Celestial Pearl Danio
Danio margaritatus
Also known as Galaxy Rasbora, CPD
Edited by Ivan F. · Reviewed
Beginner verdict
A tiny, spotted fish that looks like a miniature galaxy, ideal for a heavily planted small tank. It is shy, and larger or more boisterous fish will intimidate it and take its food. Dense plants, a dark substrate and small companions bring it out into the open.
Care at a glance
- Min tank size
- 11 US gal
- Footprint
- 18 x 12 in
- Temperature
- 68–79 °F
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 5–15 dGH
- Swim zone
- Mid-Water
- Min group
- 6 or more
- Lifespan
- 3–5 years
Celestial Pearl Danio tank mates and swim zone
Mid-Water
Spends most of its time in this part of the tank.
Poecilia wingei
Trichopsis pumila
Corydoras pygmaeus
Otocinclus macrospilus
Hymenochirus boettgeri
Epiplatys annulatus
Danio rerio
Celestial Pearl Danio is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Zebra Danio.
Puntius titteya
Celestial Pearl Danio is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Cherry Barb.
Barbodes semifasciolatus
Gold Barb is much larger than Celestial Pearl Danio and may frighten or even eat it.
Poecilia reticulata
Celestial Pearl Danio is small and shy, and is easily outcompeted for food by Fancy Guppy.
Xiphophorus hellerii
Swordtail is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as Celestial Pearl Danio.
Trichogaster lalius
Dwarf Gourami is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as Celestial Pearl Danio.
Pelvicachromis pulcher
Kribensis Cichlid is big enough to eat or bully a fish as small as Celestial Pearl Danio.
Mikrogeophagus ramirezi
Their temperature ranges do not overlap, so one of them would always be stressed.
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Pea Puffer is fast and nippy and will bully a timid little fish like Celestial Pearl Danio.
Celestial Pearl Danio feeding and care
How to feed
- Feed crushed flakes and micro pellets small enough for its mouth.
- Add baby brine shrimp or daphnia, which shy fish will come out for.
- Feed small portions you can see finished within a couple of minutes, because overfeeding fouls the water fast.
Telling males from females
Males have a deep blue body and intense red and black fins. Females are paler, with a rounder belly.
Celestial Pearl Danio care mistakes to avoid
- Do not buy just one or two. Keep at least 6 fish so they feel secure.
- Plant heavily. This timid fish hides constantly in a bare or brightly lit tank.
- Keep it with very small, calm fish. Larger tank mates outcompete it for food.
- Do not worry about small sparring. Rival males nip at each other, but rarely at other species.
- Check your tank before you buy. Our sourced minimum is 11 US gallons.
Celestial Pearl Danio tank setup
The essentials for a small, gently filtered tank.
TankAt least 11 US gal (41 L), 45 x 30 cm
The smallest tank our sources give for Celestial Pearl Danio. We list only tanks that hold this volume (allowing 10%, so a standard size counts) and have at least this much floor.
Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium 20 Long US
Eheim clearTank 73 Spain
Why we chose these (Best 10-Gallon Fish Tank: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Starter kitA kit with the tank, filter and light in one box
We list only kits whose tank fits Celestial Pearl Danio, up to twice its minimum volume. A kit whose heater has a fixed setting shows only when that setting is inside Celestial Pearl Danio's temperature range.
Tetra Complete LED Aquarium Kit 20 Gallon US
Check the heater's setting
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 54 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Tetra Starter Line LED Aquarium 80 L Spain
Heater preset to 25 °C
Why we chose these (Best Aquarium Starter Kit: What to Look For). Nobody here has used or tested them.
FilterAir-driven sponge filter
Gentle flow that small fish and long fins can handle, plus a safe home for good bacteria.
Aquarium Co-Op Coarse Sponge Filter (Small) US
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter US
Tetra Brillant Filter Spain
Fluval AquaClear 20 Power Filter Spain
Why we chose these (Best Filter for a 10-Gallon Tank). Nobody here has used or tested them.
