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Species profile

Interrupted Line Danio

Devario interruptus

Common names: Interrupted Line Danio

Recognized speciesDanios
Interrupted Line Danio (Devario interruptus)

Adult size

Up to 6 cm

Typical adult length 4.5–6 cm.

Up to 6 cm

Countries of origin

  • See all stock from China

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

  • Keepers able to maintain an active school of at least 10 fish.
  • Mature freshwater aquariums with open swimming room, good oxygenation, and regular maintenance.

Think carefully if

  • The aquarium is shorter than 90 cm or cannot hold at least 8 fish.
  • Tankmates are slow, long-finned, very timid, or small enough to be intimidated or eaten.
  • You need a species with extensive, well-established aquarium husbandry records; information for this fish remains limited.

Interrupted Line Danio is a small to medium schooling danio requiring a group, a secure lid, clean oxygen-rich water, and at least 100 litres.

Appearance and Identification

A silver-blue Devario whose dark horizontal lines break into short bars and spots along the body.

The interrupted stripe pattern gives the species its common name. Similar Devario should be checked against locality data.

Adult females are generally fuller-bodied and slightly larger. Mature males are usually slimmer and show stronger colour, especially during courtship.

Tank Requirements

Suggested filter
About 400–500 litres an hour
Suggested heater
About 100–150 W for this tank
Minimum tank volume
100 litres
Minimum tank length
90 cm
Minimum group size
8
Recommended group size
10
Activity level
High
Flow preference
High
Planting preference
Moderately planted
Hiding places
Yes
Lid recommended
Yes
Jumping risk
High

Aquarium information for this uncommon species is limited, so conservative husbandry and careful observation are advised. Keep a group of at least 8 in an aquarium at least 90 cm long.

Provide open swimming space, secure cover, efficient filtration, and strong but broken-up water movement. Use plants, wood, and rounded stone around the margins while preserving a clear central swimming area.

Direct the current through open water but leave calmer pockets behind plants, wood, or stone so every fish can rest without being forced against the flow.

Behaviour and Tankmates

Interrupted Line Danio is a social, active schooling fish that should be maintained with its own kind. Most chasing is part of normal group interaction, but cramped quarters or a group that is too small can concentrate aggression.

Maintain at least 8, preferably 10 or more. A larger group produces more natural schooling and spreads chasing. Not truly territorial, although males may spar or defend short-lived display positions within the group.

Choose peaceful, similarly active fish that share the same temperature and water requirements. Very slow, timid, or long-finned tankmates may be stressed by constant movement or persistent feeding competition. Small shrimp and shrimplets may be eaten.

Check tankmates for this species

Water Parameters

Temperature
18–26 °C
pH
6–7.5
GH
1–8
KH
0–5
TDS
30–180
Stability importance
Important

Keep the water clean and oxygen-rich. Soft to moderately hard water is preferable, with no sudden chemistry changes.

Parameter caveat
Do not chase a precise number at the expense of stability. Acclimate slowly, match the supplier's water where practical, and change mineral content gradually.

Feeding

Diet types
Insectivore, Omnivore
Feeding frequency
Daily
Preferred foods
  • Quality micro pellets or flakesUse as the staple and choose a size that can be swallowed easily.
  • Artemia and DaphniaOffer regularly for conditioning, colour, and natural feeding behaviour.
  • Small frozen invertebrate foodsUse suitable portions and avoid large, tough pieces for small species.

An active omnivore that feeds near the surface on insects. Flake and frozen foods suit it.

Feed small portions once or twice daily. Active danios feed quickly, so check that slower tankmates receive food.

Breeding

Breeding type
Egg Scatterer
Breeding difficulty
Difficult
Breeding temperature
23 °C
Breeding pH
6.8
Brood or egg count
Usually several dozen to low hundreds of eggs, depending on adult size and condition.
Incubation
2 days
Parental care
None
Baby foods
  • Infusoria or very fine fry foodUse for the smallest newly free-swimming fry.
  • MicrowormsIntroduce once fry can take moving foods.
  • Newly hatched Artemia naupliiUse after the fry are large enough to swallow nauplii.

An egg-scattering spawner with no parental care. Condition adults well, then use fine-leaved plants, spawning mops, mesh, or marbles to protect eggs from the adults. Remove the breeders after spawning and raise the fry on infusoria or very fine prepared food before moving to microworms and Artemia nauplii. For uncommon species, keep detailed notes on temperature, timing, adult condition, and fry growth because dependable species-specific aquarium reports may be limited.

Habitat and Origin

Geographic origin
Asia, China, Southeast Asia
Natural habitat
Fast-Flowing Stream, Freshwater Stream
Aquarium contexts
Freshwater Aquarium, Freshwater Community, High-Flow Aquarium, Planted Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
Audience level
Specialist

Classification

Profile type
Recognized species
Genus
Devario
Family
Danionidae
Species group
Danios, Fish
Previous scientific names
Danio interruptus, Former generic placement.

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