All fish / Danionidae

Moustached Danio

Danio dangila

Also known as moustache danio, dangila danio, giant moustached danio, dangila, ダニオ・ダンギラ, 长须斑马鱼

A fairly large, slim danio with a silvery body marked by broken bluish lines and rows of spots, plus long barbels that give it the moustached name. It comes from clear, cool hill streams and is kept for its active schooling behaviour and hardiness in a roomy tank.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

8 cm

Temperature

18 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and granules, plus live or frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

4 to 6 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Northern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar (Ganges and Brahmaputra basins)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that spawns among plants or gravel and gives no parental care, so adults will eat the eggs. Spawning is possible in a separate tank with mesh or fine-leaved plants, though it is less often bred than smaller danios.

Good to know

A fast, jumpy swimmer that needs a long tank with a tight lid and good water flow. It can be confused with Devario and other large danio species in shops.