Celestial Pearl Danio

Newly Discovered Fish Facing Extinction - March 13, 2007
Release from: United Press International
HOPONG: An aquarium species discovered in Southeast Asia in August is facing possible extinction because of intense demand for the colorful fish.

The celestial pearl danio -- Celestichthys margaritatus -- was discovered by a commercial aquarium fish dealer near the town of Hopong in Myanmar, formerly Burma, along the China and Thailand borders.

Measuring less than an inch, the fish is deep blue with pearly pink or golden iridescent spots, National Geographic News reported. It lives in heavily vegetated ponds in that remote northern area.

Initially the danio's location was kept secret, but other commercial dealers soon learned of the fish, Tyson Roberts, an ichthyologist told National Geographic. Within a few months, one Thai company alone had exported about 15,000 of the fish, Roberts said, and, since then, exportation is estimated to have reached 10 times that amount, mainly to Japan, North America, and Europe.

Captive breeding may be the only way for the aquarium hobbyist to ensure a supply of the species in the future, since it reportedly is already nearly fished out in the area where it was discovered, Roberts said. He detailed the discovery in last week's issue of the journal the Raffles Bulletin of Zoology.

Comment:
According to the National Geographic, this original post was greatly exaggerated. Here is a quote from National Geographic News
“CORRECTION: The original title of this March 7, 2007, article—"Aquarium Fish Threatened With Extinction Just Months After Discovery"—exaggerated the threat to the fish, says ichthyologist Tyson Roberts, who is extensively quoted. The availability of the fish to aquarium suppliers at the discovery site is rapidly dwindling, but, as mentioned later in the article, the species most likely doesn't face a threat to its survival because other populations of the fish probably exist in areas inaccessible to fishers, he says.”

This is not to say captive breeding programs should not be started and used as a primary source for these fish for the aquarium trade.
I had an earlier post about this here: . I have read more as more information has become available, and found my own comments to be premature and even the name of this fish (along with better male pics) as gone through changes.


Here is a little more information about these beautiful fish:

Scientific Name: Celestichthys margaritatus (previous scientific name: Microrasbora Galaxy)
Temperature: 24 C (75 F)
GH: 9 dGH (about 150 ppm)
Size: 1.5 – 3 cm (female often only 1.5 cm)
Location: Myanmar