Zebra Danio Danio Rerio 2cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Zebra Danio is the classic beginner's fish: a slim, torpedo-shaped shoaler with crisp blue-black and silver-gold stripes running from nose to tail. It comes from streams, pools and rice paddies in north-east India and never stops moving. Tough, adaptable and inexpensive to keep, it suits unheated and tropical community tanks alike and mixes with almost anything peaceful.
- Adult Size: Around 5 cm (2 in); females slightly larger and rounder
- Lifespan: 3–5 years
Origin
- Native to: North-east India and Bangladesh, possibly Bhutan
- Habitat: Slow streams, seasonal pools and rice paddies with silty beds
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, micropredator in nature
- Preferred Foods: Flake, micro pellets, daphnia, brine shrimp, bloodworm, cyclops
- Feeding Habits: Feed once or twice daily; eats almost anything offered, likes live food
Tank Mates
- Best with: Tetras, rasboras, other danios, livebearers, rainbowfish, corydoras, loaches, small barbs
- Avoid: Slow, long-finned fish it may harass; large predators
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful, extremely active, shoaling
- Territoriality: None; chases within the group are harmless
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Challenges: Almost none; needs a group, a lid and swimming space
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, moderately hard, adaptable
- Temperature: 18–25°C (64–77°F)
- pH: 6.0–8.0
- Hardness: 5–20 dGH
- Flow: Moderate; enjoys some current
- Tank Size: Minimum 80 litres for a group of 8–10; long tanks give swimming room
Final Notes
Keep at least eight to ten together; in small groups they become nervous and may nip slower fish. They jump readily, so fit a tight lid. Cooler water suits them, making them a good choice for unheated indoor tanks. Egg scatterers with no parental care, they spawn easily over marbles or moss and the eggs hatch within two days, a classic first breeding project. A big shoal darting through open water is endlessly entertaining.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.