🐠Danio: gear and buying guides

The zebra danio is a tireless little cyprinid that lives in schools of at least 8 to 10. Very tolerant, it accepts water from 18 to 25 °C, often making a heater unnecessary indoors, but it demands swimming length: at least 80 L and an 80 cm long tank. Its liveliness makes it an excellent upper-level fish.

Profile : 4 to 5 cm as an adult, at least 80 L and an 80 cm long tank for a school, water between 18 and 25 °C.

Danio gear, family by family

• 🍖 Food

  A greedy omnivore that eats anything floating: flakes, micro-pellets, daphnia and frozen mosquito larvae. Two quick meals a day are enough despite its constant activity.

• 🧴 Care & grooming

  A very hardy species, tolerant of hardness and pH as long as the water stays clean and oxygenated. A 20 percent weekly change and good circulation are all it needs.

• 🎾 Toys & enrichment

  A gentle current from the filter outlet stimulates it: it loves swimming against the flow. Background plants and a long open midwater zone for the school to race in.

• 🏠 Bedding & habitat

  A tank at least 80 cm long, covered since it jumps, with cool to temperate water. Avoid slow, long-finned tankmates, which it may harass.

• 🧳 Travel & safety

  Easy group transport in bags, a species resistant to moderate fluctuations. Standard 20 to 30 minute acclimation.

• 🧰 Accessories

  A strong-flow filter, a lid, a quick net and an optional heater depending on the room. A modest budget of around 80 to 150 euros for an 80 to 100 L tank.

Guides to read

• 60-litre aquarium kit: the full beginner budget with no nasty surprisesBedding & habitat

  How much does a 60-litre aquarium kit really cost? The full start-up budget, item by item: equipped tank, substrate, decor, water tests and consumables.

• Nano shrimp tank: the essential equipment to start off rightBedding & habitat

  What equipment does a nano shrimp tank need? Volume, gentle filtration, the right substrate and a full budget: the complete checklist for keeping Neocaridina.

• Betta tank of 20-30 litres: the ideal setup, step by stepBedding & habitat

  How do you set up a 20 to 30 litre betta tank? Low-flow filtration, heating, resting plants and a lid: the ideal setup explained in detail.

• Garden pond for goldfish: volume, equipment and budgetBedding & habitat

  How do you build a garden pond for goldfish? Minimum volume, frost-free depth, filtration and predator protection: the complete guide with budget.

• RO units and reverse osmosis water in aquariums: who actually needs it?Care & grooming

  Is reverse osmosis water essential for an aquarium? Find out who really needs an RO unit, how to remineralize and what budget to plan (unit or jerrycan).

• Water conditioner and starter bacteria: essential or just marketing?Care & grooming

  Water conditioner and starter bacteria: what do they actually do? Chlorine, heavy metals, faster cycling: what to buy and what to skip.

• Fertilizer and CO2 for aquarium plants: start simple, skip the lab setupToys & enrichment

  Do aquarium plants need fertilizer and CO2? The simple starter method: liquid fertilizer, easy plants, and when injected CO2 actually becomes worthwhile.

• Driftwood and rocks for aquariums: which ones are safe for your fish?Toys & enrichment

  Which driftwood and rocks are safe in an aquarium? Tannin-releasing woods, limestone rocks to avoid, the vinegar test and preparation: the complete guide.