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Zebra Danios are not fussy about their tank setup which is one of the reasons they are an easy-care fish. But if you add some of the things that they like your Zebra Danios will appreciate your efforts.
The best tank setup for Zebra Danios is one that includes plenty of plants, a moderate to fast water flow and a medium light level. Zebra Danios are tolerant of a wide range of water temperatures but prefer cooler water. Their water needs to be clean and oxygenated. The addition of rocks/pebbles, leaf litter and wood all help to create a more natural environment.
Whether you’re setting up a Zebra Danio only tank, or starting off/adding them to an existing community tank, you can keep things easy-care. It doesn’t need to be complicated when it comes to keeping these little fish happy and healthy.
In this article I will be explaining how to set up a fresh water tank for your Zebra Danios. I’ll also be giving you some information and tips about adding them to, or building up, a Zebra Danio friendly community tank.
Tip: Decide how many Zebra Danios you want to keep before buying a tank. If you buy the tank first the size of the tank will dictate how many of them you can keep. If you’re adding Zebra Danios to an existing community tank you need to take both the tank size, and the number of established inhabitants, into account before buying more fish.
Choosing A Tank For Your Zebra Danios
Zebra Danios are a schooling fish which means that they prefer to live in groups. So It’s best to keep at least 4-6 Zebra Danios together as a minimum number. When it comes to how many to keep together it’s a case of ‘the more the merrier’. And once you’ve decided on how many Zebra Danios you want to keep you can start looking for the right tank.
Because Zebra Danios are a small fish you don’t have to have a huge tank. Which is just one of the reasons why they are a good beginner fish.
However, they are an active fish that swim around energetically most of the time. Which means that they need plenty of swim-room, particularly mid to top of the tank. So it’s important that the tank gives them enough space to do this without being cramped.
It’s always best to buy the biggest tank that your budget and available space will allow.
So What Size Tank Do Zebra Danio Need?
The tank size you will need for your Zebra Danios will depend on a few things. It’s a good idea to take the points below into account before buying an aquarium.
- The number of Zebra Danios you want to keep
- The size of Zebra Danios when they are full grown (average 2-2.5 inches/5.08-6.35 cm).
- Plenty of room for plants but leaving plenty of swim-room for the fish too
- Room for any other fish/shrimp/snails that will share the tank
- Spare litres/gallons in case your Zebra Danio fry (babies) reach maturity or their tankmates breed
If you would like more information about how Zebra Danio reproduce read my article ‘How Do Zebra Danios Breed?‘
As you can see from the list above there are a few basic things to consider when you’re choosing the right tank for your Zebra Danios. And it’s impossible for me to tell you what size tank to buy because I don’t know exactly what you have in mind.
My advice though is to make a plan taking all of the points above into account. Then speak to your local Pet Store or Aquatic Dealer for advice on a suitable tank that will comfortably accommodate all of your planned inhabitants and will also allow room for possible fry.
There’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ when it comes to choosing the right tank for your fish. So having a plan and getting some guidance is a great help. Particularly if you’re new to the fish keeping hobby.
Note: It’s always better to understock rather than overstock a tank, particularly in a new tank setup. If you add too many fish at once you run the risk of an ammonia spike which can be fatal to your fish.
Tip: Zebra Danios can, and do, jump out of the tank. And not just because something has spooked them either. It’s just something that they do. So it’s best to have a close fitting lid on your aquarium to prevent any losses.
What’s The Best Tank Layout For Zebra Danios?
The Zebra Danio is an easy-care fish that isn’t too fussy about its tank layout. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do your best to give them at least the basic things that make them feel at home in your aquarium. The closer you make the tank environment to their native habitat the happier they will be.
Zebra Danios are native to South/South-East Asia (e.g. India, Pakistan, Nepal). They’ve been found in a variety of waterways from fast moving streams to slow flowing, almost stagnant, pools and ponds. But despite the difference in the speed of the water flow their habitat usually contains lots of plants, leaf debris, pebbles and pieces of wood.
