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
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

A true nano fish at around 3 cm, it thrives in a heavily planted tank from about 40 litres. Keep it at 22 to 26 C and pH 5.5 to 7.0 in soft water. Keep one male with several females, as males spar over territory, and avoid boisterous tankmates that outcompete it for food. It usually needs small live and frozen foods such as microworm, baby brine shrimp and cyclops.

In the wild

The red melon dario is a tiny nano fish, with dominant males glowing a solid orange-red and females staying a plain grey-brown. It lives in shallow, plant-choked forest streams. Males hold small territories among the stems and moss.

Good to know

Dario hysginon is endemic to Kachin State in northern Myanmar and reaches only about 3 cm. It is a micropredator that hunts tiny live prey and often ignores dry food. It is closely related to the scarlet badis, Dario dario.

Did you know

Red melon darios are so small and shy that they often do best in a species tank, where they will breed quietly among mosses without any help.

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.

How big does a Red melon dario get?

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

Related species