HeaterKeep it at 68–79 °F (20–26 °C)
Adjustable heater, about 5 W per gallon: 25 W at 5 gallons, 50 W at 10. Keeps a small tank stable. Adjustable models let you set the temperature your species needs. Size up for a cold room.
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater US
Aqueon Pro Adjustable Heater 50 W US
Fluval T50 Fully Electronic Aquarium Heater Spain
Eheim Thermocontrol e 50 Heater Spain
Why we chose these (Best Heater for a 10-Gallon Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Water conditionerDechlorinator such as Seachem Prime
Tap water contains chlorine or chloramine that harms fish.
Seachem Prime US
Fritz Complete Water Conditioner US
API Betta Water Conditioner US
sera aquatan Spain
Tetra AquaSafe Spain
Sold at Kiwoko · Sold at Tiendanimal · Sold at zooplus.es · Maker's details
Why we chose these (Best Water Conditioner for Betta Fish). Nobody here has used or tested them.
Test kitLiquid kit such as API Freshwater Master
Tracks ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH while the tank cycles.
API Freshwater Master Test Kit US
API General & Carbonate Hardness Test Kit US
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link) · Sold at Bulk Reef Supply · Maker's details
sera aqua-test box (Cl) Spain
JBL PROAQUATEST COMBISET Plus NH4 Spain
Why we chose these (Best Test Kit for a Freshwater Aquarium). Nobody here has used or tested them.
SubstrateAny substrate
We are still choosing products for this.
Hiding places and decorTimid, so it wants a heavily planted tank with floating plants; avoid driftwood and leaf litter because their tannins are not part of its natural water.
We are still choosing products for this.
PlantsSafe with live plants
Cycle the tank before adding animals. See our guide on how to cycle a fish tank.
Where to buy Celestial Pearl Danio
Stores that list it under the same scientific name as this page. Links marked as affiliate links may earn us a commission. We have not bought from them, so check each store's own terms.
See it at The Shrimp Farm (a retailer; affiliate link)
We have not found a store that sells Celestial Pearl Danio under its scientific name yet. We add stores as we confirm them.
Live animals and plants travel by courier. Check the store's live-arrival guarantee, and only buy once your tank has cycled (see how to cycle a fish tank).
Some US states restrict certain species. Check our US state aquarium rules table and your state's own rules before you buy.
Celestial Pearl Danio FAQ
What size tank do Celestial Pearl Danios need?
Our sourced minimum is 11 US gallons (41 liters), with a footprint of 45 x 30 cm. A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable.
How many Celestial Pearl Danios should I keep?
Keep at least 6 fish. Bigger groups usually look better and behave more confidently.
What can live with Celestial Pearl Danios?
Good matches on our list include Endler's Livebearer, Sparkling Gourami and Pygmy Corydoras. Avoid Swordtail and Dwarf Gourami.
How long do Celestial Pearl Danios live?
Care guides report about 3–5 years. Stable water and a good diet make the biggest difference.
Are celestial pearl danios shy?
Yes, especially at first. Dense plants, dim light and small surface-dwelling companions usually help them settle and show themselves.
Celestial Pearl Danio facts and sources
- Family
- Cyprinidae
- Native to
- Shan Plateau, Myanmar
- Adult size
- 0.8 in (2.1 cm)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social needs
- Schooling/Shoaling (6+)
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Water flow
- Gentle
- Substrate
- Any
- Live plants
- Yes - Loves Plants
- Shrimp
- Adult Shrimp Only
- Fin nipping
- Low
- Vulnerable to nippers
- No
- Breeding
- Moderate
Sources
- Seriously Fish: Tank size, water ranges and behavior
- FishBase: Cross-check of water ranges and size
Lifespans are approximate and come from aquarium care guides, because these databases rarely publish them.
Where sources differ, we show the Seriously Fish aquarium figures.
Spotted something wrong? Report a parameter correction. For a sick fish, see our veterinary disclaimer.