Meghalayensis Danio

Danio meghalayensis is endemic to the Meghalaya hills of northeast India, where it inhabits cool, fast-flowing, rocky streams with high oxygen content and clear water. It is rarely encountered in the aquarium hobby, making it a desirable rarity for specialists. The body is silvery-blue with subtle iridescence, and the fish shares the streamlined, torpedo-shaped build of other hill-stream danios. In captivity it demands cool, well-oxygenated, very clean water and will not tolerate elevated temperatures, poor water quality, or stagnant conditions. A strong filter with a spray bar outlet to create surface turbulence is essential. Compatible with other cool-water cyprinids from similar habitats such as hillstream loaches and temperate danios. Avoid warm-water tropical species as tankmates.

Water: Temperature 18–24 °C, pH 6.5–7.5, GH 5–12; high oxygen essential — use spray bar or air stone. Tank: 60 L minimum; smooth pebbles, sand substrate, moderate to strong current; cool-water setup. Feeding: Flake, micro-pellet, frozen daphnia, cyclops; varied diet maintains health. Breeding: Rarely bred in captivity; cool, well-oxygenated water and conditioning on live foods may trigger spawning. Compatibility: Cool-water species only; pairs with hillstream loaches, temperate danios, and white clouds.