Glowlight Danio– Detailed Guide: Care, Diet, and Breeding

Danio choprae, commonly known as the Glowlight Danio, is a freshwater fish and the smallest member of its genus. Although this species has only recently entered the aquarium hobby (in 2003), it has quickly become a favorite among many aquarists due to its beautiful coloration and ease of care.

Glowlight Danio is a schooling fish that does not require specific conditions to thrive. Therefore, this species can be easily recommended even for beginner aquarists.

In this guide, I gathered everything we currently know about Danio choprae including optimal tank setups, habits, diets, etc. So, if you are interested in keeping these beauties or want to learn more about these fish, this care guide will tell you everything you need to know.

Quick Notes about Glowlight Danio

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Animalia (animals)
• Phylum: Chordata (chordates)
• Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
• Order: Cypriniformes (carp-like fishes)
• Family: Cyprinidae (carps)
• Genus: Danio
• Species: Danio choprae (glowlight danio)

Etymology

The genus name ‘Danio‘ has Bengali roots from the name ‘Dhani’ (ধানি ), meaning ‘Of the rice field’.

The species name ‘Choprae‘ is in honor of Bashambhar Nath Chopra (1898-1966), an Indian zoologist known for his contributions to the study of Indian freshwater fish.

Distribution of Glowlight Danio

Danio choprae is endemic to Myanmar. They can be found in three localities along the Mogaung Chaung southwest of Myitkyina.

Habitat of Glowlight Danio

These small fish are mainly distributed in rivers and small streams about 100 feet (30 m) wide and 12-20 inches (30-50 cm) deep at the base of hills.

The water in these locations is generally clear, with muddy substrate, and no aquatic vegetation.

Description of Glowlight Danio

This is a very small fish species. In aquariums, the average size of an adult Danio choprae is about 0.8 – 1 inch (2.2 – 2.5 cm) in total length.

Distinguishing characteristics of Glowlight Danio:

Body Shape: The body is slender, elongated, and laterally compressed. The head is also compressed, being slightly deeper than it is wide. The snout is short and rounded, measuring shorter than the diameter of the eye. The mouth is terminal and slanted in profile, with both jaws extending equally at the front.

Barbels. Unlike other Danio species, it has rostral barbels and mandibular barbels.

Eyes. There are small pointed bumps on the bones around its eyes.

Color. It has a unique color pattern with dark vertical bars on the front of its body and dark horizontal stripes toward the back. Bright red or orange areas are found between the stripes on both the front and back. The base of the anal fin is dark. Additionally, a black streak is usually present on the lower lobe of the caudal fin.

Fins. The dorsal fin has 7 1/2 rays, while the anal fin typically has 12 1/2, or 13 1/2 rays. The pectoral fin contains 10 or 11 rays, and the pelvic fin has 6 rays. The principal caudal fin has 10 + 9 rays, with procurrent caudal fin rays dorsally numbering 6 or 7, and ventrally 6, 7, or 8.

For a detailed description of Danio choprae, you can refer to this scientific paper.

Lifespan of Glowlight Danio

Currently, there is no data available on the maximum lifespan of Danio choprae in the wild.

In aquariums, with appropriate conditions, Glowlight danios can live for around 3 to 5 years.

Typical Behavior of Glowlight Danio

Understanding Glowlight Danio behavior is key to providing the right environment and reducing aggression toward conspecifics and other tankmates.

Sociality:

Glowlight Danio are very social fish. Thus, it is absolutely important to keep them in groups of at least 6-8 individuals to ensure their well-being and encourage natural behavior. 

They form a tight group in which fish swim together in close proximity. Being in a group allows them to engage in natural behaviors, which will reduce stress and improve their overall well-being. This behavior is innate and starts soon after hatching.

Activity:

They move really fast.

Keeping these fish in large groups will help them thrive. They will be active and energetic, constantly moving around instead of being shy or timid.

They are also very playful fish. Unfortunately, their games are pretty rough. It may even seem like they are fighting. However, they will generally confine their aggressive “playing” to themselves, when they are kept in a large enough school.

Unfortunately, this extraordinary enthusiasm can stress other tankmates.

Dominance:

In a company of its own, Glowlight Danio establishes dominance hierarchies. Aggressive behavior includes chasing and in some cases even biting.

In addition, aggressive (dominant) fish are usually darker and exhibit more intense colors while subordinates are paler.

Nonetheless, once dominant relationships are formed, their aggression becomes less intense.

Temper:

Glowlight danios can generally be considered peaceful fish, especially when you take into account their group living conditions and the dominance of males during the breeding season.

