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Tiger badis

Badis kyar

Also known as Kyar badis

FreshwaterFish
Tiger badis (Badis kyar)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
68–79°F (20–26°C)
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
1.6 in (4 cm)
Minimum tank
11 gal (40 L)
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
Tankmates with caution
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Rare
Origin
Myitkyina wetlands, northern Myanmar
Family
Badidae

Overview

The tiger badis is a slim, quietly territorial dwarf that patrols the bottom and cover. Keep it singly or as a pair rather than a group, since males will not share territory, and house it in a species tank or with small, calm fish that stay off the floor, because it is shy and easily intimidated. It is a micropredator that prefers small live and frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia and the occasional bloodworm, and often refuses dry food. Give it a well structured tank of at least 40 liters with sand, rounded stones and rockwork for cover, plus a little visible current.

In the wild

It lives in weedy, gently flowing wetland shallows and streams around Myitkyina in the upper Irrawaddy of northern Myanmar. Recreate that with a sand or fine-gravel bottom, plenty of water-worn rocks and pebbles for shelter, and plants such as Java fern or Anubias grown on the decor, kept under slightly higher flow than most dwarfs enjoy. Keep the water close to neutral, about pH 6.0 to 7.5, at 20 to 26 C, and tolerant of cooler spells.

Good to know

Badis kyar is a chameleonfish in the family Badidae that reaches about 4 cm on a slim body. It was described in 2002 by Kullander and Britz in their revision of the family. Like other badids it is a cave spawner rated at moderate breeding difficulty, with a brief pairing, eggs hidden in a shelter, and the male left to guard and fan them.

Did you know

The name simply says tiger. Kyar is the Burmese word for tiger, chosen for the bold dark bars this little fish carries from youth right through to adulthood.

Common questions

What size tank does a Tiger badis need?

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

What temperature and pH do Tiger badis need?

Tiger badis are comfortable at 68–79°F (20–26°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

How big do Tiger badis get?

An adult Tiger badis reaches about 1.6 in (4 cm).

Where to buy

Some links may not be the exact species or variety.

…or ask your local fish store.

Appears in

Freshwater fish · Nano fish · Bottom dwellers

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