Danio margaritatus and reproduced quickly. The government of Myanmar banned exports of the fish in February 2007. However, an inquest into the species by Myanmar officials discovered populations of the fish in at least "five locations around Hopong". Currently, the fish is captive-bred worldwide commercially and by hobbyists, pushing the price down from its initial high of $20 or more per fish to around $4 each. The celestial pearl danio is a rather undemanding fish if its basic requirements are being met. It seems quite hardy, but obviously thrives best in fairly soft and slightly alkaline water at not too high a
Danio margaritatus Danio margaritatus Danio margaritatus, the celestial pearl danio, often referred to in the aquarium trade as galaxy rasbora or "Microrasbora" sp. 'Galaxy', is a small cyprinid from Myanmar. It has so far been found only in a very small area near Hopong east of Inle Lake, at an altitude of over 1,000 m (3,400 ft). Its habitat is part of the Salween basin, namely the Nam Lang and Nam Pawn Rivers. Discovered in 2006, the species quickly appeared in the aquarium trade, where its small size and bright colours made it an instant hit. This is a small, plump danionin