Thinking about adding a new fish to your aquarium and wondering what species to choose? Are you looking for freshwater fish that is beautiful, playful, and peaceful? If you answered yes, then a Celestial Pearl Danio is your ultimate fish.
This article explains the overview, vital stats, fun facts, appearance, temperament, breeding, and tank setup of Celestial Pearl Danio.
Sounds epic, right? Let’s get started.
Overview Of Celestial Pearl Danio
The freshwater Celestial Pearl Danio was first found in heavily vegetated ponds of Myanmar in 2006. This beautiful fish is also known as Galaxy Rasbora and Celestichthys Margaritatus.
Danios are schooling fish and are suitable for community tanks. They need a moderately experienced aquarist and are not quite suitable for novice owners.
Important Stats You Should Know About Celestial Pearl Danio
| Stats | Description |
| Scientific Name | Celestichthys Margaritatus |
| Region of Origin | Myanmar, South East Asia |
| Temperament | Peaceful |
| Family | Cyprinidae |
| Size | Up to 1 inch |
| Dietary Group | Omnivorous |
| Aquarist Experience Level | Moderate |
| Behavior/ Compatibility | Tolerates same species and other peaceful small fish |
| Minimum Tank Size | 10 Gallons |
| Life Expectancy | 3 – 5 years |
Fun Facts About Celestial Pearl Danio
Let’s have a look at some fun facts about Celestial Pearl Danios:
- The scientific name, ‘Celestichthys Margaritatus’ of this fish has a very interesting meaning. It’s a Greek word that means ‘heavenly fish, ornamented with pearls.’
- This fish is not very easy to breed. Paul Dixon and Pete Liptrot from the United Kingdom were the first to breed Celestial Pearl Danios in the aquarium successfully.
- They enjoy exploring different hiding places at the bottom of the tank.
- A female Galaxy Rasbora can lay up to 30 eggs at a time.
- If you keep more male Danios in the tank than females, there are chances of fights between the males as they need to chase the females for mating.
- Both male and female Celestial Pearl Danios have different looks. The males are thinner and come in more vibrant colors.
- The female Galaxy Rasboras have a round body while males have a cylindrical body. The females are slightly bigger than males.
- This fish was first discovered in the South East Asian region, Myanmar, in 2006.
- They are timid and not aggressive towards other fish in aquariums. They can be best kept with small and peaceful fish species.
- Celestial Pearl Danios are sensitive to diseases like Fin rot, Ich, and Swim bladder disease.
Appearance and Color Of Celestial Pearl Danio
Celestial Pearl Danios have beautiful colors with a spotted body. Despite being very small in size, they stand out in aquariums due to their unique looks.
The Galaxy Rasbora is a very small fish and can grow up to one inch. They have red or orange fins with two dark black lines that run parallel with the body.
Like many other fish species, male and female Danios come in different colors and looks and can be easily distinguished. The males have vibrant colors and become more bright during the breeding period. They have deep midnight blue color overall while fins and the tail are of red color.
They are thinner than females and have a cylindrical body shape. Female Celestial Pearl Danios have a round body and are not as bright as males. Their fins are in faded orange color.
Celestial Pearl Danio Temperament
This freshwater fish has a calm and peaceful temperament. They do not fight or create a mess with other tank mates. If you keep many Celestial Pearl Danios together, they would be much happier and swim in schools in the tank.
It is no surprise that all Galaxy Rasboras show the following behavior and temperament:
- Peaceful
Celestial Pearl Danios are among the most peaceful fish and prove to be a great community fish. You must ensure that they must be kept with peaceful and small fish in the aquarium.
- Schooling Behavior
Galaxy Rasboras don’t like to stay alone and are evolved to group-up and swim in schools. The group as loose school formations to eat, swim, and explore the aquarium.
- Playful and friendly
Galaxy Rasbora has a playful and friendly temperament and loves interacting and spending time with other peaceful fish in the aquarium. It is recommended to keep them in a community of fish.
