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Zebra Danio

Danio rerio

Fish · family Danionidae · order Cypriniformes

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G5: secure[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Not listed[1]
NatureServe global rank
G5 Secure[2]
Longest recorded life
5.5 years[3]

The Zebra Danio (Danio rerio) is a fish in the family Danionidae[4]. It is not native to the US, and USGS lists it as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the country[5].

Conservation status

NatureServe ranks the Zebra Danio G5 (Secure) across its whole range[2]. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS data checked on 2026-10-30[1]. In Florida and New Mexico, NatureServe gives it a state rank of SNA[6].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Not listed
NatureServe global rank[2] G5 (Secure)
USGS nonindigenous aquatic species[5] Listed as exotic in parts of the US

Where Zebra Danio lives

NatureServe lists the Zebra Danio as introduced, not native, in Florida and New Mexico[7]. Its notes also say the fish is known from California and Connecticut[8]. They suggest the fish got there from fish farms or aquarium releases[8].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: not recordedMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: introduced, state rank SNANMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: not recordedNCSouth Carolina: not recordedSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: not recordedLAMississippi: not recordedMSAlabama: not recordedALGeorgia: not recordedGAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: not recordedTXFlorida: introduced, state rank SNAFLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[6].
Show state ranks (2 states)
StateRankMeaning
FloridaSNANot Applicable
New MexicoSNANot Applicable

Habitat

NatureServe records the Zebra Danio in creeks, spring brooks and low gradient waters[9]. Its notes describe it living in canals in California and Florida, in a spring in New Mexico and in streams in Connecticut[8].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[9]

Lifespan

The oldest known Zebra Danio in the AnAge database lived in captivity[3]. That is a record, not what a typical fish lives.

Trait Value
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[3] 5.5 years (captivity)

Questions people ask

Is the Zebra Danio endangered?
No. It is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it G5 (Secure) globally[2].
Where does the Zebra Danio live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as introduced in Florida and New Mexico[7]. It is also known from California and Connecticut[8].
Is the Zebra Danio native to the US?
No. USGS lists it as a nonindigenous aquatic species[5], and NatureServe lists it as introduced in Florida and New Mexico[7].
How long does a Zebra Danio live?
The longest recorded lifespan comes from a fish in captivity[3]. It is a record, not a typical lifespan.

Facts and sources

  1. Zebra Danio is not listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act in USFWS ECOS data (checked 2026-10-30). USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for Zebra Danio: G5 (Secure). NatureServe Explorer
  3. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 5.5 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  4. Zebra Danio (Danio rerio) is a fish in the family Danionidae, order Cypriniformes. NatureServe Explorer
  5. USGS lists Zebra Danio as a nonindigenous aquatic species in parts of the United States (exotic). USGS NAS
  6. NatureServe state ranks for Zebra Danio (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  7. NatureServe lists Zebra Danio as introduced (not native) in: Florida, New Mexico. NatureServe Explorer
  8. NatureServe notes on habitat for Zebra Danio. NatureServe Explorer
  9. Habitat types NatureServe records for Zebra Danio: Creek, Spring/spring brook, Low gradient. NatureServe Explorer

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.