Black Tiger Badis (Dario sp. "Myanmar") CareSheet

The Black Tiger Badis (Dario sp. "Myanmar") is a nano-sized perch native to Myanmar. The fins of adult males, which are more vibrantly colored than females, have spectacular red, cream, and black vertical striping with black and blue accents. Males of the Black Tiger Badis typically show even more extreme colors as they mature, particularly while contending for ladies' attention.

The Black Tiger Badis is a micropredator that needs to consume flesh. Because many specimens may reject dry flake and pellet feeds, live and frozen foods should be supplied on a regular basis. This fish consumes a variety of tiny worms, crustaceans, insects, and insect larvae in the wild. Cyclops, glassworms, enhanced Artemia, and Daphnia are good staple foods in the aquarium. If no other suitable meals are available, bloodworms and Tubifex worms may be eaten on occasion, but they should be avoided in general since they can cause fat and illness in badis species.

Plants, rockwork, and driftwood should be plentiful in the aquarium of the Black Tiger Badis. This species requires a lot of shelter to promote maximum activity and little stress. Because this fish spawns in caves, it's also a good idea to create cave-like structures with your decor. The male will defend the eggs and newly born fry during spawning, but any adults should be removed thereafter to prevent cannibalism of the fry by the parents.

The Black Tiger Badis thrives in a planted aquarium with mild to moderate water flow and is typically friendly with other fish species. Despite the fact that it is a micropredator, its tiny size allows it to be safe around almost any fish or invertebrate that is too big to be considered prey. Some invertebrates, such as snails and bigger shrimp, may be housed with it, however it will devour the fry and juveniles of most Caridina shrimp and Neocaridina shrimp, as well as any other tiny invertebrates that fit in its mouth. Because the Black Tiger Badis is more cautious than more loud fish, it is important to ensure that it is not outcompeted for food. Because it has the potential to hybridize with other Badis species, caution should be used while keeping it with the Black Tiger Badis (Dario sp. "Myanmar").

Requirements for keeping Dario sp. "Myanmar"

Temperature: 59° - 77° F, though 68° - 75° F is best for long-term care.
pH: 7.0 - 9.0
KH: 2 - 6 dKH
Minimum tank size: 20+ gallons for a group
Origin: Northern Myanmar
Average adult size: 1 - 1.5 inches