- Chaser
When the mating begins, the male Danios start chasing the females. Apart from the mating frenzy, the fish has a non-aggressive temperament.
- Shy and Skittish
This fish is quite shy and skittish. Larger and aggressive fish can spook the Celestial Pearl Danios into hiding. Even the sudden water changes or movements can make them afraid.
Celestial Pearl Danios Tank Setup
The wild Celestial Pearl Danios are found in shallow waters that have dense vegetation and stagnant water. The sunlight can easily reach the waters where they live and swim. It is recommended to replicate the natural environment for the captive fish in the tanks.
Tank Size
The minimum tank size required to keep 5-6 Celestial Pearl Danios is 10 gallons. If you are keeping a pair, you require a 20 gallons tank. It is preferable to have shallow tanks to mimic their natural habitat.
If you plan to keep a large number of Galaxy Rasboras, you need to add 2 gallons per fish. This will give the fish enough space to swim and play in the aquarium.
Water Parameters
Celestial Pearl Danios prefer stable water conditions. Their natural habitat has dense vegetation and shallow waters that are low in salt and minerals.
When keeping a Danio, maintain a slightly low pH level of your aquarium and choose compatible tank mates. Let’s have a look at the important water parameters for this fish:
- Temperature: 73°F – 79°F
- pH level: 6.5 – 7.5
- Hardness level: Soft to medium (2 – 10 dKH)
Tank Conditions and Decorations
Celestial Pearl Danios enjoy shallow water aquariums that provide enough light and lots of hiding spots. They love to hide between the plants, so make sure your tank is heavily planted. The fish sometimes even lay eggs on the leaves of plants in the tanks.
You can decorate the tank with plenty of plants, rocks, and driftwood to give them the feeling of their natural habitat. They need a stable and clean aquarium with slow water movement. It is recommended to keep your filter on a low setting.
Compatible Tank Mates of Celestial Pearl Danios
The Celestial Pearl Danio is a shy and timid breed. Danios become frightened when combined with large, active, and aggressive tank mates.
This fish is happiest and does best when combined with the same species or other peaceful fish. It is recommended to keep at least 5-6 Celestial Pearl Danio in a tank with more females and fewer males. Some of the compatible tank mates include:
- Guppies
- Honey Gouramis
- Sparkling Gouramis
- Tetras
- Corydoras
- Mollies
- Killifish
All these fish are small in size and have a peaceful temperament. You must avoid keeping your Danio with large and aggressive fish. Some of the non-compatible tank mates include:
- Oscars
- Cichlids
- Jack Dempsey
What Health Problems Are Celestial Pearl Danios Prone To?
Celestial Pearl Danios are hardy species and generally have few health problems. Maintaining high-quality aquarium water, avoiding unnecessary fluctuation in temperature, and providing a high-quality diet can prevent Celestial Pearl Danios from potential diseases.
However, like any other fish, there are certain diseases they are prone to. If you own or plan to buy a Celestial Pearl Danio, you need to be aware of its health concerns.
Below are some of the common health problems that a Celestial Pearl Danio can contract:
Fin Rot Disease
This is the most common disease in Celestial Pearl Danios. It is caused by ‘Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, or Vibrio’ bacteria. The fish suffers from this disease due to environmental factors like overcrowding, overfeeding, poor water quality, or when combined with aggressive fish that nip at their fins.
The infected Galaxy Rasbora shows the following symptoms:
- Discoloration in edges of fins (appears milky and white)
- Fins become shorter over time as they die and fall off
- The affected area becomes red and inflamed
Any Celestial Pearl Danio showing these symptoms should be immediately removed from the aquarium. Fin rot is a contagious disease but is easy to prevent and treat. If left untreated, this disease may affect all other fish in the aquarium.
