Fire Ring Danio (Brachydanio kyathit) School

The Fire Ring Danio (Brachydanio kyathit) known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Red Fin Danio, Orange Fin Danio, or Ocelot Danio, was discovered in 2006 in Myanmar (Burma) in Southeast Asia.

Native to the upper regions of three right bank tributaries of the upper Ayeyarwaddy near Myitkyina, the Hpa-Lap Chaung, Mogaung, and Chindwin rivers in Myanmar, wild Fire Ring Danios are found in a variety of habitats, ranging from fast moving streams to slow flowing, almost stagnant ponds.   They are frequently collected from small, clear, shaded streams with fast flowing water with a mud and small stone substrate.

Fire Ring Danios (Brachydanio or Danio kyathit) are a small, peaceful, schooling species that are close relatives to the common zebra danio.

Fire Ring Danio (Brachydanio kyathit)

They are similar to the Gold Ring Danio (Brachydanio tinwini) but are a bit larger.   There are two currently recognized color morphs known to tropical fish keeping enthusiasts as the Orange Fin Danio and a spotted variety commonly called as the Ocelot Danio, however, several unnamed variations of the spotted and striped forms exist in Myanmar with over ten species in the genus endemic to the country.

Adult Orange Finned Fire Ring Danios have an elongated body with a brightly colored yellow/orange body with 5 to 7 dark brown to black stripes or spots covering the mid to lower portion of the flank from the gills to the tail.

The overall silver/gold body color of the Kyathit Orange Finned Fire Ring Danio is accented by a warm

Fire Ring Danio (Brachydanio kyathit)

copper orange, almost metallic sheen.   The perimeter of the body displays the deepest orange coloration around the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins.

Male Fire Ring Danios are more colorful than females, especially during the breeding season, and females are more heavily bodied.

The Fire Ring Danio is a good candidate for a peaceful community aquarium.   Good tank mates include small tetras, other danios, small corydoras, and other peaceful species of the same size.

Brachydanio kyathit are best kept in groups of at least 6 specimens in a densely planted, dimly lit aquarium of at least 20 gallon capacity with a dark sand or fine gravel substrate, some water worn pebbles, and a piece or two of driftwood or bogwood for cover.

Fire Ring Danios are active swimmers that require a lot of free swimming area in the tank.   They also do best in clean, slightly turbid water, so a bio wheel type filter with a small power head is highly recommended.

All danios are jumpers, so a tightly fitting aquarium cover or a layer of floating plants is suggested to prevent jumping and diffuse overhead lighting.

Fire Ring Danios are egg scatterers that can easily be raised in an aquarium environment.   Place a breeding pair in a half filled tank with some Java Moss, other fine leaved plants, or a breeding mop, and feed them live daphnia or live brine shrimp until they show signs of breeding activity.   Keep the pH in the breeding tank around 7.0 and the water temperature raised to 75 – 78 °F.   When the fish show signs of breeding, top the tank off with some slightly cooler water to induce spawning.

The fish will spawn in batches on the vegetation in the tank.   When spawning is completed, remove the pair into the community tank.
The eggs will hatch in 24 to 36 hours.   When the fry are free swimming they can be fed newly hatched brine shrimp or commercially prepared fry food.

In their natural habitat, Fire Ring Danios feed on insects and insect larvae.   In an aquarium environment they will accept a variety of live, frozen, or freeze dried foods.    Quality flakes, micro pellets, brine shrimp, daphnia, moria, microworms, etc. are all eagerly accepted.

Although the Fire Ring Danio (Brachydanio kyathit) is commercially farmed in Southeast Asia for the tropical fish keeping hobby, they are still a relatively rare commodity in tropical fish shops.    They are available online from dealers, importers, and fish keeping forums at reasonable prices when they are 1″ to 1.5″ in length.

Fire Ring Danio (Brachydanio kyathit)

Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Care Level: Easy
Temperament: Peaceful
Aquarium Hardiness: Hardy
Water Conditions: 74-79° F, KH 2-10, pH 6.5-7.8
Max. Size: 1.75″
Color Form: Brown, Orange
Diet: Omnivore
Compatibility: peaceful community tanks
Origin: Myanmar, Farm raised in Southeast Asia
Family: Cyprinidae
Lifespan: up to 5 years
Aquarist Experience Level: Beginner