Black tiger dario

Care at a glance

Overview

The black tiger dario is a tiny, territorial nano fish for a densely planted tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Caring for the black tiger dario

Keep black tiger darios in a well-planted tank of at least 11 gal (40 L), as one male with several females. Rival males spar, so plant densely and break up sightlines to spread the aggression. A gently filtered tank with a dark sand or fine-gravel bottom, leaf litter, driftwood and moss suits them.

Keep the water soft and close to neutral, at 68 to 79°F (20 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Subdued lighting helps the fish feel secure enough to show its colors. It stays in the lower third of the tank, working through the plants and along the substrate.

It usually ignores flake and wants tiny live or frozen foods, such as baby brine shrimp, cyclops, daphnia and microworm. Keep it only with small, calm tank mates, or on its own, because it is easily bullied and outcompeted for food.

Males hold small territories and court females with fin displays. They spawn on the substrate, scattering eggs beneath leaves or wood. Breeding takes patience and clean, well-fed conditions, and it is moderately difficult.

Good to know

The black tiger dario belongs to the family Badidae, the chameleonfishes, and is one of its smallest members. It is also sold simply as the tiger dario.

In the wild

The black tiger dario comes from small, shaded, densely vegetated streams in the upper Chindwin drainage of northern Myanmar. The water there is soft, cool to warm and slow moving.

Common questions

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