All fish / Danionidae

Sittaung pearl danio

Danio sysphigmatus

Also known as pearl danio, myanmar pearl danio, danio sp. sittaung, barred pearl danio

A slim, active danio from Myanmar belonging to the pearl danio group, with a pearly blue-violet body, a thin orange to reddish line along the rear flank and fine barring towards the front. It is kept for its lively schooling and subtle shimmering colours, and suits well-planted community tanks with clean, flowing water.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

5 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Shoal of 8 or more

Diet

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

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Myanmar (Sittaung drainage and Tanintharyi coastal rivers)

Breeding

An egg scatterer that gives no parental care and will eat its own eggs. Spawning in a separate tank with fine-leaved plants or a mesh over the base is straightforward, and the fry take infusoria and then baby brine shrimp.

Good to know

Only described in 2015 and rarely sold under its own name, so it is easily confused with Danio albolineatus and Danio roseus. Keep a tight lid as it jumps readily.