All fish / Badidae

Dario melanogrammus

Dario melanogrammus

Also known as zigzag dario, black-lined dario, chameleon fish

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This is a tiny chameleon fish described in 2022. It differs from every other Dario because its dark vertical bars zigzag rather than run straight, and males show red-orange colour between them. Keepers of nano tanks like it for its bright colour and its interesting behaviour, much like that of its relatives Dario dario and Dario hysginon.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

2 cm

Temperature

20 to 25 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.5

Smallest tank

40 litres

Keep as

One male with several females, or a small group in a well planted tank

Diet

Carnivore: live and frozen small foods such as daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp and grindal worms; dry food is often refused

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Chindwin River basin, northern Myanmar

Breeding

Like other Dario species, it is thought to spawn in pairs among plants or moss, with no further parental care. Fry are very small and need infusoria or similar first foods. Captive breeding of this species has hardly been recorded.

Good to know

This fish was described only recently and is rarely sold, so care figures are based on closely related Dario species. Males may squabble in small tanks, and their small size makes them unsuitable for busy community tanks.