Leopard Danio

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Scientific Name

Danio rerio var frankei

Min. Tank Size

20 gallons

Personality

Peaceful

Temperature

68-75°F

pH

6.0-8.0/5-20°dGH

Size

2.5"

Diet

Omnivore

Breeding

Egglayer

Compatibility

Other Cyprinids, Tetras, Livebearers, Catfish, Loaches and Rainbowfish.

Leopard Danio

One of the most common Danios available, the Leopard Danio is a spotted ornamental variant of the Zebra Danio. These fish are native to the freshwater streams of Southeast Asia where they can be found in large schools. Leopard Danios have a metallic brownish gold coloration and their bodies are ornamented with a number of bluish gray leopard-like spots after which they are named. The long-finned variant of this species is similar in coloration and pattern but exhibits longer, more flowing fins.

Tank Set-Up

Leopard Danios are schooling fish, best kept in groups of three or more. These fish are extremely hardy which makes them ideal for both beginning aquarium hobbyists and the community tank. In large schools, Leopard Danios can be very active, moving swiftly through the tank as the light reflects off their metallic bodies. Danios prefer planted tanks, as long as the plants are concentrated near the back and sides of the aquarium so as to provide plenty of open swimming space near the front of the tank. These fish are likely to jump if presented with an opportunity, so it is wise to keep them in a tank with a tight-fitting lid.

Feeding

These fish are micropredators in the wild, feeding on small crustaceans and invertebrates as well as insect larvae. In the home aquarium, Leopard Danios can be fed a staple diet of high-quality flake food supplemented with small live and frozen foods like Artemia, Daphnia, bloodworms and brine shrimp. Feed a diet consisting of a variety of foods on a regular basis to promote the best health and coloration.

Breeding

This species is very easy to breed in both pairs and schools and they may interbreed with Zebra Danios if kept in the same tank. Because they are egg scatterers, Leopard Danios should be bred in tanks decorated with Java moss and other fine-leaved plants to protect the eggs. The breeding tank should be dimly lit and the water kept slightly acidic. Following spawning, the eggs typically hatch in 24 to 36 hours and the fry may becoming free swimming several days later.