I know that keeping fish in any tank setup isn’t going to be the same as their native environment. No matter how much you try to replicate it. However, most of the fish we buy from Pet Stores/Aquatic Dealers have been captive bred for many generations and are generally adapted to aquarium life already. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do our best to make their lives as comfortable as possible. And if the fish are happier they’re less likely to suffer from stress and stress related illnesses.
Creating a tank that mimics the Zebra Danios native home is not only better for your fish but it looks attractive too.
A Good Tank Layout For Zebra Danios Generally Includes:
- Plants – A heavily planted tank, or a tank with heavily planted areas, is great for a Zebra Danio Tank. You can use stem, epiphyte and floating plants. A combination of all of these plant types is even better (there’s more information about plants/types both live and fake in the next section).
- Pebbles/Rocks – (Amazon link) You can use these to create a more natural look to the bottom of your aquarium.
- Leaf Debris – Helps to create a more natural look and feel to the tank. Catappa Leaves (Amazon link) are a good choice because they release beneficial tannins into the water. But you can use other leaves too, such as Oak Leaves for example.
- Substrate –Sand/Coarse Sand (Amazon link) or Fine Gravel work well in a Zebra Danio tank. But any kind of substrate that you prefer will be okay for your Zebra Danios. They’re not fussy.
You can also add pieces of Wood/Twigs (Amazon link) and Alder Cones to create a more natural ‘bottom of the stream debris’ look. It all helps with the overall look and feel of the tank.
Tip: Make sure that any Wood/Twigs, leaves and/or Alder Cones etc are aquarium safe. This is particularly important if you forage for them yourself. Any natural tank debris needs to be pest and pesticide free or you risk poisoning your fish.
Even if you’re trying to create a more natural feel to your Zebra Danio tank it doesn’t mean that you can’t include other tank decorations too. You can add other things that you would like to see in your tank to make it look the way you want it to. Your Zebra Danios won’t mind about your taste in aquarium decorations because they’re not a fussy fish.
Do Zebra Danios Need A Planted Tank?
Zebra Danios benefit from having a planted tank. Not only do plants create a more natural environment they serve other purposes too. Plants make great places for your Zebra Danios to spawn in. They also provide safer areas for the wrigglers/fry to hide in while they grow. Plus, live plants help to keep the tank water clean because they naturally filter the water by taking in the nutrients they need to thrive.
Also Zebra Danios look great swimming in a planted tank because their striped pattern stands out against a planted background.
If you’re not sure which plants to use, or you haven’t used live plants before, I’ve got some suggestions for you.
Easy-Care Plants For A Zebra Danio Tank
- Bacopa Plants – Different varieties – usually planted but some can be left to float
- Amazon Sword – Long narrow leaved plant (needs planting in the substrate)
- Hornwort – Feathery plant (can be planted, floated or attached to wood/rocks etc)
- Java Fern – Wide leaved plant (can be planted or attached to wood/rocks etc)
- Rotala Plants (various) – Stem plants usually planted in the substrate
- Java Moss and Christmas Moss – Feathery mosses (attach to wood/rocks, tank decorations)
- Floating Plants – Such as Salvinia, Dwarf Water Lettuce and Red Root Floaters
There are a lot more easy-care aquarium plants that you can use in your Zebra Danio tank. Guppy Grass (carpeting), Water Wisteria (planted) and Giant Duckweed (floating) are just a few of the options you can choose from. But the plants on the list above will give you a good starting point.
And it’s worth noting that because Zebra Danios are known to jump if you have floating plants in your aquarium you will reduce the chances of your fish jumping out of the tank.
Check the plants out Online or at your local Pet Store or Aquatic Dealer. Then choose the plants that you want to keep in your aquarium to get the look you’re aiming for.
Artificial/Fake Plants
I know that not every fish keeper wants to keep live plants. The good news is that you don’t have to keep live plants in your Zebra Danio tank. You can use artificial/fake ones if you prefer. But it’s important to choose ones that have soft leaves and no sharp edges to reduce the risk of injuring your fish. And you need to bear in mind that you won’t get the natural ‘filtering’ benefits that live plants provide. Nonetheless, your Zebra Danios won’t mind that the plants aren’t real as long as they have densely planted areas.
If, over time, you decide to try some live plants in your tank the list and suggestions above will give you a good place to start.
