Kedah danio

Danio tweediei also known as the Kedah danio is a fish species of the family Cyprinidae. Originating from Southeast Asia in southern Thailand, Kedah, and Sumatra, this fish is rarely found in the fish-keeping hobby, usually accidentally mixed with the pearl danio.

The fish is similar to D. albolineatus, but is easily distinguished from it by virtue of its markings. It has a prominent, almost luminous, brilliant orange line from the tail to below the dorsal, which in some specimens extends almost to the gills. Below this is a steel- or powder-blue line. Above the main orange line is a further fainter blue line which diminidhes below the dorsal and below the main blue line a further faint orange line which, again, usually expires under the dorsal. In some specimens, a faint mottle of blue and orange spots is visible on the chest below the orange and blue lines. In the female, the main orange line often has a slight kink below the dorsal.

When in sunlight, the Kedah danio shines in steel blue and purple and can be (and frequently has been) mistaken for Danio kerri, but it lacks the broad blue band, more yellow coloration, and deeper body of D. kerri.

It was described by Dr Martin Brittan in 1956 and named after Dr Tweedie, Director of the Raffles Museum and Library, Singapore. Subsequently, it was deemed to be a synonym of Danio albolineatus, a status which may or may not become permanent. Danio tweediei is a valid species not a colour morph of D. albolineatus.^[1]

The Kedah danio is a peaceful, active, schooling fish that is usually kept in groups. They prefer a well-planted environment, but still need plenty of space to school. Kedah danios prefer water with a 6.5 to 7.0 pH, a hardness of 8 to 12 dGH, and a temperature range of 70 to 77 °F (21 to 25 °C).

Kedah danios are egg-scatterers that spawn over a coarse gravel bed (marbles or java moss are often used by hobbyists). They will typically spawn at the first light of day. The eggs will hatch in about 36 to 48 hours.

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