Danio Sp. Putao

About

Found only in a small cluster of clear streams draining into the upper Mali Hka river in far northern Myanmar's Kachin State, Celestichthys flagrans is one of the more geographically restricted members of its genus. It shares the distinctively barred body pattern that characterizes the Celestichthys group, vertical bars along the flanks giving way to horizontal stripes, with reddish coloring woven between them, but can be told apart from its close relative C. choprae by a noticeably slimmer body, a longer caudal peduncle, more prominent barbels, and a near-complete lateral line. In the aquarium it's a relaxed community fish that pairs well with other small, peaceful species, and a biotope setup drawing on the broader Ayeyarwaddy river fauna is a genuinely rewarding project. Like all Celestichthys species it should be kept in a proper school. Think eight to ten fish at minimum. Within the group there will be a clear pecking order, and the dominant males can be surprisingly pushy, occasionally leaving nipped fins on lower-ranked individuals. Keeping numbers up helps spread that tension around. It makes no unusual demands on water chemistry and is a forgiving choice for hobbyists who are still developing their skills, though good-quality, well-filtered water is always appreciated. It occasionally appears in the trade under names like 'Danio sp. Putao'.