Scarlet badis

Overview

The scarlet badis (Dario dario) is one of the smallest cichlid-like fish in the hobby — a 2 cm jewel where males glow candy-red striped with electric blue. Peaceful, shy and utterly charming, it is a perfect nano-tank centrepiece. The catch is diet: this is a micro-predator that often snubs dry food, so it suits a keeper willing to feed small live and frozen foods and to house it thoughtfully.

Tank & water

A species pair or trio is happy in a well-planted 38 litres (10 gallons) nano tank.

• Temperature: a cooler 22–26 °C from a small heater; they do not want tropical heat.
• Water: pH 6.5–7.5, soft to moderate hardness; test with a kit.
• Densely planted: mosses, fine plants and cover give the security a shy micro-predator needs and let males hold small territories.
• Gentle upkeep: a low-flow filter and regular small water changes.

Feeding

Scarlet badis are micro-predators. Offer frozen bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops and baby brine shrimp, plus live microworms and brine shrimp where possible; see fish food options. Feed small amounts once or twice daily and target-feed if faster tankmates are present. A mature, biologically active planted tank also supplies tiny live foods they hunt between meals.

Tankmates

Best in a species tank, or with very small, calm, slow companions that will not outcompete or intimidate them — think small rasboras, pygmy corydoras, snails and shrimp (though tiny shrimplets may be hunted). Avoid all boisterous, fast or large fish. Their shy nature means a peaceful, planted, lightly stocked tank suits them best — see do fish get lonely for group thinking on nano fish.