Galaxy Rasboras, also known as Celestial Pearl Danios, are one of the most colorful and sought-after nano fish for planted aquariums. Their striking pearl-like spots, bright orange fins, and peaceful temperament make them a perfect addition to shrimp tanks and nano community setups.
These small schooling fish thrive in groups of 6 or more and display their best coloration and natural behavior when kept in well-planted aquariums. Galaxy Rasboras are an excellent choice for hobbyists looking to add vibrant color without sacrificing compatibility with shrimp or other peaceful fish.
At The Shrimp Farm, we’ve worked with thousands of nano fish and specialize in shrimp-safe planted aquarium setups, giving us real-world experience with Galaxy Rasbora care, compatibility, and breeding success.
Galaxy Rasboras are considered shrimp-safe, especially with adult freshwater shrimp. In heavily planted tanks, they coexist extremely well with Neocaridina and Caridina species.
Very small baby shrimp may occasionally be eaten, but this is minimal in established tanks with dense plant cover.
Galaxy Rasboras are omnivores and thrive on a varied diet.
Recommended foods include:
Feeding a diverse diet will enhance their coloration and overall health.
Want to learn more? Check out our full Galaxy Rasbora Care Guide for detailed tips on breeding, feeding, and tank setup.
Galaxy Rasboras are peaceful nano fish that thrive with other small, non-aggressive species. Choosing the right tank mates helps reduce stress, improve coloration, and create a more active, natural-looking aquarium.
Galaxy Rasboras (Celestial Pearl Danios) are one of our favorite nano fish for planted aquariums, but they tend to do best when kept in stable, mature tanks with plenty of cover. Over the years, we’ve found that these fish display their best coloration and most natural behavior when housed in groups with dark substrate, live plants, and calm tank mates.
While Galaxy Rasboras can survive in smaller numbers, they are far more active and confident when kept in groups of at least 8–10 fish. Larger schools help reduce stress and encourage natural schooling behavior throughout the aquarium.
We’ve consistently noticed that Galaxy Rasboras show deeper colors and stronger contrast over dark substrate and in planted aquariums. Bright bare-bottom tanks often wash out their colors and make them more timid.
Newly introduced Galaxy Rasboras may hide for the first several days while adjusting to the aquarium. Once settled in and feeding consistently, they usually become much more active and visible.
These fish have small mouths and do best with:
Frequent small feedings tend to produce better coloration and healthier body condition than large feedings once per day.
Galaxy Rasboras thrive in heavily planted aquariums with:
The more secure they feel, the more natural behavior and vibrant coloration you’ll see.
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The Celestial Pearl Danio (CPD) also known as the Galaxy Rasbora is one of the most popular nano fish available today. It is our most popular fish at The Shrimp Farm as well. The CPD is striking in any planted aquarium and can usually be kept safely with shrimp.
While the small size of the CPD might make it seem compatible with other fish of the same size, they are often very shy and therefore find it difficult to find food. It is recommended to pair this fish with bottom-dwelling catfish so that they have an adequate food supply.
The Galaxy Rasbora reaches sizes between ½ inch to ¾ inch.
Galaxy Rasboras and Chili Rasboras are two of the most popular nano fish for planted aquariums, but they offer very different looks and behaviors. Galaxy Rasboras (Celestial Pearl Danios) are known for their pearl-like spotting and active personality, while Chili Rasboras stay smaller and display intense red coloration in heavily planted tanks. Both species are excellent for shrimp-safe community aquariums when kept in stable water conditions.
| Feature | Galaxy Rasbora (CPD) | Chili Rasbora |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Danio margaritatus | Boraras brigittae |
| Adult Size | ~1 inch | ~0.6–0.8 inch |
| Temperament | Peaceful but active | Extremely peaceful and shy |
| Best Tank Size | 10+ gallons | 5+ gallons |
| Ideal Group Size | 6–10+ | 10–20+ |
| Coloration | Pearl spots with orange/red fins | Bright red body with dark stripe |
| Shrimp Safe? | Yes, generally shrimp-safe | Excellent shrimp-safe fish |
| Activity Level | Moderate to active | Calm schooling behavior |
| Difficulty Level | Beginner to intermediate | Beginner-friendly |
| Best Aquascape | Planted tanks with open swimming space | Dense planted or blackwater tanks |
| Feeding Response | Strong eater | Smaller foods preferred |
| Breeding Potential | Moderate | Moderate to difficult |
Galaxy Rasboras are often the better choice for hobbyists wanting a more active centerpiece nano fish with striking patterns and personality. Chili Rasboras are ideal for ultra-peaceful shrimp colonies and heavily planted aquascapes where their bright red coloration really stands out.
If you want:
Galaxy Rasboras, also known as Celestial Pearl Danios (Danio margaritatus), are hardy and rewarding nano fish when kept in the right conditions. With proper care, they display vibrant colors, active schooling behavior, and can thrive for years in a well-maintained aquarium.
For full setup tips, feeding recommendations, and compatibility, check out our Galaxy Rasbora care guide
A planted tank mimics their natural habitat and helps them feel secure.
Stability is more important than chasing exact numbers.
Galaxy Rasboras are omnivores and do best with a varied diet:
Feed small amounts 1–2 times daily. Because of their tiny mouths, smaller foods work best.
The larger the group, the more confident and active they become.
Clean, stable water is key to long-term health.
Galaxy Rasboras can breed in home aquariums:
Separating adults increases survival rates of fry.
At a maximum size of around 2 - 2.5cm, Celestial Pearl Danios stay quite small.
We recommend no less than 2 fish per gallon (mininum of 5 gallon tank). They thrive in larger numbers of 10 or more. They become more peaceful and colorful in larger numbers.
3-5 years is the average lifespan of a Galaxy Rasbora.
Breeding Galaxy Rasboras is easy. In fact, it's a little too easy. These fish are continuous spawners. This means that they will lay eggs regularly if conditions are good. However, the fry are often eaten by the adults. So, to prevent this, set up a separate cycled breeding tank, which is the best option if you want to actively breed them. You’ll have a higher chance of preserving Galaxy Rasbora fry if you remove the adults after they’ve spawned.
Galaxy Rasboras will thrive on omnivorous type foods. They will readily eat most flake foods and algae wafers, as well as freeze-dried daphnia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp.
Galaxy Rasboras, in general, are incredibly peaceful fish and get along with other fish AND shrimp. We recommend keeping galaxy rasboras in numbers of 6 or more because they are known to thrive when schooling together.
Feel free to add shrimp, Dwarf Orange Crayfish, snails, and other peaceful fish to your tank with them. They also LOVE planted tanks and rocks due to extra nutrients and hiding places.
When adding new tankmates to your already existing tank, it is important to take the proper steps in introducing and acclimating them into their new home. The whole process is extremely stressful for the fish. Acclimation is important for fish as it allows them time to adjust to the temperature and parameters of their new environment. By doing this correctly, you will reduce the chances of shock or death of your new crayfish. We recommend drip acclimation for fish as it is generally the best option to adjust them slowly to your tank. You can find our Premium Drip Acclimation Kit here.
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