Galaxy Rasbora

Danio margaritatus, or more commonly the celestial pearl danio or galaxy rasbora, was found in 2006 by a private hobbyist in Myanmar, east of Inle Lake. The location of this fish-find was meant to remain a secret, as it was feared that commercial exploitation for the aquatic industry would devastate these natural populations. However, luckily for us, these fish breed rapidly and wild populations persist to this day despite their location becoming widespread knowledge. They also breed readily in captivity, leading to almost all specimens for retail originating from captive sources. Their small size (around 1.5cm) and small space requirements (being relatively inactive) make these fish perfect for smaller aquariums and are popular choices for “nano” tanks. They are a shoaling species and are best kept in large groups (10 or more) with other small species. Their natural habitat is dense with vegetation, so if you’re looking to replicate this put them in a heavily planted aquarium and feed them an omnivorous diet with a variety of frozen foods.