Red Drum vs Zebra Danio
Sciaenops ocellatus compared with Danio rerio
Taxonomy & Classification
| Attribute | Red Drum | Zebra Danio |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sciaenops ocellatus | Danio rerio |
| Order | Perciformes | Cypriniformes |
| Family | Sciaenidae | Danionidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Physical Traits
| Attribute | Red Drum | Zebra Danio |
|---|---|---|
| Max Length | 155.0 cm | 5.0 cm |
| Max Weight | 45.0 kg | 0.001 kg |
| Color | Coppery-bronze to reddish-orange flanks with a characteristic black eyespot at the upper tail base; back is darker bronze-olive; belly pale to silvery; fins match body tone with dusky margins. | Silver to pale gold body with five continuous horizontal royal-blue stripes running from gill to tail tip, including through the fins; belly silvery-white; fins clear with blue-gold striping. |
Habitat & Environment
| Attribute | Red Drum | Zebra Danio |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Freshwater & Saltwater | Freshwater |
| Depth Range | 10-?m | — |
| Geographic Range | Western North Atlantic from Massachusetts south through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Adults favor open nearshore reefs and coastal surf zones while juveniles inhabit … | Native to the Ganges and Brahmaputra river basins of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Myanmar. Inhabits fast-flowing hill streams, rice paddies, and shallow ponds across the … |
| Habitat | Estuaries | Fast-flowing, clear mountain streams of the Ganges-Brahmaputra region, India and Bangladesh. Clean, well-oxygenated, shallow water with sandy and gravelly substrate (18-26°C). Lab model organism. |
Aquarium Suitability
| Attribute | Red Drum | Zebra Danio |
|---|---|---|
| Min Tank Size | — | 40 L |
| Temperature | — | 18-24 |
| pH Range | — | 6.0-8.0 |
| Care Level | — | Easy |
| Temperament | — | Peaceful |
Fishing Information
| Attribute | Red Drum | Zebra Danio |
|---|---|---|
| Game Fish | Yes | No |
| Fight Rating | 7/10 | — |
| World Record | — | — |
| Mercury Level | — | — |
Cuisine & Edibility
Red Drum
Firm, white flesh with a mild, sweet flavor and moderate fat; smaller fish (under 27 inches) are the best table size. Famous as 'blackened redfish' — a Louisiana Cajun culinary classic.
Zebra Danio
Not consumed — a hardy ornamental aquarium fish notable for its horizontal blue-silver stripes and active schooling behavior; also a widely used laboratory model organism.
Species Overview
Red Drum
The red drum, or redfish, is an iconic inshore game fish of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Identified by the distinctive black spot at the base of its tail, it feeds by tipping head-down in shallow water, exposing its copper-colored tail.
Zebra Danio
The zebrafish is a small cyprinid native to South Asia's freshwater streams. Its distinctive blue-and-gold horizontal stripes and hardy nature make it a popular aquarium fish. It is also the most widely used vertebrate model organism in genetic research.