10 Tank Mates for Giant Danio Fish (Compatibility Guide 2023)

The Giant Danio is one of the most exotic and popular Danio species for home aquariums, due to their peaceful, docile nature and beautiful appearance. They are also relatively easy to care for, making them ideal for beginners. Giant Danios are best kept in schools of at least eight fish, so you’ll need a fairly large tank to house them, more so if you want to add other species.

But what fish make the best tank mates for Giant Danios? Since these fish are so peaceful and rarely aggressive, it makes sense to have tank mates that are just as peaceful and docile as Danios. In this article, we look at 10 of the best tank mates for Giant Danios in your aquarium. Let’s dive in!

The 10 Tank Mates for Giant Danio Fish

1. Cory Catfish (Corydoras)

Cory Catfish are hardy, easy-to-care-for fish and are a staple in most freshwater aquariums. There are many different Cory Catfish types, all varying in size and color, but any of these variations can make great tank mates for Giant Danios. They tend to stick to the bottom of the tank, where Danios rarely go, so they’ll likely stay out of one another’s space.

2. Dwarf Spotted Danio (Danio nigrofasciatus) — Great for small tanks

What better tank mate for your Giant Danio than their smaller spotted cousin? The Dwarf Danio is a beautiful schooling fish that has similar tank requirements to Giant Danios and is easy to care for, making them ideal tank mates. These fish enjoy plants to hide in and find safety in numbers, so you’ll need a small school of at least eight fish to avoid them being seen as prey.

3. Clown Loaches (Chromobotia macracanthus)

Any species of loach is a great addition to your aquarium, but Clown Loaches are a unique and beautiful addition in particular. They are extremely social fish and can coexist peacefully with almost any fish, including Giant Danios. They are common tank mates in many home aquariums. They are also an amusing species to observe because they are active during the day but tend to hide away at night.

4. Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlid (Apistogramma agassizii)

Agassiz’s Dwarf Cichlids are omnivores, but in the wild, they tend toward a more carnivorous diet. This means they are great tank mates for various fish but shouldn’t be kept with smaller fish that may be seen as prey. This is no problem with Giant Danios, though. Since these fish tend to stick to the bottom of the tank, where they enjoy digging into the substrate, they are great tank mates for your Danios.

5. Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

The beautiful Angelfish has one of the most unique appearances of freshwater fish, with their iconic dorsal and pectoral fins and fan-shaped caudal fin. Provided that they have plenty of space to swim, these fish are docile and non-aggressive, although they may see smaller fish as prey. They prefer living in schools of six or more and make ideal tank mates for a wide variety of fish species, including Danios.

6. Clown Pleco (Panaque maccus)

Plecos in general make great tank mates for Giant Danios, but our favorite is the Clown Pleco. This unique-looking fish is a popular addition to aquariums due to their beautiful appearance, docile nature, and being so easy to care for. These fish are common tank mates for many fish species for these reasons too. Since they generally stay at the bottom of the aquarium, they make wonderful Danio tank mates.

7. Cardinal Tetras (Paracheirodon axelrodi)

The beautifully colored Cardinal Tetra is a tranquil, peaceful fish that will bring a sense of calm and peace to your aquarium. These fish tend to school in the presence of larger fish, like Giant Danios, and thus they will make great tank mates. They are one of the most popular species of small tetra fish for community aquariums, along with their cousins, the Neon Tetra, because they are easy to care for and as peaceful as they come.

8. Tiger Barb (Barbus tetrazona)

Tiger Barbs are popular fish for freshwater aquariums because they are entertaining to watch and relatively easy to care for. Barbs tend to live near the bottom of the aquarium, so they will stay out of the way of your Danios. Tiger Barbs are known to be somewhat aggressive at times and tend to nip at fish with long, flowing fins, so there is debate as to whether they should be kept in a community tank. That said, if you keep them in small schools of six or more and they have the space to stay away from fish with long fins, like Danios, they are generally fine.

9. White Cloud Mountain Minnow (Tanichthys micagemmae)

These small schooling fish are peaceful and docile and have long been used as tank mates for a wide variety of fish species. They are also hardy fish and are undemanding when it comes to water quality, so they are ideal for beginners. They need to be kept in schools of at least six, though preferably a dozen; otherwise, they will hide away most of the time. Large schools will also help them not be viewed as prey by your Danio!

10. Mystery Snail (Pomacea bridgesii)

The Mystery Snail is a great addition to any aquarium because they eat any algae and will help keep your tank clean and healthy. They also eat dead plants and allow trapped nutrients to be released back into the environment. They can live happily with Giant Danios because if your Danio approaches them, they will simply hunker down in their shells. They come in a range of beautiful colors, including black, gold, and purple, and are certainly unique tank mates for your Danios.

What Makes a Good Tank Mate for Giant Danios?

Giant Danios are fairly active fish, so they should be kept with fish that are just as active because they can potentially stress slow swimmers. They are rarely aggressive, so there is a wide range of tank mates that they can peacefully live with, though they will prey on any smaller fish that can fit in their mouth. Smaller fish can be fine if they are kept in schools of six or more and live in a different level of the aquarium, but there is still always a chance that your Danio may snack on them if given the chance.

Where Do Giant Danio Fish Prefer to Live in the Aquarium?

In general, Giant Danios don’t have too much of a preference of an aquarium level but don’t visit the bottom much and tend to stick to the middle and top levels. They prefer long, deep tanks that have plenty of tall plants for them to swim through and hide in. Having various plants in their tank will make them feel safe.

Water Parameters

In the wild, Giant Danios are found primarily in fast-flowing streams, living in fairly large shoals. They originate in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and western India, where the water temperature is fairly moderate and not too warm. In captivity, they’ll need a water temperature of between 72 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (22-27 degrees Celsius) and a pH of between 6 and 8. Since their natural habitat is fast-flowing rivers, a strong filtration unit to provide water current will be welcomed by your Danio.

Size

Giant Danios have an elongated body with a torpedo-like shape and come in various colors. They are one of the largest of the Danio species, averaging out at around 4 inches long, with some captive specimens reaching up to 6 inches in length.

Aggressive Behaviors

Giant Danios are generally peaceful, non-aggressive fish, but if they don’t have enough space in their tank, they are known to become territorial and aggressive. They may also bully smaller fish in the tank, but again, this is usually due to a lack of space. Since these fish tend to live in large shoals in the wild, you’ll want to keep at least six together at a time; otherwise, they may feel intimidated and act aggressively.

Benefits of Having Tank Mates for Giant Danios in Your Aquarium

While Giant Danios don’t necessarily need tank mates in their aquarium, there are two main benefits for doing so:

Conclusion

Since Giant Danios are generally such peaceful and non-aggressive fish, there is a wide variety of suitable tank mates for them, and this list merely contains a few of our personal favorites. Any fish that inhabit the bottom of the tank, that are not too much smaller than your Danios or live in schools, or that are bigger than your Danios are generally great tank mates. Danios do have a tendency for fin-nipping if they are not given enough tank space, though, so fish with long, flowing fins may be nipped at occasionally.

That said, as long as your Danio has more than enough space and their tank conditions are ideal, they are generally peaceful fish that can happily live with many other species.

You might be interested: 7 Best Tank Mates For Apistogramma

Featured Image Credit: slowmotiongli, Shutterstock