ExploreFish

Zebra Danio

Brachydanio rerio

Zebra Danios are lively little fish with stripes that look like a zebra! They love to dart around and play in the water.

Habitat: Freshwater streams and ponds

Appearance

The Zebra Danio has a slender, torpedo-shaped body, typically silvery-gold with four distinctive blue-black horizontal stripes running from gill to tail. Its small size and vibrant markings make it easily recognizable among freshwater fish.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderCypriniformesFamilyCyprinidaeGenusDanio

Zebra Danio

Interesting facts

Female Zebra Danios can lay hundreds of eggs in a single day, helping new babies hatch fast!

Scientists can make these fish glow in the dark by adding a special gene, creating 'GloFish'!

These tiny fish are incredibly important for studying human diseases, like heart problems!

Zebra Danios were the first vertebrate animals to travel into space, aboard a Russian rocket!

Special abilities

Zebra Danio can regrow damaged fins and even heart tissue, because of powerful regenerating cells that help them recover quickly.

Zebra Danio can swim in large groups called schools because this teamwork confuses predators and helps them stay safer together.

Zebra Danio has a tough body that helps them live in many different water conditions, making them very adaptable survivors.

Measurements & details

Length: 3-5 cm
Weight: 0.0002-0.0007 kg
Lifespan: 2-5 years
Swim Speed: 2.5 km/h
Max Depth: 1.5 m
Water Type: Freshwater

Diet & Feeding

These tiny fish munch on small insects and plant bits floating in the water.

Primary Foods

Mosquito larvae
Water fleas
Algae
Detritus

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Common Kingfisher

Alcedo atthis

hunts them in shallow waters

eaten by

Spotted Snakehead

Channa punctata

larger fish that prey on them

eats

Common Mosquito

Culex pipiens

larvae are a food source

eats

Common Water Flea

Daphnia pulex

tiny zooplankton they consume

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Striped

Look for animals and plants with cool lines and bands, creating eye-catching patterns!

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Omnivorous

Meet versatile eaters who enjoy a wide variety of foods, from plants to other animals, allowing them to adapt to many different environments. They're nature's flexible diners!

Freshwater

Discover animals and plants that live in non-salty water, like rivers, lakes, and ponds! These watery homes are vibrant with life.

Keystone Species

Discover the hidden heroes of nature! These special species play an incredibly important role in their habitat, holding the entire ecosystem together like a crucial piece of a puzzle.

Speedster

Discover creatures that dart, zip, and fly with incredible swiftness, making them masters of rapid movement in their habitats. They are built for speed, whether chasing prey or escaping danger.