that run from their heads to their tails. They are usually peaceful, but they can show aggressive tendencies under certain circumstances, according to Fish Lore.

  1. Temperament and Behavior

    • Zebra danios are usually peaceful fish. They are top-dwellers, spending most of their life in the upper third of the aquarium. Wet Web Media explains that they do not do well when placed with slow moving fish. These tiny fish are fast and spend much of their time schooling back and forth in the tank, and they will nip at the fins of other fish species. The Fish Lore website indicates that this behavior can be minimized if six or more zebrafish are kept in a group.

    Compatibility

    • There are many fish that can be kept safely with zebra danios, as long as the danios are kept in groups of at least six. Many species of barbs and tetras can be kept in the same tank. Gouramis, rainbow sharks and certain kinds of catfish are compatible as well, according to the Tropical Fish and Aquariums website.

    Breeding

    • Zebra danios are easy to breed. Males prefer to breed with specific females in shallow water that is only 4 to 6 inches in depth. After mating, the female zebrafish will lay 400 to 500 eggs in a clutch. The eggs take two days to hatch, according to Tropical Fish Data. The male should be removed from the tank after mating because it will eat the eggs.

    Health Concerns

    • New aquarium setups need to be cycled, or run for several weeks without any fish, to ensure that the water quality is optimal. If the tanks are not cycled, zebrafish can die of ammonia poisoning. The fish will swim close to the surface and gasp for air, and their gills may change color if they are being poisoned. Ammonia poisoning can be treated by using a commercial ammonia detoxifier, according to the Zebra Danios website. Zebrafish are also subject to a variety of bacterial infections such as ich, a disease that causes their bodies to break out in white spots, and fin rot, which causes deterioration of the fins. These infections can be treated with medication.

    Caring for Zebra Danios

    • Zebra danios need a lot of space to swim, so a long 10 or 20 gallon aquarium is recommended. A substrate of sand or gravel should be kept in the bottom of their tank. Danios require a temperature between 64 and 75 degrees, according to the Zebra Danios website. The Tropical Fish Data website indicates that danios will not damage plants, so it is safe to keep live plants in the tank with them. Zebrafish will eat flake or frozen foods. They will also eat bloodworms, tubifex worms and larvae.