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Scarlet Badis
Dario dario
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Badidae
📍 Brahmaputra Basin, India
A brilliantly coloured micro fish with males displaying vivid scarlet and blue barring. Shy and territorial, it does best in heavily planted nano tanks with live or frozen foods. One of the most beautiful nano fish available.
Care Guide
Diet
Scarlet Badis are obligate carnivores requiring live or frozen micro prey such as copepods, daphnia, micro worms, and newly hatched brine shrimp. Feed small portions once daily, as they have tiny mouths and high metabolisms. Most individuals refuse dry foods entirely, making live cultures or quality frozen options essential for long-term health.
Behavior
Scarlet Badis are bottom-dwelling, semi-aggressive fish that spend most of their time foraging among substrate and plants. Males are highly territorial and will chase rivals, so solitary keeping or careful pairing is recommended. They are shy and prefer heavily planted tanks with plenty of hiding spots; they rarely venture into open water.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity is possible but challenging and rarely achieved by hobbyists. Males guard small territories and will breed with females in heavily planted tanks with soft, acidic water (pH 6.0–6.5) and temperatures around 24–25°C. Fry are extremely small and require infusoria or liquid fry food; raising them to adulthood requires significant effort and pristine water conditions.
Tank Mates
Peaceful algae eater that occupies different ecological niche; won't compete for micro prey
Similar water parameters; small enough not to threaten badis, though fry may be eaten
Tiny, peaceful schooling fish that prefer upper water column; minimal competition
Nano species with identical water requirements; peaceful and occupy similar habitat niches
Common Diseases
Ich (White Spot Disease)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against objects
Raise temperature gradually to 28–29°C, perform daily 25% water changes, use aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons) or ich-specific medication; maintain for 10–14 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fin edges, discoloration, lethargy
Perform 50% water change immediately, improve water quality, treat with antibacterial medication or salt baths; ensure pristine conditions to prevent recurrence
Starvation/Malnutrition
Extreme thinness, faded coloration, lethargy, refusal to eat
Ensure consistent supply of live micro prey; culture copepods, daphnia, or micro worms; offer frozen alternatives; may require individual feeding with pipette
Bacterial Infection
Sores, ulcers, cloudy eyes, torn fins, behavioral changes
Perform large water changes, maintain pristine water quality, treat with broad-spectrum antibacterial medication; isolate if possible to prevent spread
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Carnivore – frozen daphnia, baby brine shrimp, grindal worms (rarely accepts dried food)
- lifespan
- 3–5 years
- max size
- 2 cm (0.8 in)
- tank size
- 5 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Shy, mildly territorial
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 2–15 dGH
- temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)