Scarlet badis

Dario dario

Also known as Scarlet gem badis

FreshwaterFish

Scarlet badis (Dario dario) — Imperial Tropicals · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–79°F; 22–26°C
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 0.8 in; 2 cm
Minimum tank: 10 gal; 38 L

Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Tankmates: With caution
Swim level: Middle
Diet: Carnivore
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Substrate spawner · Medium
Rarity: Very common
Family: Badidae
Origin: India (Brahmaputra tributaries in West Bengal and Assam)

Overview

The scarlet badis is a tiny, shy micropredator for a densely planted tank with small, calm company. It is a step up from the easiest fish and best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

The scarlet badis is one of the smallest percoid fish in the hobby. Only the males wear the red, so a tank full of color means a tank full of males. That is exactly the setup that sets off their territorial squabbling.

Caring for the scarlet badis

Keep scarlet badis as one male alone, or as a harem of one male with several females, in 10 gal (38 L) or more. Rival males are territorial and need broken sight lines between them. Give them a densely planted tank with a fine substrate, plenty of cover and gentle flow. They are shy and hold to the middle of the tank among the plants.

Keep the water at 72 to 79°F (22 to 26°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Scarlet badis are micropredators and usually refuse flake. Feed small live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops and microworms.

They are mostly peaceful, so pair them only with small, calm tank mates. A species tank works too, and it makes sure they get enough food.

Males carry the deep red color and pale bars, while females stay a plain grayish brown and are a bit smaller. The scarlet badis is a substrate spawner that lays its eggs low among plants or in tight spaces. The fry hatch extremely small, and breeding is moderately difficult.

Good to know

The scarlet badis is a tiny member of the family Badidae, also sold as the scarlet gem badis. Most fish offered for sale are wild caught from their native range in northeast India.

In the wild

Scarlet badis come from clear, shallow, heavily planted streams in the Brahmaputra tributaries of West Bengal and Assam in India. These are slow-moving waters, thick with vegetation over fine sand and leaf litter.

Common questions

What size tank does a scarlet badis need?

A scarlet badis needs at least 10 gal (38 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.

What temperature and pH does a scarlet badis need?

A scarlet badis is comfortable at 72–79°F (22–26°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a scarlet badis eat?

A scarlet badis eats small live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops and microworms. It is a micropredator and usually refuses flake.

How big does a scarlet badis get?

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

How can you tell a male scarlet badis from a female?

Males show the deep red color and pale bars. Females are a plain grayish brown and a bit smaller than the males.

How does a scarlet badis breed?

A scarlet badis is a substrate spawner that lays its eggs low among plants or in tight spaces. The fry hatch extremely small, and breeding is moderately difficult.