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Contents
Overview
The giant danio is a big cousin of the zebra danio, found in rivers and streams across India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. It has a deep, silvery body marked with steel-blue and golden-yellow stripes along the sides and reaches about 4 inches (10 cm) in aquariums, sometimes a bit more.
It's a superb fish for large community tanks: tough, very active and eye-catching when a school races through a strong current. That energy is also its main demand. It is not a fish for small tanks, where it gets stressed and slams into the glass. Juveniles are often sold without any warning about the adult size and the space they will need.
Care and tank setup
Giant danios need real room: a tank at least 48 inches long, such as a 55- or 75-gallon (about 240 liters), for a school of six or more. Length matters more than height.
- Flow and oxygen: they come from moving water and appreciate a strong filter or an extra powerhead.
- Lid: essential; they are expert jumpers.
- Decor: gravel, river stones, driftwood and hardy plants along the sides, with a wide open swimming zone up top.
- Tank mates: medium barbs, loaches, larger corydoras, small plecos, rainbowfish and peaceful cichlids of similar size.
They are peaceful but will eat very small fish and shrimp, and their pace can overwhelm slow or shy species. Small groups chase constantly; in a school of six or more the chasing stays among themselves.
Feeding
An easygoing omnivore that feeds mostly at the surface. Offer large flakes or floating pellets as the staple, plus brine shrimp, bloodworms, small krill or insects. Some plant matter such as spirulina rounds out the diet. They eat fast, so make sure slower tank mates get their share.
Breeding
Giant danios are egg scatterers: after a chase near the surface, pairs drop sticky eggs onto fine plants or moss, and the adults eat them. To breed them, use a separate tank with dense plants or mesh, remove the parents after spawning and feed the fry infusoria, then baby brine shrimp.
Compatible tank mates
Species from our database that share water parameters, size and temperament with the Giant danio. Calculated from the data in each profile.
Bristlenose pleco Ancistrus sp. 26 gal (100 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Bronze cory Corydoras aeneus 21 gal (80 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Molly Poecilia sphenops 26 gal (100 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Platy Xiphophorus maculatus 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Harlequin rasbora Trigonostigma heteromorpha 16 gal (60 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Neon tetra Paracheirodon innesi 16 gal (60 L) · 68–79 °F (20–26 °C) 
Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii 32 gal (120 L) · 72–81 °F (22–27 °C) 
Cherry barb Puntius titteya 16 gal (60 L) · 73–81 °F (23–27 °C) 
Tiger barb Puntigrus tetrazona 26 gal (100 L) · 72–79 °F (22–26 °C) 
Betta fish Betta splendens 7 gal (25 L) · 75–82 °F (24–28 °C) 
Nerite snail Neritina natalensis 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) 
Horned nerite snail Clithon corona 5 gal (20 L) · 72–82 °F (22–28 °C) Check the compatibility of your whole tank →
What not to keep it with
Popular species you shouldn’t house with the Giant danio, and why.
- Discus: incompatible temperatures
- Oscar: one may eat the other due to size, incompatible temperaments
- Celestial pearl danio: one may eat the other due to size
- Ember tetra: one may eat the other due to size
- Amano shrimp: eats shrimp
- Cherry shrimp: eats shrimp
Recommended equipment
What you need to keep the Giant danio healthy, checked against Amazon stock.
Frequently asked questions
How many liters does a Giant danio need?
At least about 240 liters for a group of at least 6 fish. More space always helps keep the water stable.
What water temperature does the Giant danio need?
Between 20 and 26 °C, with a pH of 6 to 8.
What fish can live with the Giant danio?
Based on water, size and temperament, it fits with species such as Bristlenose pleco, Bronze cory, Molly, Platy and Harlequin rasbora. Use our compatibility calculator to check your whole tank.
Can the Giant danio be kept with shrimp?
Not recommended: because of its size or instinct, it will eat shrimp.
