Moderate

Badis

By The Aquarium Calculators Editorial Team ·

Dario dario

Complete Badis care guide covering carnivore diet requirements, peaceful temperament, minimum 10 Gallons tank setup, and compatible freshwater tankmates. Difficulty: Moderate.

Badis

Quick Answer

Scarlet Badis (Dario dario) is a stunning dwarf fish from India. It requires a minimum 10 Gallons aquarium with a pH of 6.5 - 7.5 and temperature range of 22-26°C. This carnivore occupies the bottom zone and makes an excellent addition to community setups.

Intro

Scarlet Badis (Dario dario) is a stunning dwarf fish from India. Males display vivid red and blue vertical stripes. They are micropredators with small mouths.

Setup

A 10-gallon or larger heavily planted tank with caves and hiding spots. Low water flow. They are shy, so provide plenty of cover. Dim lighting brings out colors.

Feeding

Carnivorous; requires live/frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, microworms, daphnia, and small bloodworms. They rarely accept dry foods.

Compatibility

Peaceful but males are territorial. Keep one male with 2-3 females. Tankmates must be small and peaceful: Pygmy Corydoras, Chili Rasboras, shrimp.

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Tank Position
Bottom
Water Temp
22-26°C
Adult Size
See profile
Water pH
6.5 - 7.5

Species Characteristics

Adult Size
Lifespan
Growth Rate
moderate
Tank Compatibility
Community compatible
Indoor Aquarium
Yes

Water Parameters

Water Temperature
Humidity
Water pH

Tank Lighting

Tank Lighting
Standard lighting
Light Hours
N/A
Intensity
moderate

Feeding & Diet

Diet Type
Diet: Carnivore
Feeding Schedule
N/A
Live Food Options
N/A

Continue Learning

Recommended Tools

Fish Compatibility Calculator fish compatibility

Health & Disease

Ich (White Spot Disease) common disease • all fish

Related Guides

Understanding pH in Aquariums water parameters • ph

Similar Species

African Leaf Fish Care Guide: Diet & Tank Mates semanticSimilarity Angelfish Care Guide: Tank Size & Diet | The Aquarium Calculators semanticSimilarity Black Ghost Knifefish Care Guide: Tank Size & Diet semanticSimilarity

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Badis (Dario dario) can be kept together?
Keep one male per aquarium under 20 gallons (75 liters) with a footprint of 24x12 inches (60x30 cm). If the tank exceeds 20 gallons, maintain one male with 2-3 females in a densely aquascaped setup. Badis are highly territorial micro-predators; two males in under 30 gallons (113 liters) will fight to the death, inflicting torn fins and eye injuries. Provide at least 6 hiding spots (caves, moss clusters) per fish. Community tanks: Keep only a single male with peaceful dither fish (Microdevario kubotai). Avoid other anabantoids.
What are the exact water parameters for Badis?
Target pH 6.5 - 7.5, General Hardness 5 - 12 dGH, Carbonate Hardness 3 - 8 dKH, Total Dissolved Solids 120 - 250 ppm, Electrical Conductivity 250 - 500 μS/cm, and temperature 73°F - 79°F (23°C - 26°C). They are adaptable but require fully cycled, stable parameters: ammonia 0 ppm, nitrite 0 ppm, nitrates <10 ppm. Use a sponge filter to avoid strong currents. Adding Indian almond leaves (1 per 5 gallons) reduces stress. Avoid pH swings >0.2 per day. Hard water ( >15 dGH) causes shortened lifespan.
What is the specialized feeding and medication regimen for Badis?
They are obligate micro-predators that refuse dry commercial foods. Feed exclusively live or frozen foods: bloodworms (chopped), brine shrimp, grindal worms, daphnia, and blackworms. Offer small portions 3 times daily. They ignore flakes and pellets and will starve within 2 weeks. Medication alert: Highly sensitive to copper and formalin; use malachite green at half-dose (0.025 mg/L). Praziquantel is safe for internal parasites. Avoid salt baths (tolerance <3 ppt). Quarantine with metronidazole for 7 days. Always gut-load live foods with spirulina powder.
How to breed Badis (Scarlet Badis) in captivity?
Condition a bonded pair with live blackworms and brine shrimp for 14 days. Set up a 5-gallon (19 liter) breeding tank with 4 inches (10 cm) of RO water (pH 6.8, dGH 5), a spawning cave (small clay pot) and java moss. Raise temperature to 80°F (27°C). The male displays intense red colors and lures the female into the cave. She lays 30-80 eggs on the ceiling; male guards them. Remove female after spawning. Eggs hatch in 72 hours at 78°F (25°C). Fry are 0.07 inches (1.8 mm); feed infusoria for 5 days, then microworms and baby brine shrimp. Male may eat fry after hatching.

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