Panther Danio

• ExerciseHigh

  A busy, energetic swimmer — keep plenty of open swimming room.

• GroomingEasy tank upkeep

  No grooming here — steady water quality and routine tank care do it.

• Living spaceNano-tank friendly

  Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Owner experienceFor experienced owners

  Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• Commitment3–5 years

  Plan for a long, loving relationship.

Health to watch: Ich (white spot) · Fin rot · Skin conditions

The Panther Danio (Danio aesculapii) comes from streams on the western side of Myanmar and reaches about 3.5 to 4 cm. It was described in 2009 and is sometimes sold as the snakeskin danio. Instead of the crisp horizontal lines of a zebra danio it wears a broken pattern of dark blotches and short dashes over a grey-blue body. Keep a group of eight or more in a tank of 60 litres or more at 20-26C with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5 and soft to medium water with moderate flow, and cover the tank as it jumps. Feed flake, micro-pellets and frozen or live daphnia, cyclops and baby brine. It is hardy, easy and peaceful, and it shares the family habit of constant fast swimming, which means it should be given open lanes and kept away from slow long-finned fish whose fins it may chase. Kept in a proper group its energy stays directed at its own kind rather than at tankmates.

• How active is a Panther Danio?

  High. A busy, energetic swimmer — keep plenty of open swimming room.

• How much maintenance does a Panther Danio need?

  Easy tank upkeep. No grooming here — steady water quality and routine tank care do it.

• What tank size does a Panther Danio need?

  Nano-tank friendly. Happy in a small, stable, well-filtered tank.

• Is a Panther Danio a good fit for first-time owners?

  For experienced owners. Rewards owners who know the ropes.

• How long do Panther Danio live?

  3–5 years. Plan for a long, loving relationship.

• What health issues affect the Panther Danio?

  Keep an eye out for Ich (white spot), Fin rot, Skin conditions. These are worth raising with your vet, along with any screening they recommend.

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