All fish / Danionidae

Orange-finned Danio

Danio kyathit

Also known as orange finned danio, kyathit danio, spotted kyathit, striped kyathit, ochre-finned danio, orange fin danio, ダニオ・キャシット, 橙鳍斑马鱼

A small, active danio closely related to the zebra danio, with dark blue horizontal stripes or broken spots on a golden body and orange-tinted fins that are brightest in males. Two forms are sold, a striped one and a spotted one. It is kept for its hardiness, lively shoaling behaviour and suitability for cooler community tanks.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and micro pellets with live or frozen daphnia, bloodworm and brine shrimp

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar (upper Irrawaddy and Chindwin basins, Myitkyina area)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that spawns readily in captivity with no parental care, and adults will eat the eggs. Use a separate tank with fine-leaved plants, marbles or mesh over the base, then remove the adults after spawning; fry take infusoria then baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

A fast, jumpy fish that needs a tight-fitting lid and plenty of open swimming space. Its spotted form is easily confused with other Danio species such as D. tinwini, and it may be fin-nippy if kept in too small a group.