Cosmic Blue Longfin Danio GloFish® - Brachydanio rerio var. "Cosmic Blue Glofish" : Complete Fish Profile & Care Guide

Breeding

Cosmic Blue Zebra Danio Glofish are widely recognized for their abundant breeding, making them an ideal starting point for novice aquarists looking to immerse themselves in the fascinating realm of fish breeding. A charming facet of their breeding behaviour lies in their generally monogamous nature. Once a pair has successfully spawned, they tend to form life-long bonds, seldom spawning with others, even in the face of a partner's departure.

To facilitate successful pairing, it's advisable to introduce a group of at least six juveniles into the aquarium, which enables them to naturally select their mates. As you gear up for the breeding phase, make sure the tank meets the optimal conditions. This requires a shallow water level and a variety of fine-leaved plants, such as Java moss, offering an ideal hiding place. Furthermore, a layer of coarse gravel, small stones, or marbles is recommended for the tank floor to create a secure environment for egg deposition and to keep the adult fish from reaching the eggs.

Once the eggs have been scattered post-spawning, it's crucial to immediately remove the adult pair to safeguard the eggs from potential predation. Female Zebra Danios are remarkably fecund, capable of laying anywhere from 50 to 500 eggs. These eggs typically hatch within a surprisingly brief span of just two days.

As the newly emerged fry appear, they should be fed finely crushed flake food, suitably sized for their minuscule mouths. For their safety and optimal growth, it's recommended to keep the fry separate from the adult fish. Within approximately 12 weeks, these small creatures can be expected to reach full maturity.

Now, here's an exciting fact: Zebra Danios, despite their small size, are astonishingly swift swimmers. They can achieve speeds of up to 23 body lengths per second! This makes them not only an entertaining spectacle for the viewer but also an intriguing subject for studying fish swimming biomechanics.

However, it's important to note some significant restrictions when it comes to the breeding and selling of the Blue Zebra Danio Glofish variant. The Glofish brand has a patent on these genetically engineered fish, meaning it's illegal to breed and sell them without a license. This legislation applies not just in the countries where Glofish are permitted for commercial sale, like the U.S., but also in places where they're not available commercially. Therefore, any attempts at breeding Glofish should be for personal enjoyment and not for commercial purposes. These regulations are in place to prevent the uncontrolled spread of genetically modified organisms in the environment.

Diet & Feeding

Cosmic Blue Zebra Longfin Danio Glofish are not picky eaters, demonstrating a broad palette that accommodates an array of food types, including flakes, pellets, wafers, and both live or freeze-dried foods. It is crucial, however, to ensure that their food floats on the water's surface, as this is their preferred feeding location. They exhibit an interesting behaviour in that, while they may chase food items sinking through the water column, they generally avoid consuming those that have settled on the tank bottom.

To promote a balanced diet and overall health, it's advisable to incorporate vegetable matter into their meals. This could be achieved through adding specially formulated veggie wafers or flakes into their diet. For optimal nutrition and vitality, Zebra Danios should be fed multiple times throughout the day.

An interesting fact about the Zebra Danio's feeding habits is that their preference for surface feeding is not only about preference but also about survival. In the wild, food that sinks to the bottom of a body of water often decomposes and can be harmful if ingested. Therefore, Zebra Danios' inclination for surface feeding is an adaptation that helps them avoid potential food sources that could be harmful.