Placement in Tank:

Pygmy Swordtails tend to occupy the upper and middle sections of the tank, with occasional visits to the bottom. However, they don’t particularly favor the bottom area.

Features:

• Social: Yes (very)
• Activity: Very High
• Placement: Top and middle dwellers
• Peaceful: Yes (generally)
• Nippers: Yes
• Jumpers: Yes

Feeding Glowlight Danio

This species is a diurnal omnivore. One of the great things about them is that they are not picky eaters, they will happily consume live, dry, and freeze-dried foods such as flakes, pellets, and crisps as long as it is adapted to their mouth size.

In the aquarium, the Glowlight danios can be fed with a wide variety of meals such as:

• spirulina,
• brine shrimp (artemia salina),
• Artemia nauplii,
• daphnia,
• fruit flies,
• moina,
• detritus worms,
• vinegar eels,
• mosquito larvae,
• cyclops, etc. 

How to feed Glowlight Danio:

This is a diurnal species, so it is better to feed them in the morning. Use the «five-minute rule».

Ideally, feed Glowlight danios in small portions (2 times a day) rather than a large amount once a day. This mimics their natural feeding behavior and helps prevent overfeeding and digestive issues.

Features:

• Diet Type: Omnivore
• Food Preference: Meat
• Feeding Frequency: Daily

Are Glowlight Danio Plants Safe?

Yes, they are completely plant safe. They will not eat any healthy plants in the tank. This species does not eat living plant material.

Keeping and Caring for Glowlight Danio

These fish are easy to care for if you know their requirements. However, for optimal results, here are some handy tips that you should follow in order to keep them in a tank.

Important: DO NOT add fish to the tank if it has not been cycled yet. Although, for the most part, they are pretty tough and hardy high ammonia and nitrates will kill them.

Tank size:

Despite their small size, they are not suitable for nano tanks. A group of 6-8 fish will require an absolute minimum aquarium size of 15 gallons (60 liters).

There are a couple of important reasons for that, such as:

• These fish are very active and move around A LOT.
• If you have several males, there will be aggression because of limited space.
• It will be hard to create current in small tanks.
• Maintaining water balance and parameters is easier in larger aquariums because they provide a larger volume of water.
• This allows for more stable water conditions and dilutes any potential fluctuations in water chemistry.
• Technically, it is possible to keep a maximum of 5 – 6 Danios in a 10-gallon tank (40 liters). However, you will not see their true behavior and expression in such tanks. Therefore, I would not recommend it.
• In my opinion, a group of 6 – 8 Glowlight danios needs at least a 15-gallon (60 liters) long or even largerto show their true personality. 

Related article:

• Tank Lids: Necessary or Optional? Pros and Cons

Water parameters:

Temperature:  Glowlight Danio can tolerate a temperature range of approximately 60-82°F (16-28°C). While they are quite adaptable, they thrive best within the optimal range of 68-77°F (20-24°C). They do not need a heater.

pH: The ideal pH range is 6.0 to 8.0.

Hardness: The recommended general hardness (GH) range for these fish is between 4 to 10 dGH. They do not like very hard water.

Lighting:

Glowlight Danis prefers subdued lighting.

However, if you decide to keep these fish in planted tanks, lighting should be adapted to the needs of plants.

Related articles:

• Top 10 Low Light Aquarium Plants. Pros and Cons
• Advanced Guide to Planted Tank Lighting

Water flow:

In their natural habitat, Glowlight danios inhabit shallow waters where the current is slow or moderately fast. They do like to swim and play in it.

Although it is possible to keep these fish in an aquarium without a current, it is still advised to create a current if you want to offer the ideal conditions.

Aeration:

Aeration and water flow often go hand in hand.

Keep in mind that a powerful filtration system needs to be in place to properly aerate the aquarium water and maintain a high level of oxygenation as well. The fish enjoys water with rich oxygenation.

Air stones and other aeration decors can be added to the tank for more oxygenation.

Related article:

• Low Oxygen in Aquarium Water

Substrate:

No special requirements.

Tip: Glowlight danios often appear darker against a black substrate and background due to natural camouflage. When stressed or scared, they quickly lose color and become pale. Thus, placing them in a tank with a white substrate or aggressive tankmates can cause their color to fade.

Decorations and Plants:

Despite the fact that Glowlight Danios have very little vegetation in their natural habitat, having plants in the aquarium can be beneficial.

Live plants, artificial plants, driftwood, rocks, etc. will provide hiding spots and shelter for the fish in case of conflicts.

Breeding Glowlight Danios

These fish are asynchronous group spawners and egg scatterers.