Tip: When choosing a filter for your tank make sure it can cope with both the tank’s water capacity and the number of fish you are keeping. Some types of fish are messier than others, so remember to take that into account too.
Do Zebra Danios Need A Filter?
Zebra Danios need a filtered tank. Despite being a tough little fish that can withstand a fairly wide range of aquarium conditions they do need their water to be filtered and oxygenated. Tank filters not only help to clean the water they oxygenate the water too by moving the water around and breaking the water’s surface. The water movement creates flow in the tank and Zebra Danios like at least a moderate flow.
Filters also serve another important purpose. They are great breeding grounds for the beneficial bacteria that help to keep your tank environment a healthy one.
Here Are Some Filter Options For Your Zebra Danio Tank
Internal Box Filter – This type of filter hangs or ‘suckers’ onto the inside of your tank. Often with the water return part above the water level creating a waterfall effect. But the way the water is returned will depend on the type of internal box filter you buy. Some are completely submerged which means you can’t see the filtered water being returned to the tank. Internal box filters can come with replaceable filter cartridges or a simple sponge insert. This type of filter is often included as part of a tank starter kit but can be bought separately.
HOB (hang-on-the-back-filter) – Just as it sounds this type of filter hangs on the back of the tank. The box part is on the outside of the tank and the intake tube sits in the water. The box part is filled with filter media of all kinds which you can change to suit the needs of your fish. The filtered water is returned to the tank via a lip/spout creating a waterfall effect.
External Filter– An external filtering system sits outside of the tank. Usually under the tank stand/cabinet to hide it from sight. The intake pumps the water out of the aquarium into a filtering unit. Then it pumps the water back in again through a return tube once it’s been cleaned. It does this on a regular cycle. However, unless you have a seriously large tank, or you’re running multiple tanks off the same filtration system, you’re unlikely to go for this option.
Note: If your filter only creates a gentle flow you can increase the flow by adding an air stone that’s run by an air pump. Or you can add a power head to push the water around faster. Or if you prefer, you can add a second filter.
Tip: Even if you have an efficient filter in your Zebra Danio tank you still need to keep on top of your tank maintenance. Aquarium filters are a great help in keeping the water healthy but they should be used alongside your regular tank cleaning.
Do Zebra Danios Need A Tank Light?
Zebra Danios need regular periods of light and dark in their tank. One way, and the easiest way, to achieve this is to install a tank light. Although Zebra Danios like a decent amount of light during daytime hours the light doesn’t need to be super bright. And the light needs to be turned of at night to allow them to rest.
If you find that your Zebra Danio’s tankmates, or the plants that you have in the tank, need a little more light it’s not difficult to please everyone.
If you have plants that need a brighter light you can use the plants themselves to make sheltered areas for your Zebra Danios. This will give them the chance to take a break in dimly lit areas during the daytime if they feel the need. And any fish that like high light can spend as much time in it as they like.
Note: The simplest solution when it comes to lighting needs is to choose tankmates and plants that like the same intensity of light in the aquarium.
Do Zebra Danios Need A Heated Tank?
Zebra Danios, if kept in indoor temperate aquariums, don’t usually need a heater in their tank. Their ideal temperature range is between Approx. 18-23 Degrees Celsius ( 65-75 Degrees Fahrenheit) with the lower end of the scale being preferable. They can cope with temperatures that are a little lower, or a little higher, but in general normal household heating is fine for a Zebra Danio tank.
However, there are some circumstances that might mean you need to install a heater in your Zebra Danio tank.
I’ve listed some of these below.
You might need a heater for your Zebra Danio Tank if:
- Your country’s climate falls below freezing for long periods during the winter months. Particularly at night when the house heating is off
- Your home is unheated for most of the day due to work or other commitments when the weather is really cold
- Your home heating breaks down and you’re left with an unheated home for a prolonged period of time
- You keep your Zebra Danio tank in a shed, outhouse or other building that’s outside of your main home, and it’s an unheated building
So, depending on your country’s climate, or how your home or tank environment is heated, you may need to put a heater in your Zebra Danio tank to keep them at a comfortable temperature. But generally speaking you’re unlikely to need a heater in their tank.
