TankBud

Red melon dario

Dario hysginon

Also known as Red dario, Flame dario, Orange-red scarlet badis, Flame Red Badis

FreshwaterFish

Red melon dario (Dario hysginon)
Crazyhund · CC BY-SA 4.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C
pH
5.5–7.0
Adult size
1.2 in
3 cm
Minimum tank
11 gal
40 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Badidae
Origin
Endemic to Myanmar, recorded from small forest streams and Lake Indawgyi near Myitkyina in Kachin State.

Overview

The red melon dario is a true nano fish for a heavily planted tank. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The red melon dario is closely related to the scarlet badis, Dario dario. It is sometimes sold as the orange-red scarlet badis.

Caring for the red melon dario

Give the red melon dario a heavily planted tank of at least 11 gal (40 L). Keep one male with several females, because males spar over territory. Each male holds a small territory among the stems and moss.

Keep the water soft, at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 7.0. It is a micropredator that hunts tiny live prey and often ignores dry food. It usually needs small live and frozen foods such as microworm, baby brine shrimp and cyclops.

Avoid boisterous tank mates that outcompete it for food. Red melon darios are so small and shy that they often do best in a species tank. Dominant males glow a solid orange-red, while females stay a plain gray-brown. In a species tank the fish will breed quietly among mosses without any help.

Good to know

The red melon dario, Dario hysginon, belongs to the family Badidae. It also goes by trade names such as red dario, flame dario and flame red badis.

In the wild

The red melon dario is endemic to Myanmar, in Kachin State. It has been recorded from small forest streams and Lake Indawgyi near Myitkyina, where it lives in shallow, plant-choked water.

Common questions

What size tank does a red melon dario need?

A red melon dario needs at least 11 gal (40 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a red melon dario need?

A red melon dario is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.

What does a red melon dario eat?

A red melon dario usually needs small live and frozen foods such as microworm, baby brine shrimp and cyclops. It hunts tiny live prey and often ignores dry food.

How big does a red melon dario get?

An adult red melon dario reaches about 1.2 in (3 cm).

How can you tell a male red melon dario from a female?

Dominant males glow a solid orange-red. Females stay a plain gray-brown.

How does a red melon dario breed?

Red melon darios will breed quietly among mosses in a species tank, without any help from you.

Related species