This disease can be best prevented by maintaining good aquarium conditions and avoiding overfeeding. Many antibiotics are effective in curing fin rot.
Ich Disease
This parasitic disease, also known as White Spot disease, is a deadly disease caused by a parasite ‘Ichthyophthirius Multifiliis.’ The infected Celestial Pearl Danio shows the following symptoms:
- Tiny white spots or patches on the skin of the fish
- The skin of the fish looks bumpy
- Fish scratch or rub against the sides and bottom of the aquarium
- Advanced symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, and difficulty in breathing
If diagnosed at an early stage, Ich can be treated by raising the tank’s temperature and medicate for two weeks. Any Danio showing these symptoms should be immediately removed from the aquarium.
Swim Bladder Disorder
In this condition, the swim bladder of Galaxy Rasbora functions abnormally. The affected fish will develop problems in controlling its ability to float or sink. The Celestial Pearl Danio suffering from swim bladder disorder shows the following symptoms:
- Buoyancy including sinking to the bottom or floating on the top
- Loss of appetite
- Distended belly or curved back
When your fish suffers from this disease, your first step is not to feed your fish for 2-3 days and raise the water temperature a little along with medication.
Swim Bladder disorder can be prevented by avoiding over-feeding, providing high-quality food, and maintaining good aquarium conditions.
Feeding Your Celestial Pearl Danios
Celestial Pearl Danios belong to the omnivorous group. They are not picky eaters and can eat a variety of food to meet their nutrition requirements. It is also important to ensure that this feed is appropriate for the species to stay active, healthy, and full of energy.
Overfeeding is not recommended for this fish as it may lead to health issues.
The wild Danios typically eat algae, tiny worms, and small invertebrates. They usually enjoy dried and frozen products like krill, small flakes, and sinking pellets in the aquarium. Give your Galaxy Rasboras a variety of food and include some protein-rich food in their diet as well.
This fish usually stays at the lower half of the tank, so you must ensure that their food reaches the tank’s bottom. It would be a great idea to place algae rocks in the tank.
Breeding the Celestial Pearl Danios
Two aquarists, Pete Liptrot and Paul Dixon, of the Bolton Museum Aquarium UK, were the first to breed Celestial Pearl Danios successfully. The breeding process is quite straightforward and simple.
This fish starts breeding at the age of 3 months. They are egg-layers and typically lay 30 eggs at a time. All breeding fish should be given good feed to keep them healthy.
Selecting the Pair
It is straightforward to distinguish the male and female Danios as they have clear color distinctions. Females who appear darker and have a rounded belly are ready for breeding. Choose a healthy-looking male and female Danio for breeding and transfer them to the breeding tank.
Breeding Tank
For Celestial Pearl Danios’ breeding, the breeding tank should be set-up and maintained with similar conditions as the main tank. Give your Danios dense vegetation and minimum water movement.
Spawning and Breeding Process
It is recommended that you may isolate the individual pair for spawning. The spawning event initiates when males hover over a specific area and attract the females with a head-down angle and shaking movement.
Celestial Pearl Danios don’t form a bond for spawning. Once the female has laid the eggs, you must remove both male and female fish from the breeding tank. Danios show no parental care, and males can eat the available eggs.
The incubation time for Galaxy Rasbora’s eggs is 2-4 days. It will take around 3-5 days for the fry to swim freely. This breed has a rapid growth rate and starts developing spots at the age of 6 weeks.
Parting Shot on Celestial Pearl Danios
After having a look at the article, Celestial Pearl Danios sound like a great choice for aquariums. You will fall in love with this beautiful and calm fish. Grab your Dianos now and see the magic. Your aquarium will be filled with the joy and the vibrant colors of this little fish.
It is important to understand that as a Celestial Pearl Danio owner, you are responsible for your fish’s care and well-being. You must give your fish a proper feed, a clean environment, and take care of the tank requirements.
If you have any comments, please do let us know. We would be happy to hear from you.
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