Pearl danio care guide
Also called: Pearly danio
An active, slender danio with a pearly pink-violet sheen that grows to about 6 cm (2.4 in). It is hardy, peaceful and easy to keep, but needs a group of six or more, a long tank with open swimming room, some current and a tight lid.
Pearl danios need a tank of at least 20 gallons (76 L), a group of 6 or more, and water at 20–25°C (68–77°F) with a pH of 6.5–7.8. They grow to about 6 cm (2.4 in) and are peaceful.
Plan a tank with pearl daniosSee all tank mates
Pearl danio quick facts
| Scientific name | Danio albolineatus |
|---|---|
| Family | Danionidae |
| Origin | Southeast Asia: Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra |
| Adult size | 6 cm (2.4 in) |
| Minimum tank | 20 gallons (76 L), at least 75 cm (30 in) long |
| Temperature | 20–25°C (68–77°F) |
| pH | 6.5–7.8 |
| Hardness (GH) | 5–18 dGH |
| Group size | 6 or more (schooling fish) |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Top |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Care level | Easy |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Safe with shrimp? | Mostly (eats baby shrimp) |
| Safe with plants? | Yes |
- Known jumper: keep a tight-fitting lid.
Tank setup
Give a group at least a 20-gallon long tank (76 L, about 75 cm or 30 in long). Plant the sides and back, keep open water in the middle and front, and use a filter that makes some flow. A tight-fitting lid is a must.
How many pearl danios in a tank?
The smallest common tank that suits pearl danios is a 20 gallon long. Here is roughly how many fit in each size when they are the only fish, based on adult size and waste output. Leave room if you want tank mates.
| Tank | Pearl danios (alone) |
|---|---|
| 3 gallon | Too small |
| 5 gallon | Too small |
| 10 gallon | Too small |
| 15 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon | Too small |
| 20 gallon long | 6–14 |
| 29 gallon | 6–21 |
| 40 gallon | 6–29 |
| 55 gallon | 6–40 |
| 75 gallon | 6–55 |
| 125 gallon | 6–92 |
What you need for pearl danios
Sized for a 20 gallon long tank, the smallest common size that suits a group of 6 pearl danios. For a different tank or a mix of fish, use the stocking calculator for a list sized to your plan.
Tank and equipment
- 20 gallon long aquarium (tank or kit) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Bigger tanks are more stable and easier for beginners. How to choose
- Aquarium stand for 20 gallons (opens Amazon in a new tab)The water alone weighs about 167 lb (76 kg), before glass, gravel and rock. How to choose
- Adjustable heater, 50 W (opens Amazon in a new tab)Holds about 73 °F (22.5 °C) in a room at 65 °F (18 °C). How to choose
- Aquarium thermometer (opens Amazon in a new tab)Check it daily: heaters can fail stuck on or off. How to choose
- Hang-on-back filter rated 80–120 GPH (opens Amazon in a new tab)Community tank: 4–6 times the tank volume per hour. How to choose
- About 45 lb of aquarium gravel (opens Amazon in a new tab)Enough for a layer about 2 in (5 cm) deep. Smooth gravel suits most community fish. How to choose
- Water conditioner (dechlorinator) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Removes chlorine and chloramine from tap water. Seachem Prime is a popular, concentrated choice. How to choose
- Liquid test kit (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Liquid kits are more accurate than strips. The API Freshwater Master Test Kit is the common choice. How to choose
- Gravel vacuum (siphon) (opens Amazon in a new tab)Cleans the gravel and does the water change in one go. How to choose
- LED aquarium light, about 30 in long (opens Amazon in a new tab)Match the light to the tank length. Basic LEDs grow easy plants. How to choose
Food and extras for pearl danios
- Tropical fish pellets (opens Amazon in a new tab)A good staple for medium community fish.
- Tight-fitting lid for a 20 gallon tank (opens Amazon in a new tab)Pearl danio can jump out of an open tank.
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Water parameters
Comfortable at about 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), with pH 6.5–7.8 and soft to fairly hard water. They are subtropical fish, so there is no need to run the tank warm. Clean, well-oxygenated water matters more than exact chemistry.
Best tank mates for pearl danios
These popular species share pearl danios' water needs and temperament. See the full list of 75 good matches.
Cherry shrimp
3 cm (1.2 in) · 20–27°C (68–81°F)
Nerite snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Neon tetra
3.5 cm (1.4 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Panda corydoras
4.5 cm (1.8 in) · 21–25°C (70–77°F)
Bristlenose pleco
12 cm (4.7 in) · 22–26°C (72–79°F)
Bronze corydoras
7 cm (2.8 in) · 21–26°C (70–79°F)
Zebra danio
5 cm (2 in) · 18–25°C (64–77°F)
Assassin snail
2.5 cm (1 in) · 22–27°C (72–81°F)
Avoid keeping pearl danios with
- Oscar: Oscar can eat pearl danios: they're small enough to fit in its mouth once it's grown.
- Boesemani rainbowfish: They need different temperatures: Pearl danio 20–25°C (68–77°F), boesemani rainbowfish 26–29°C (79–84°F).
- Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pearl danios.
- Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful pearl danios.
- Discus: They need different temperatures: Pearl danio 20–25°C (68–77°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
- Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Pearl danios don't belong in that setup.
Feeding
Mainly insect eaters in the wild, they readily take flakes and micro pellets, especially food near the surface. Add frozen or live daphnia, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae or bloodworms a few times a week for colour and condition.
Behavior
Peaceful and fast, they spend most of their time in the upper half of the tank. Their energy can stress slow fish, and some will nip long fins, so avoid bettas and fancy guppies. Tetras, rasboras, other danios, corydoras and peaceful loaches make good companions.
Breeding
Easy egg scatterers. Set up a separate tank with marbles, mesh or thick Java moss so the eggs fall out of reach, then add a well-fed group or pair. Remove the adults after spawning. Eggs hatch in about one to two days, depending on temperature, and fry start on infusoria or fine powdered food.
Tips from experienced keepers
- A dark substrate and background make their pearly colour stand out.
- Keep six or more to spread out chasing and to see natural schooling.
- Cover the tank well. Pearl danios are strong jumpers.
- Don't mix them up with the celestial pearl danio, a much smaller fish with different needs.
Frequently asked questions
Are pearl danios and celestial pearl danios the same fish?
No. The pearl danio (Danio albolineatus) grows to about 6 cm and is a fast schooling fish. The celestial pearl danio (Danio margaritatus) is a tiny, shy nano fish about 2.5 cm long.
How many pearl danios should be kept together?
At least six. They are schooling fish and feel safer, show better colour and chase each other less in a bigger group.
Do pearl danios need a heater?
Not always. They do well at 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), so a heater is optional if your room stays in that range, though it helps keep the temperature steady.
Sources
We checked these references when writing this page. Values are for healthy long-term keeping, not survival limits. Last reviewed 2026-10-13. See our editorial policy.