Galaxy Rasbora

• Scientific Name: Celestichthys margaritatus (previous scientific name: Microrasbora Galaxy)
• Temperature: 24 C (75 F)
• GH: 9 dGH (about 150 ppm)
• Size: about 1 inch; 1.5 – 3 cm (female often only 1.5 cm)
• Location: Myanmar

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. 
When this fish first appeared on the Internet forums, many thought that this fish was the result of an ardent Photoshopper. This fish caught the fish keeping world by storm with many people clamouring to get their hands on this elusive fish.

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. Since then, exportation is estimated to have reached 10 times that amount, mainly to Japan, North America, and Europe.