Fire Bar Danio

About

The Fire Bar Danio (Devario maetaengensis) is a small, lively fish native to the cool, fast-moving mountain streams of northern Thailand, where it makes its living feeding primarily on insects that fall into the water from the surrounding vegetation. That natural diet is worth keeping in mind. A varied menu that includes floating and surface foods tends to bring out the best condition in this species. Being from highland stream habitat, it appreciates good water movement and well-oxygenated conditions, which also means it can be a bit less forgiving than the hardier, more widespread danio species that beginners typically start with. It stays compact at full size, which makes it workable in a reasonable mid-sized tank, but like most danios it's an active, fast-moving schooler that needs open water to do its thing. Keep a group of at least six or more and you'll see the confident, exploratory behavior that makes danios so entertaining to watch. The combination of limited natural range and specific water preferences puts this one in the intermediate category. Not a nightmare to keep, but probably not the right choice as someone's very first fish. For a keeper with a bit of experience who wants something a little off the beaten path, it's a genuinely rewarding species.