Aquariumrasbora & danio · freshwater
Giant Danio: adult size, tank size & tankmates
The Giant Danio (Devario aequipinnatus) grows to about 3.5 in (7.5 cm SL). It needs a tank at least 47 inches long and about 64 gallons. Keep at least 8 together, at 61–79°F.
How big it really gets
Drawn to scale against common tank lengths. Green bars meet the minimum tank length from our sources.
Outgrows most home tanks. Sold as small juveniles next to zebra danios but SF wants a 120 x 45 cm base for this active schooling fish.
Will it fit your tank?
Quick facts
- Adult size
- 3.5 in (7.5 cm SL)
- Minimum tank
- 47 inches long and about 64 gallons
- Temperature
- 61–79°F
- pH
- 6–8
- Hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- Group size
- 8+
- With other fish
- peaceful
- With its own kind
- peaceful
- Swims
- top of the tank
- Diet
- omnivore
- Care level
- beginner
- Lifespan
- not stated in sources
Watch for: may eat baby shrimp · jumps, so keep a lid
Giant Danio tankmates
Checked with the same rules as our tank builder: temperature overlap, pH and hardness, predation and mouth size, fin-nipping and temperament. Tank size is left out here; check it in the builder.
Good tankmates
- Neon TetraAdult ~1.4 in · 70–77°F
- Cardinal TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–84°F
- Harlequin RasboraAdult ~2.1 in · 70–82°F
- Ember TetraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Chili RasboraAdult ~0.9 in · 68–82°F
- Celestial Pearl DanioAdult ~1 in · 68–79°F
- Cherry BarbAdult ~2.4 in · 68–81°F
- Rummy-nose TetraAdult ~2.4 in · 73–79°F
- Black Neon TetraAdult ~1.7 in · 73–82°F
- Glowlight TetraAdult ~1.9 in · 75–82°F
Use caution
- AngelfishNeeds careAngelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio.
- Cherry ShrimpGiant Danio may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Amano ShrimpGiant Danio may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Mystery SnailGiant Danio (pH 6–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.
- Bamboo ShrimpGiant Danio may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- Blood Parrot CichlidOutgrows tanksBlood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio.
- Crystal Red ShrimpGiant Danio may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets.
- DiscusNeeds careGiant Danio and Discus only share 79–79°F. That's a tight window.
Avoid
- German Blue RamNeeds careGiant Danio (61–79°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Boesemani RainbowfishGiant Danio (61–79°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures.
- Chinese Algae EaterOutgrows tanksChinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Giant Danio is peaceful.
- Convict CichlidNeeds careConvict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Giant Danio is peaceful.
- Iridescent SharkOutgrows tanksIridescent Shark eats small fish, and Giant Danio only grows to about 3.5 in.
- OscarOutgrows tanksOscar eats small fish, and Giant Danio only grows to about 3.5 in.
All 105 species we checked against the Giant Danio
| Species | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| African Dwarf Frog | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Assassin Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bala Shark | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Betta | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Black Skirt Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bleeding Heart Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bolivian Ram | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bristlenose Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bronze Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Buenos Aires Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Bumblebee Goby | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cardinal Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Celestial Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cherry Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Chili Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Killifish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Clown Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common / Comet Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Common Pleco | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Congo Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Denison Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Diamond Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Electric Yellow Lab | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ember Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Endler's Livebearer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Fancy Goldfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Forktail Blue-eye | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glass Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Glowlight Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Gold Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Guppy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Harlequin Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Head-and-tail-light Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Hillstream Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Honey Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Japanese Trapdoor Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Julii Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kribensis | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Kuhli Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lambchop Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Lemon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Malaysian Trumpet Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Marbled Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Molly | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Moonlight Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Neon Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Nerite Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Odessa Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Otocinclus | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Panda Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Paradise Fish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pea Puffer | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pearl Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Penguin Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Peppered Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pristella Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Pygmy Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Ramshorn Snail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rosy Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Rummy-nose Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Scissortail Rasbora | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Serpae Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Siamese Algae Eater | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Hatchetfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Silver Tip Tetra | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sparkling Gourami | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Sterbai Cory | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Swordtail | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tiger Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Tinfoil Barb | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Upside-down Catfish | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Variatus Platy | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Weather Loach | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| White Cloud Mountain Minnow | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Zebra Danio | Compatible | No conflicts found |
| Amano Shrimp | Caution | Giant Danio may eat baby Amano Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Angelfish | Caution | Angelfish can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio. |
| Bamboo Shrimp | Caution | Giant Danio may eat baby Bamboo Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Blood Parrot Cichlid | Caution | Blood Parrot Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio. |
| Cherry Shrimp | Caution | Giant Danio may eat baby Cherry Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Crystal Red Shrimp | Caution | Giant Danio may eat baby Crystal Red Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Discus | Caution | Giant Danio and Discus only share 79–79°F. That's a tight window. |
| Electric Blue Acara | Caution | Electric Blue Acara can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio. |
| Firemouth Cichlid | Caution | Firemouth Cichlid can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio. |
| Ghost Shrimp | Caution | Giant Danio may eat baby Ghost Shrimp. Adults are usually safe, but expect fewer shrimplets. |
| Kissing Gourami | Caution | Kissing Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio. |
| Mystery Snail | Caution | Giant Danio (pH 6–8) and Mystery Snail (pH unknown) prefer different pH.; Giant Danio (2–15 dGH) and Mystery Snail (unknown dGH) prefer different water hardness. |
| Pictus Catfish | Caution | Pictus Catfish can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio. |
| Rainbow Shark | Caution | Rainbow Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio. |
| Red-Tail Shark | Caution | Red-Tail Shark can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio. |
| Three-spot Gourami | Caution | Three-spot Gourami can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio. |
| Yoyo Loach | Caution | Yoyo Loach can bully smaller, peaceful Giant Danio. |
| Boesemani Rainbowfish | Avoid | Giant Danio (61–79°F) and Boesemani Rainbowfish (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Chinese Algae Eater | Avoid | Chinese Algae Eater is aggressive toward tankmates. Giant Danio is peaceful. |
| Convict Cichlid | Avoid | Convict Cichlid is aggressive toward tankmates. Giant Danio is peaceful. |
| German Blue Ram | Avoid | Giant Danio (61–79°F) and German Blue Ram (81–86°F) need different temperatures. |
| Iridescent Shark | Avoid | Iridescent Shark eats small fish, and Giant Danio only grows to about 3.5 in. |
| Oscar | Avoid | Oscar eats small fish, and Giant Danio only grows to about 3.5 in. |
Care notes
Needs: Very active open-water swimmer needing a long tank and tight lid; its pace can stress slow or timid tankmates; keep with robust similar-sized fish
Group: SF: group of at least 8-10; FishBase: groups of 5 or more; larger figure used
Temperament: peaceful toward other fish, peaceful toward its own kind. Lives in the top of the tank.
Common questions
How big does a Giant Danio get?
About 3.5 inches (7.5 cm SL) as an adult, according to seriouslyfish.com.
What size tank does a Giant Danio need?
At least 47 inches long and about 64 gallons. The smallest standard tank that meets that is a 75 gallon.
How many Giant Danios should be kept together?
At least 8. SF: group of at least 8-10; FishBase: groups of 5 or more; larger figure used
What fish can live with a Giant Danio?
Species that passed every check include Neon Tetra, Cardinal Tetra, Harlequin Rasbora, Ember Tetra, Chili Rasbora, Celestial Pearl Danio.
Gear for a Giant Danio setup
TankSmallest standard tank that meets its minimum: 75 gallon (48 in long).Find on Amazon →HeaterAbout 2 × 200 W for 75 gallons, holding 61–79°F.Find on Amazon →LidIt jumps. A full lid keeps it in the tank.Find on Amazon →FoodA quality flake or micro-pellet as a staple.Find on Amazon →Test kitCheck ammonia, nitrite and pH. Cycle the tank before adding fish.Find on Amazon →
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Related guides
Sources
Values come from these pages, in our own words. Status: verified (independent spot-check). Last reviewed 2026-10-12.
- seriouslyfish.com /species/devario-aequipinnatus/
- fishbase.se /summary/Devario-aequipinnatus.html