Tip: An easy way to check your tank temperature is to add a aquarium thermometer. They are cheap to buy and are a simple but useful tool for monitoring the temperature of your tank water.
What Kind Of Water Is Best For Zebra Danios?
Zebra Danios aren’t fussy about water parameters as long as the tank water is clean and oxygenated. They can adapt to different kinds of water without too much trouble. Which means that, in general, your tap water treated with a dechlorinating product will be just fine. It’s one of the reasons that Zebra Danios are an easy-care fish and are great for beginner fish keepers as well as more experienced ones.
The easiest way to keep the water clean is to carry out weekly partial water changes and 4 weekly full tank maintenance alongside what your aquarium filter is doing on a 24 hour basis.
Don’t overfeed your Zebra Danios. Excess food fouls up the water causing dangerous levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate that can kill your fish. Zebra Danios can be a greedy fish that often look like they are begging for food. Don’t let them fool you into overfeeding the tank.
If you would like more information and tips about what/how much to feed your Zebra Danios, both the adults and the fry, click the link to read my article ‘What Do Zebra Danios Eat?’
Tip: When you set up your Zebra Danio tank, and on all water changes, the water should be dechlorinated using a reputable water treatment product. These products not only eliminate Chlorine and Chloramines they also get rid of any heavy metals that might harm your fish.
Two Tap Water Treatments that are popular with fish keepers are Prime by Seachem and API Tap Water Conditioner (Amazon links) but there are other tap water treatments/conditioners available too.
Tankmates For Zebra Danios
The best tankmates for Zebra Danios are other small peaceful fish that are happy to live in cooler temperatures. They can also share their tank with non-aggressive shrimp and snails that are suited to the tank setup.
Here’s Some Of The Fish/Shrimp/Snails That Make Good Tankmates For Zebra Danios
- White Cloud Mountain Minnows (also Gold WCMM)
- Other Small Danios – eg Celestial Pearl, Golden, Dwarf Spotted, Rosy
- Platy Fish (avoid long fin varieties because Zebra Danios can be fin-nippers)
- Honey Gourami
- Ember Tetras and other small Tetras
- Corydoras Catfish – eg Bronze, Panda, Emerald
- Otocinclus (tiny ‘sucker’ catfish)
- Shrimp – Amano, Wood/Bamboo, Cherry (all colours)
- Snails – Nerite (all varieties), Ramshorn Snails, Rabbit Snails
There are a lot more possible tankmates for your Zebra Danios. Just avoid fish that are large and/or aggressive. Or fish that don’t like to have fast swimming tankmates. Also avoid fish with long flowing fins because Zebra Danios can nibble on slower moving fish that have long fins.
Can I Add Zebra Danios To An Established Community Aquarium?
Zebra Danios are a great little fish to add to a peaceful community tank. As long as all the established fish, shrimp and snails are likely to get along with the Zebra Danios it’s definitely an option. Particularly if you want to increase the movement and activity in your aquarium.
Bear in mind that Zebra Danios are an extremely lively, fast swimming fish. So don’t add them to a tank whose fish are slow moving and likely to be stressed by other fish constantly moving at speed. Zebra Danios are also likely to be the first ones to the food so do your best to make sure all of the tank inhabitants are getting their fair share of the food.
The Takeaway
I realise that in this article I’ve given you a lot of information about the Best Tank Setup For Zebra Danios. So I thought it was a good idea to create a simple list of the main points that I’ve covered.
Here’s The Takeaway
- Buy a tank that has plenty of swim-room for the number of Zebra Danios you want to keep. Leave room for fry and any other tankmates too.
- Use plenty of plants either live and/or fake in the tank
- Include pebbles/rocks, leaf debris and/or wood, and a fine substrate, to create a more natural feel to the tank
- Filter the tank with a moderate to fast flow
- Tank lighting can be medium to high depending on the setup, tankmates and plant needs
- The ideal tank temperature is between 18-23 Degrees Celsius/65-75 Fahrenheit but the lower end of the scale is better
- Water quality should be clean, oxygenated, and free from a build up of toxins
- Tankmates need to be small, non-aggressive, and short finned to avoid being fin-nipped by your Zebra Danios
