Giant Danio (Devario aequipinnatus)

Giant Danio (Devario aequipinnatus)

The Giant Danio is a classic, incredibly hardy species that brings constant movement and energy to both community and planted aquariums.

Native to India, Nepal, and Indochina, this vibrant schooling fish grows to around 7–8 cm (3 inches), making it one of the larger danio species. Its shimmering colours and active nature make it a real standout in any setup.

Behaviour & Compatibility

Giant Danios are peaceful, social, and highly active, best kept in schools of 6–10 or more. Larger groups help reduce stress and bring out their natural schooling behaviour.

They are compatible with a wide range of peaceful to semi-aggressive fish, and will often interact or loosely school with other active species. While safe with plants, they may prey on very small shrimp.

Due to their energetic and sometimes nervous nature, they require plenty of swimming space and benefit from a secure lid, as they are known jumpers.

Tank Setup

• Thrives in planted aquariums with driftwood and rockwork
• Colours show best over darker substrates
• Requires clean, well-oxygenated water
• Plenty of open swimming space is essential

Feeding

Giant Danios are micropredators, feeding on small invertebrates in the wild.
In the aquarium, they are not fussy and will accept most quality dry foods, but should also be fed a varied diet including frozen or live foods for optimal health and colour.

Why You’ll Love Them

• Bright, eye-catching colouration
• Extremely hardy and adaptable
• Active schooling behaviour
• Peaceful and community-friendly
• Safe with plants

Recommended Tank Parameters

• Temperature: 22 – 24°C
• pH: 6.0 – 8.0
• KH: 5 – 19 dKH
• Minimum Tank Size: 120–150L (30–40+ gallons) for a school

Care Summary

• Diet: Omnivore / micropredator – varied diet recommended
• Social Behaviour: Peaceful, schooling fish
• Origin: Tank-bred (wild origin: India, Nepal, Indochina)
• Adult Size: 7 – 8 cm (2.8 – 3.1 inches)
• Typical Purchase Size: 5 – 6.5 cm