Sexing:

Although Danio choprae is sexually dimorphic, it can be really hard to see the difference due to their small size.

1. Size. Females are slightly larger than males and grow a bit faster.
2. Color: Males are darker in color than females.
3. Abdomens. Females can be distinguished from males because of their bigger underbelly. Males are more slender.

Mating:

During the breeding season, dominant males start to chase each other and become quite aggressive. Their coloration takes on even more vibrant red hues.

Fertilization:

Fertilization is external. The male will swim over the eggs to release milt to fertilize them.

Eggs:

Glowlight Danios are egg scatterers. They do not exhibit any parental care and will readily eat their own eggs and fry given the chance.

Females usually release from 5 to 20 eggs.

Depending on the temperature, the incubation period is typically around 72 to 96 hours. During this time, the eggs will develop and hatch into fry.

Fry:

The newly hatched fry require microscopic food such as infusoria, microworms, or specialized liquid or powdered products.

Rearing Tank (Inducing spawning):

• Temperature, pH, You can use the same parameters as in the main aquarium, but some aquarists prefer to slightly lower the temperature and water hardness to artificially create the effect of the rainy season. As a result, this stimulates the fish to spawn.
• Condition parents. Select 2-3 pairs of breeders for spawning. Condition parents by giving lots of live food such as cyclops, brine shrimp, and artemia for a few days.
• Dim lighting,
• Set up the bare-bottom breeding tank with items like a spawning mop, to give the fish somewhere to deposit their eggs.
  To additionally protect the eggs, some aquarists cover the base of the tank with some kind of mesh. So, the eggs can fall down and slip through a gap.
• No substrate (to easier find and collect eggs),
• No filter or use an extra pre-filter to prevent fry from being sucked in.

Regularly check the tank every couple of hours to monitor for signs of spawning, such as the presence of eggs or active mating behavior.

Once spawning has occurred, to prevent the parents from eating the eggs, it is recommended to move the adult fish back to their regular tank immediately. 

In the wild, Glowlight danios almost never see their offspring, as the fry are immediately swept away by the currents. In aquariums, however, the parents will mistake the fry for food.

Glowlight Danios and Suitable Tankmates

Best Neighbor

Fish:

Its tank mates should be all small fish species that are not big enough to eat or harass them, such as:

• Danio rerio,
• Dwarf cichlids (Apistogramma agassizii),
• Harlequin Rasboras,
• Dwarf Ember Barbs,
• smaller gourami,
• Neon Tetras,
• Pygmy Cory, 
• Clown Killifish, 
• Least Killifish,
• Guppies,
• Otocinclus, etc.

Shrimp:

Keeping Glowlight danios and dwarf shrimp will be a VERY bad idea, especially if you plan on breeding shrimp.

These fish are extremely fast and great hunters. They will easily catch any shrimplets and even harass molting shrimp. All these things will lead to unfavorable outcomes.

Even heavily planted tanks will not provide sufficient hiding places for baby shrimp. Therefore, if you are serious about maintaining a thriving shrimp population, the safest course of action is to keep the shrimp separate from Glowlight danios.

Freshwater snails:

These fish can share the same tank with any type of freshwater snails.

Avoid:

Keep Glowlight Danio away from most types of crayfish and freshwater crabs.

Even African Dwarf Frogs may try to catch them due to their small size.

In Conclusion

Glowlight danios are one of those fish that even beginner aquarists can easily care for. It can be an excellent choice!

These colorful fish easily adapt, can withstand temperature changes, and can breed in home conditions.

Related article:

• Danio Rerio – Detailed Guide: Care, Diet, and Breeding

References:

1. Kullander, Sven O. “Description of Danio flagrans, and redescription of D. choprae, two closely related species from the Ayeyarwaddy River drainage in northern Myanmar (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).” Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters23, no. 3 (2012): 245.
2. Cottle, P.W. (2010) Danios and devarios. Peter W. Cottle, Rochester, 150 pp
3. Collins, R.A., Armstrong, K.F., Meier, R., Yi, Y., Brown S.D.J., Cruickshank, R.H., Keeling, S. & Johnston, C. (2012) Barcoding and border biosecurity: identifying cyprinid fishes in the aquarium trade. PLoS ONE , 7 (1), e28381.
4. Conway, Kevin W., Wei-Jen Chen, and Richard L. Mayden. “The “Celestial Pearl danio” is a miniature Danio (ss)(Ostariophysi: Cyprinidae): evidence from morphology and molecules.” Zootaxa1686, no. 1 (2008): 28.