Bring dynamic movement and glowing golden warmth to your freshwater aquarium with the Longfin Gold Zebra Danio. A captivating selective-bred variety of the classic Zebra Danio, this hardy freshwater fish features brilliant metallic gold striping and elegant, flowing fins that trail gracefully as it swims. Perfect for beginner hobbyists and experienced aquarists alike, this active schooling fish adds vibrant energy to any community tank setup.

At a Glance

• Scientific Name: Danio rerio (var. Gold Longfin)

• Care Level: Easy / Beginner-Friendly

• Temperament: Peaceful, highly energetic schooling fish

• Lifespan: 3.5 – 5 years

• Adult Size: Up to 2 inches (5 cm)

Detailed Care & Aquarium Specs

Place of Origin

While the wild Danio rerio originates from the clear, slow-moving streams and flooded rice paddies of South Asia—primarily India, Bangladesh, and Nepal—the Longfin Gold Zebra Danio is a captive-bred color and fin strain selectively developed for the home aquarium trade.

Aquarium Environment & Water Parameters

Longfin Gold Zebra Danios thrive in planted aquariums with ample open swimming space. Because of their flowing fins, maintain a gentle to moderate water flow and ensure filter intakes are covered or guarded to prevent fin damage.

• Minimum Tank Size: 10 gallons (a 15 to 20-gallon long tank is recommended for schools of 6+)

• Water Temperature: 64°F – 77°F (18°C – 25°C)

• pH Range: 6.5 – 7.5

• Water Hardness: 5 – 12 dGH

• Aquascape Setup: Dark substrate, natural driftwoods, and tall background plants (like Vallisneria, Anubias, or Java Fern) enhance their golden luster.

Feeding & Diet

These dabios are unpicky omnivores with enthusiastic appetites. Provide a varied diet to maintain vibrant golden coloration and fin health:

• High-quality tropical flake food and micro pellets as a staple daily diet.

• Supplement 2–3 times a week with frozen or live treats such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms.

Tank Mates & Social Dynamics

Longfin Gold Zebra Danios are schooling fish and must be kept in groups of at least 6 (ideally 8–10+). Schooling reduces stress and prevents minor fin-nipping behaviors.

• Ideal Tank Mates: Peaceful community fish including Neon Tetras, Harlequin Rasboras, Corydoras Catfish, Dwarf Gouramis, Bristlenose Plecos, Cherry Shrimp, and Mystery Snails.

• Species to Avoid: Avoid aggressive fish, large cichlids, and notorious fin-nippers like Tiger Barbs or Serpae Tetras that may target their long, delicate fins.

Breeding Guide

Breeding Longfin Gold Zebra Danios is straight-forward and ideal for beginner breeders:

1. Setup: Prepare a separate 5 to 10-gallon breeding tank with a sponge filter and a layer of glass marbles or dense Java Moss at the bottom.

2. Conditioning: Condition a male and female pair with nutrient-rich live foods for a week.

3. Spawning: Transfer the pair to the breeding tank in the evening. Spawning usually occurs at dawn as egg scatterers.

4. Egg Care: Remove adult fish immediately after spawning, as they will eat their own eggs. Eggs hatch in 36 to 48 hours, and fry become free-swimming a few days later, requiring infusoria or liquid fry food.

PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

• The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving. 
• Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process.
• We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish. 
• Unless specified, all fish are sold as unsexed.