Spotted Orange Fin Danio

Danio kyathit has an elongated body with a yellow to orange colourations. Over the sides of the body run 5 to 7 stripes. The stripes can either be dotted or normal full lines. These bar run from the gills all over the body. The specimens with full lines are often mistaken for Zebra Danios (Danio rerio).

In addition to the orange bar, the anal fin has one or two additional orange stripes over the fin. The area between these orange lines is blue to black.
It can be hard to differentiate both sexes. Females are often rounder bellied whereas males have a more pronounced colouration. This difference is best observed when the fish are ready to mate. In that case, males will display their best colours whereas the bellies of the females will be filled with eggs.

Distribution and Habitat

Danio kyathit has a relatively small habitat. It is found near the city of Myitkyina in Kachin state in Myanmar (Burma). Here can it be caught in tributaries of the Irrawaddy.
The natural habitat exists of streams and rivers with a strong current. The water in these streams ranges from clear white water to blackwater. The rivers flow through forests that mainly exist of bamboo. Mud and pebbles vorm the substrate of these streams.
Due to the limited distribution of Danio kyathit, it is classified by the IUCN as near threatened.

Care

The Orange-finned Danio was thought to naturally occur in two distinct colour morphs. One with moderate sized dark spots all over the body is the real kyathit, whereas the other morph sports dark horizontal stripes above the lateral line, with dark spots below it. This striped fish is now described as D. quagga, in honour of the now extinct zebra relative known for its modest stripe pattern. Fish in breeding condition often develop intense orangey-red coloured finnage. The aquarium should be maintained at a sub-tropical temperature, and although these fish will adapt to quite a wide range of conditions, they will be seen at their best in softer, slightly acidic water. In the wild, they are said to inhabit small shaded streams with clear-brown fast-running water. For this reason, Danio kyathit must be kept in well-filtered and well-oxygenated aquaria, with a decent amount of flow. They will be seen swimming against the current with obvious, natural enjoyment. The aquarium should have a dark substrate, background and décor, and be well planted at the back and sides, with an open swimming space left in the centre. Lighting should not be too bright. Orange-finned Danios are a peaceful shoaling species, and as such, must be maintained in groups of 6 or more fish of their own kind. They make great "˜dither fish"™ in aquariums housing temperate current-loving fish such as many of the hillstream loaches and torrent catfish. May also be seen on sale as the Kyathit Danio.

Feeding

Flake, micropellets, small frozen foods such as mosquito larvae, daphnia, and brineshrimp.