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Encyclopedia / Danios & Rasboras / Celestial pearl danio
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Variations

1 kinds · tap one for a closer look

Celestial pearl danio

Danio margaritatus · Galaxy rasbora, Cpd, Celestial pearl

Shy; males spar.

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2.1 cmBody length, without tail ✓
20–25 °CTemperature ✓
6.5–7.5pH ✓
41 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
Check your own mix →
Not recommended
  • Tinfoil barb eats animals up to about 5 cm. Celestial pearl danio only grows to 2.1 cm.
Not recommended
  • Betta eats animals up to about 2.5 cm. Celestial pearl danio only grows to 2.1 cm.
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Not recommended
  • Dwarf gourami eats animals up to about 2.5 cm. Celestial pearl danio only grows to 2.1 cm.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 24–25 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

257 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓5–15 dGH
Group size ✓20 or more
Temperament ?Peaceful
Swims at ?Middle
Care level ?Moderate
Diet Omnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 1–2 cm
Growth Medium

Behavior

Shy; males spar. Best in planted nano tanks.

Food

Micro foods, baby brine shrimp.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Males have steel- to deep-blue flanks with pearly spots and red-and-black striped fins; females are blue-green with weaker orange fin patches, are larger and rounder, and show a dark mark at the vent when spawning.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Egg-scatterer · Moderate

Egg scatterer with no parental care that spawns among fine plants or moss; adults eat eggs, so remove them after spawning.

Pairing

Buy a group of 8-10 and let them pair up. Males are bright orange.

Setup

20 L tank with java moss, dense plants and soft water.

What starts it

Warm, stable water with a bit of food and cover.

Eggs

About 30 mildly adhesive eggs per spawning; incubation about 72 hours, fry free-swimming 3-4 days later.

Raising the fry

Fry are very small. Feed infusoria or rotifers first, then baby brine shrimp. Keep plenty of moss and do small water changes.

Common mistakes
  • Fry foods too big
  • Strong filter
  • Bigger fish with them
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionShan Plateau – eastern Myanmar
Rivers and lakesSmall ponds near Hopong in the Salween basin
HabitatShallow, heavily vegetated spring-fed ponds
Native rangeAbout 150 km across
See it on the world map

Plants that suit it

Dwarf hairgrassAlternanthera reineckii

The story of the celestial pearl danio

Discovered in Myanmar in August 2006 and sold first as Microrasbora sp. 'Galaxy'; Tyson Roberts described it in February 2007. Fears it had been collected out in the wild proved unfounded, though Myanmar banned exports in February 2007. IUCN lists it as Data Deficient.

The celestial pearl danio was discovered in 2006 on Myanmar's Shan Plateau and caused a sensation online as the 'galaxy rasbora'. Tyson R. Roberts described it in 2007. Captive breeding quickly took over to supply the strong demand.

First described by Tyson R. Roberts in 2007.

  • It was only discovered in 2006, very recently for such a popular fish.
  • It was first called 'galaxy rasbora' before it was identified as a danio relative.
  • It reaches only about 2 cm in length.

Sources

15 facts checked with sources