All fish / Danionidae

Jaintia danio

Danio jaintianensis

Also known as jaintia danio, meghalaya danio, danio jaintianensis

This slim danio from the hill streams of Meghalaya has dark blue horizontal stripes on a pale yellowish body, a lot like the related Danio dangila group but without long barbels. It is rarely seen in the trade, so keepers mostly buy it for its rarity, its lively schooling and how well it copes with cooler water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

18 to 25 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: small live and frozen foods such as daphnia and bloodworm, plus quality flakes and micro pellets

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Meghalaya (Jaintia Hills), northeastern India, and possibly adjacent Bangladesh

Breeding

It scatters its eggs over gravel or fine-leaved plants and takes no care of them, much like other Danio species. Conditioned adults in a separate tank with a mesh or marble base should spawn readily, but the adults must be taken out afterwards or they will eat the eggs.

Good to know

It is a fast, active swimmer that needs a well-oxygenated tank with some current and a tight lid, as it can jump. It is easily mistaken for other striped danios, so check the source if buying under this name.