Celestial Pearl Danio Identification Guide
Identify the Celestial Pearl Danio by its tiny navy body covered in pearly spots and orange-red fin bands.
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Key identification features
- Very small, deep-bodied, boxy shape unlike the slender build of most danios
- Dark navy-blue to blackish body covered in rows of small, round, pearly gold spots
- Bright orange-red bands crossing the dorsal, anal, and tail fins, edged in black
- Males show more vivid orange-red fin color; females are duller with a rounder belly
- Rounded snout and small upturned mouth
- Adult size only about 0.75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm)
Common look-alikes
- Pearl Danio is much larger and slender-bodied with a single stripe rather than rows of pearly spots.
- Chili Rasbora is similarly tiny and red, but has a slim torpedo shape and a solid red body with a black lateral stripe instead of spots.
- Emerald Dwarf Rasbora shares small size but shows a greenish body with a dark stripe rather than the Celestial Pearl's spotted navy pattern.
Where you'll see one
Native to shallow, weedy ponds and slow-flowing streams in the Salween River basin of Myanmar, where it hides among dense aquatic vegetation in clear, calm water.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a Celestial Pearl Danio from a Chili Rasbora?
Check the pattern: Celestial Pearl Danios have a deep, boxy body covered in pearly spots, while Chili Rasboras are slender, solid red, and marked with a single black lateral stripe.
How do I tell males from females in this species?
Males display brighter, more extensive orange-red banding on the fins and a slimmer body, while females look duller with a fuller, rounder belly.