Danios enjoy the longest tank you can afford them (an easy extravagance with such tiny fish.) A small stream or riverine tank can be established with a substrate of gravel, small stones or water-worn small, variably-sized boulders. Driftwood, branches and plants serve multiple purposes—décor, cover and, in the case of the plants, increased biological filtration. Anubias and water ferns are recommended both for their ability to be secured to driftwood and rocks as well as their hardiness in a tank with a moderately strong current. Likewise, you could opt for a plants native to a Southeast Asian shallow water habitat by opting instead for cryptocorynes and java moss. D. choprae is a tiny, shy, nervous fish and is much more extroverted and secure in a tank well-planted with either live or artificial plants, especially one that has the occasional open space for strong bursts of swimming. For best success, low lighting (of 45 – 60 watts) is recommended. This might be accomplished by keeping the tank by a window with moderate morning sunlight. With higher light and the addition of CO2, both plants grow quickly and lushly, so ensure your water column contains the sufficient nutrients. Both darker substrate and plants have the effect of brightening the coloration of the fish. Their colors are lustrous and most prismatic in morning light and under full-spectrum lighting. Begin with mature, cycled water that is pH neutral and between 66.2 – 75.2°F (19 – 24°C.) Water hardness is fairly flexible, ranging from soft to moderately hard water. A tank may run with fairly calm water or an airstone or powerhead may be added to boost saturated oxygen and circulation in set-ups simulating streams. Remember to balance the diminutive size of this fish, the aquarium size and the increased current/circulation of powerheads and airstones. This fish is a surface feeder and over-bearing currents can make something as essential as feeding exhausting. Ensure stretches of calmer water for resting, simulating marginal areas in their natural habitats. Excellent filtration as well as 20 – 30% water changes performed, at minimum, bi-weekly, are recommended as D. choprae is sensitive to water quality. Danio are strong swimmers and are prone to jumping, so be sure to provide a tight-fitting lid for your aquarium. One of the most colorful, peaceful and interesting fish for longer nano tanks as these are brisk, avid swimmers. They excel in groups of 8 – 10 or greater, with males demonstrating brighter colors as they compete with rivals for the attention of females and are best kept in a ratio of 1 male to 2 females. Males can be territorial, a behavior which can be reduced by keeping a greater number of fish. Peaceful, similarly-sized tankmates could include other smaller danios, corydoras, kilifish, livebearers, microdevarios, microrasboras, otocinclus, pseudomugils and even invertebrates such as shrimp and snails. D. choprae are native to streams, so loaches such as Acanthocobitis botia or Botia kubotai would also be natural additions. One endearing trait of danios is their ability to be dither fish, calming others and assuring them freedom from predation with the regular, whirling motion of their swimming patterns, coaxing more nervous fish out of hiding.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Listed tank sizes are the minimum
Size:
Male/unsexed: 1.22 in (3.1 cm)
Tank:
School of 6: 15 gallons (56.8 liters) or larger.
Strata:
Bottom (benthopelagic)
pH:
pH range: 6.0 – 7.0
Hardness:
Soft to medium. dH range: 5 – 19.
Temperature:
66°F to 75°F (19-24°C)