Danionella cerebrum Care Guide
Danionella cerebrum is a tiny translucent Myanmar cyprinid, one of the smallest vertebrates and a model organism in neuroscience.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Danionella cerebrum is a miniature, optically translucent cyprinid described in 2021 by Ralf Britz, Kevin W. Conway and Lukas Rüber. Most internal organs are visible through the skin, and an open skull roof leaves the brain externally visible. These traits make it a prime model organism for cellular-level neurophysiology. Males also produce an unusually loud sound for their size.
Taxonomy
- Family: Cyprinidae (subfamily Danioninae; also placed in Danionidae)
- Genus: Danionella
- Scientific name: Danionella cerebrum
- Described by: Britz, Conway & Rüber, 2021
Habitat
It occurs in streams on the southern and eastern slopes of the Bago Yoma mountain range in Myanmar, including the Yangon (Bago) area. These are relatively turbid, low-altitude freshwater streams and roadside canals, with reported surface temperatures around 30 °C and cooler water (about 25 °C) below 30 cm depth.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 30 L
- Temperature: 22-27 °C (72-81 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- GH: 4-12 °dGH
- School size: at least 10 individuals
- Lifespan: 2-3 years
A planted aquarium with gentle filtration and low flow is recommended. As an extremely small, fragile species it should be kept in a calm tank, ideally on its own or with comparably tiny companions.
Diet
It is a micropredator that requires very small foods such as finely crushed dried foods, Artemia nauplii, microworm and sifted Daphnia. Several small daily feedings are appropriate for a fish of this size.
Compatibility
The species is peaceful and stays in mid-water. Only similarly tiny, slow-moving fishes with matching water needs make suitable companions; larger or active species will out-compete or prey on it and should be avoided. It also swims in a slower, more continuous manner than the zebrafish.
Breeding
Like its relatives it is an egg-scattering spawner. Members of the genus deposit eggs on the substrate, and fry are very small, requiring infusoria and other micro-foods before taking larger items.
Cerebrum Danionella (Danionella cerebrum) Breeding Guide
Overview
Danionella cerebrum is among the smallest vertebrates known, an optically translucent cyprinid endemic to Myanmar, with adults of 10-13.5 mm (Wikipedia). It is a noted neuroscience model because its open skull roof and transparent body allow direct brain imaging, and males are famous for producing exceptionally loud sounds reported at around 140 decibels. Females reach sexual maturity at roughly 6 to 8 weeks of age and produce small clutches of about 12 eggs per spawning event.
Sexing
Males possess a robust os suspensorium and drumming cartilage linked to the swim bladder for sound production, structures that are absent or weakly developed in females. Males begin producing clicks at about two months of age, while ripe females show eggs through the transparent body (Wikipedia).
Conditioning
Hold a settled group and condition on small foods to bring females into their roughly 12-egg spawning rhythm. The early maturity (about 6-8 weeks) means a colony can recruit quickly once stable conditions are established.
Breeding Setup
- Mature, gently filtered nano tank reflecting the stream habitat (Wikipedia).
- Fine substrate or moss so small eggs settle out of reach.
- Near-neutral, soft water; the natural habitat is recorded at about 25 C with pH 7.4-7.5 and very soft water of 20-100 microsiemens, while the keeping range used is 22-27 C, pH 6.5-7.5 and 4-12 dGH.
- Stable conditions favour continuous small spawns of about 12 eggs.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Females produce small clutches of roughly 12 eggs per spawning event in a settled colony rather than one large batch (Wikipedia). Maintaining a stable, mature nano tank with a permanent group is the practical trigger for repeated small spawns.
Egg & Fry Care
The sound-producing apparatus develops around four weeks after hatching, indicating rapid fry development; the resulting fry are extremely small and require the finest first foods. A separate, undisturbed grow-out area helps the tiny young survive.
Common Challenges
The very small adult size, small clutches and fragility make population growth gradual despite the early maturity. As an advanced species, success depends on stable soft water, a permanent group and consistent micro-foods.