Transverse striped dwarf danio - Celestichtys (Danio) erythromicron

The cross-striped dwarf danio or bluebanded danio (Celestichtys erythromicron, formerly Danio erythromicron) is so closely related to the well-known and popular guinea fowl danio that the two species may even hybridize. In terms of body structure, Danio erythromicron, which grows to only 2-3 cm in length, is very similar to the guinea fowl danio, but its very attractive markings are quite different. The cross stripe dwarf danio about 12 name-giving dark blue cross stripes running from top to bottom on the otherwise bright body, which together with the reddish fins, the reddish head and the conspicuous dark spot at the base of the caudal fin make an extremely attractive picture. The females are somewhat paler, have thinner stripes and they are minimally more plump than the males. The quite robust Danio erythromicron comes from the Inle Lake in Burma.

The cross-striped dwarf danio (Celestichtys erythromicron) is somewhat less shy than the guinea fowl danio, but definitely needs the security of a larger group of at least 10 conspecifics. Quiet by-fish help the small fish to show themselves more. The aquarium should be well planted. The tiny mouths of these mini fish become dangerous only to the very smallest juvenile shrimp. With well reproducing species of the genus Neocaridina no problem is expected. The socialization with dwarf crabs is more difficult, because Danio erythromicron also likes to stay near the bottom in the plants and thus quickly becomes prey.

The nano fish Celestichthys (Danio) erythromicron is best kept in medium to hard water with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH value of about 7-8 and a temperature of about 18-25 °C. The small fish fit already in 54 liters. In aquariums with many hiding places, the Dwarf Barbary can actually be seen much more often than in bare tanks.

The cross-striped Dwarf Baitfish eats finely grated flake food for omnivores as well as small frozen food and also live food such as Artemia euplii, vinegar euplii, microworms, banana worms and Grindal. With small black mosquito larvae and cooler water changes Danio erythromicron can be brought very well in mating mood.

If you want to breed the cross stripe dwarf grassbora, it is relatively easy. The fish are permanent spawners and lay their eggs in dense plant pads such as moss cushions. In the species tank, juveniles always come up, even if the adults partially eat the spawn. Just take such a moss cushion from the aquarium and place it in a breeding tank, chances are very good that tiny fish larvae will soon emerge here. Of course, you can also specifically put the pairs in a separate tank and take them out of the aquarium again after about a week. Large pebbles at the bottom increase the egg yield. The fish larvae are initially raised with the finest live food such as slipper lizards or rotifers or with dust food, later also with Artemia euplii. The fry grow very slowly.

Our food recommendation: NatureHolic professional main feed is a professional main feed for all aquarium fish. We supply Hauptfeed in the form of a soft granulate, which thanks to its grain size of half a millimeter can be easily ingested by small to medium-sized fish. The soft consistency resembles the texture of insect larvae in nature and protects the fish mouth from micro-injuries.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.