TankBud

Flame jewel badis

Dario kajal

Also known as Kajal dario, Jaintia dario

FreshwaterFish

Flame jewel badis (Dario kajal)

Care at a glance

Temperature
64–79°F
18–26°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
0.8 in
2 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Egg scatterer · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Badidae
Origin
Jaintia Hills streams, Meghalaya, India

Overview

The flame jewel badis is a nano dwarf that lives low among plants and decor. It needs a little more care than a beginner fish.

Did you know

The flame jewel badis takes its scientific name from a beauty tip. Kajal is the Hindi word for kohl eyeliner, chosen for the bold dark stripe that runs back through the fish's eye.

Caring for the flame jewel badis

Keep flame jewel badis as a small group of one male with several females, in a planted tank of at least 11 gal (40 L). The male can then court without a rival to fight. Plant densely and break up sightlines, because males color up hardest when they hold a little territory.

Give them soft, slow-moving water over a soft or fine-gravel bottom, with dim light. Cryptocoryne and plants such as Java fern, Anubias and moss grown on wood and stone give cover. Keep the water close to neutral and cool, at 64 to 79°F (18 to 26°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

Feed small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and microworm, and expect it to ignore flake. It is peaceful but small, shy and easily outcompeted. Pair it only with tiny, calm fish, or keep it in a species tank.

Males show red and blue and defend small territories. Like other Dario, it is a near-continuous spawner, scattering eggs almost daily among fine plants when warm and well fed. It gives no parental care, so fry survive best in a predator-free tank. Breeding is of moderate difficulty.

Good to know

The flame jewel badis, Dario kajal, belongs to the family Badidae and was described in 2013 by Britz and Kullander. It is also sold as the Kajal dario or Jaintia dario.

In the wild

The flame jewel badis comes from small, shallow hill-stream pools in the Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, in northeast India. These pools sit above 1,300 m, where the water runs cool.

Common questions

What size tank does a flame jewel badis need?

A flame jewel badis needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a flame jewel badis need?

A flame jewel badis is comfortable at 64–79°F (18–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a flame jewel badis eat?

A flame jewel badis eats small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia and microworm. Expect it to ignore flake.

How big does a flame jewel badis get?

An adult flame jewel badis reaches about 0.8 in (2 cm).

How can you tell a male flame jewel badis from a female?

Males show red and blue, and they color up hardest when they hold a little territory.

How does a flame jewel badis breed?

A flame jewel badis scatters its eggs almost daily among fine plants when it is warm and well fed. It gives no parental care, so the fry survive best in a predator-free tank.

Related species