Scarlet Badis (Dario dario) CareSheet

The Scarlet Badis is a very gorgeous species with all of the greatest traits a "nano" fish could have!

The Scarlet Badis (Dario dario), sometimes known as the Gem Badis, is a stunning Indian micro fish. The whole body of this unique fish is striped with vivid red and blue vertical stripes. It is a shy fish, but in a well-planted, well-decorated aquarium where it feels safe, it will grow more brave and active. When fighting for the attention of females, males are the most colorful, while females are less vivid but still have significant blue and red coloring.

The Scarlet Badis is a micropredator that requires a meaty diet. Because many specimens may reject dry flake and pellet diets (at least at first), 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 Scarlet Badis' tank. 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, however any adults should be removed thereafter to prevent the parents from cannibalism of the fry.

The Scarlet Badis thrives in a planted aquarium with mild to moderate water flow and is often placid 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 Scarlet Badis is more cautious than more loud fish, it is important to ensure that it is not outcompeted for food. It's possible that it'll cross with other badis species.

Requirements for keeping Dario dario

Temperature: 64° - 77° F, though 68° - 75° F is best for long-term care.
pH: 6.5 - 8.5
KH: 2 - 6 dKH
Minimum tank size: 20+ gallons for a group of 6 or more
Origin: India
Average adult size: 0.5 - 0.8 inch