Galaxy Rasbora

Special offer 10 for £20.00
This discount will be applied automatically at checkout.

Galaxy Rasboras (Danio margaritatus) are a species of small cyprinid fish native to Myanmar and Northern Thailand.

Since their discovery they have been reclassified as a species of Danio with a common name "Celestial Pearl Danio" but they are still commonly referred to in the aquarium trade as the Galaxy Rasbora.

Discovered in 2006, the species quickly appeared in the aquarium trade, where its small size and bright colours made it an instant hit.

By 2007 this fish was the up and coming star of the home aquarium, and rampant collecting from their natural habitat put them at risk of becoming endangered. Thankfully these days almost all specimens seen in the aquarium trade are captive bred.

Habitat

In the wild Galaxy Rasboras have so far been found only in a very small area near Hopong east of Inle Lake, at an elevation of over 1,000 Metres (3,400 ft). Its habitat is part of the Salween basin, namely the Nam Lang and Nam Pawn Rivers.

The fish lives in small ponds created by seeping groundwater or overflow from small brooks or springs

Male specimens of this species are more brightly coloured, showing a deeper orange or red on their fins and a vibrant blue background. The Females have a more muted colouration, with their bellies being a pale yellow.

A comfortable temperature for these fish is between 15°C - 24°C.

Size

Our specimens currently measure approx. 2cm

This species' maximum size typically reaches approx. 2.5cm although up to 3cm has been seen in some individuals.

Aquarium

We recommend an aquarium with a minimum capacity of 45 Litres. The more fish you have, the larger the tank should be.

These are very peaceful fish that do well in a community aquarium with other fish of similar size and temperament. 

Galaxy Rasboras thrive when in a group of at least 10 fish as they are a shoaling fish, and more members of the shoal make them feeler safer and behave with more confidence.

The aquarium should be planted with incorporated floating plants. It is of note that this fish is popular among aquascape enthusiasts for its stunning colours, peaceful demeanor, and small size.

The tank should be well established to avoid any surprise changes in water parameters that may upset or be otherwise detrimental to the fish.

Feed with small flake, granules, or small frozen meaty foods such as daphnia, cyclops, and baby brineshrimp.

pH levels should fall between the 7 - 8 range.
Hardness should fall between 12 - 25 dGH

Neutral to moderately hard alkaline water is best for these fish both for their health and to help bring out their vibrant natural colours.

Behaviour

This peaceful fish gets along with most species of similar size. As with most shoaling fish, they look more impressive the bigger their shoal is. Do not keep them with anything that is too large or aggressive as they may be bullied or eaten.

It is best to keep 2 - 3 Females for every Male, and note that larger shoals will help to diffuse any territorial bickering.

This is a freshwater species - Do not put them in a marine / saltwater aquarium.