Emerald Microrasbora (Danio erythromicron)

For aquarium enthusiasts, the Emerald Microrasbora, scientifically known as Danio erythromicron, is a treasure. This little fish adds a pop of color and delicate features to any tank with its vivid colors. It is a favorite among hobbyists who wish to add a touch of elegance to their underwater world because of its shimmering scales and graceful movements.

The Emerald Microrasbora is a tiny fish that is indigenous to the streams and rivers of Myanmar. It can reach a maximum length of approximately one inch. It is small in stature, but it is charming and full of personality. Its iridescent red and green colors reflect light exquisitely, producing an eye-catching visual effect. Because of this, it’s a desirable option for people who want to set up an eye-catching aquarium.

The Emerald Microrasbora requires little maintenance, which makes it a great choice for aquarists of all skill levels. It does best in tanks with dense vegetation and calm water, where it can socialize with other similar species. This little fish can flourish in the correct conditions and bring some movement to your aquarium with a little care.

A great addition to any aquarium is the tiny but gorgeous Emerald Microrasbora (Danio erythromicron). Recognized for its vivid emerald-green hue and glittering scales, this small species infuses your tank with beauty and vitality. It’s a great option for novices and seasoned aquarists who want to add vibrant color and dynamic movement to their aquatic setup because of its tranquil nature and adaptability to different water conditions.

Habitat and Environment

Endemic to Inle Lake, Myanmar; Southeast Asia.

Originating in Shan State, eastern Myanmar, the people are native to the remote mountain lake Inle and its surrounding watershed. They also reside close to the village of Loi Kaw in neighboring Kayah State in the south.

Inle Lake is home to a variety of endemic species, including nine different species of fish and a large number of gastropods. It is situated in the Yanghoe Basin, a karst valley in the Shan Plateau region, approximately 900 meters above sea level.

With a very fertile, loamy substrate, Inle Lake boasts clean, shallow water—between two and three meters in most places.

D. erythromicron primarily congregates near the lake’s edges, where reed-like plants and grasses are found.

The lake’s pH is between 7.5 and 8.0, making it neutral or slightly alkaline due to its location in a karst zone.

Description

The back is brownish, the belly is lighter, and the body is long, thick, and mostly pinkish-orange in color.

The entire body is covered in emerald colored vertical stripes. There is a dark area with a golden border at the caudal fin’s base. The color of gill covers is reddish.

Size:

Fish that grows to a size of about 20 mm.

Behavior and compatibility

It is best to keep this shy but gorgeous schooling fish in groups of no fewer than ten, making small aquariums the ideal habitat.

It is best to keep dwarf rasboras with other small, amiable species. Additionally, when they are around fish that are comparable in size and that reside in the middle and upper layers of the water, they gain confidence. The rainbow fish, Amanda tetra, Espei rasbora, and miniature characins make the best neighbors.

Gets along well with small, calm fish of all kinds. Usually, dominant males engage in rivalry. They can pursue other students, but they won’t get into fights or get hurt. They will always hide if kept with bigger and more active species. Shrimp can be kept, but only if they are adults because they can consume babies.

Purchase as many as you can from 20 or more, as the fish are more active and less shy, more visible, and have better color when they are in this quantity.

Aquarium

It is recommended to start with a minimum basic aquarium size of 60 by 30 cm because dominant males can exhibit aggressive behavior.

This fish is timid, so it needs to be surrounded by a lot of plants. You should be able to watch them as well as swim in the designated areas. The contrast between them and the fine, dark soil makes them appear much more vibrant.

Plants should be floating on the water’s surface to stifle the fish’s fear of the intense light.

Water parameters:

In the range of 22 to 27 °C pH range: 7.0 to 8.0 Durability: 8 to 25 °DGH

Weak filtration is recommended to replicate the natural habitat of microrasbora. Additionally required are weekly water changes of roughly 30% and aeration.

Feeding

They most likely eat algae, other zooplankton, and tiny invertebrates in the wild.

Since the fish’s mouth is so small, live and frozen foods like cyclops, brine shrimp, daphnia, tubifex, and corethra are suitable. If the food is already crushed, it can also be used dry.

Brine shrimp and cyclops improve coloration and encourage spawning when they are included in the diet.

Sexual Dimorphism

The abdomens of adult females are generally rounder and slightly larger than those of adult males; their fins are transparent.

Males have reddish-orange fins and well defined vertical stripes of iridescent blue on the sides. They are also brighter overall.

Breeding

If the fish are healthy, they will spawn regularly, and in an established, heavily planted aquarium, a few fry might show up on their own.

But if you want to get more fry, you have to take a little more measured approach.

You will require a 10–20 liter spawning tank that can hold multiple pairs in order to produce enough fry. Males and females are housed apart for several weeks in order to facilitate successful spawning, and live food forms the main part of their diet during this time.

In the evening, the males and females should be released into the spawning tank first. Darkness allows them to acclimate, and spawning usually starts in the morning.

The female deposits tiny, one-millimeter-diameter amber eggs on the moss, which need to be removed right away to prevent the producers from eating them and replacing them with fresh ones.

The adults are moved to a shared aquarium after a week.

The duration of incubation is partially temperature-dependent; it typically lasts 72 hours, and after 3–4 days, the fry can swim freely.

When fry start swimming horizontally and don’t sink to the bottom, it’s time to feed them. First comes "live dust" starter food, which includes rotifers and infusoria, along with specialty dry food meant for frying. Next are brine shrimp cyclops and nauplii.

Once they are 1 cm long, fry can be moved into a regular aquarium.

Its lifespan is approximately three years, provided that all requirements are met.

Notes

Although some authors, including Kottelat and Witte (1999), temporarily placed this species in the genus Danio, it was previously included in the genus Microrasbora.

After that, species like D. flagrans, D. margaritatus, D. choprae, and D. erythromicron were reclassified and placed under the genus Celestichthys Roberts, 2007. Their distinct body coloration consists of light spots (C. margaritatus) or vertical stripes (C. erythromicron, C. choprae, and C. flagrans). They either have very short antennae or none at all. Roberts established and validated the genus Celestichthys as a synonym of the genus Danio (Kottelat, 2013).

Other researchers have since reexamined the genus Danio as a genus that encompasses Brachydanio and Celestichthys species (Kullander 2015, Kullander and Britz 2015, Kullander et al. 2015, Zhang et al. 2016). In 2016, the genus Danio was used to describe a new species, Danio htamanthinus, a miniature danio.

Common Name	Emerald Microrasbora
Scientific Name	Danio erythromicron
Origin	Myanmar
Size	Up to 2 cm
Temperament	Peaceful
Water Temperature	22-26°C (72-79°F)
Water pH	6.5-7

To sum up, the Danio erythromicron, also known as the Emerald Microrasbora, is an incredibly beautiful addition to any aquarium. Its vivid red and green coloring makes it stick out and adds life and color to any tank. This fish adds a lot to the visual appeal and activity despite its small size.

Because they are easy to care for, Emerald Microrasboras are an excellent option for both inexperienced and seasoned aquarists. They prefer to be in schools and do best in well-planted tanks with some water movement. They will stay healthy and lively if you give them a good environment and a varied diet.

All things considered, the Emerald Microrasbora is a resilient, interesting fish that can liven up your aquarium, not just a pretty face. Consider this species if you’re searching for a small fish with vibrant colors and a lively personality. These little fish will be the focal point of your aquatic setup for many years to come if given the proper care.

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