Description
Red Badis
📌 Basic Info
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Scientific Name: Dario dario
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Family: Badidae (not true cichlids, but similar in care)
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Origin: India (Brahmaputra River basin)
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Size: 0.8 – 1 inch (2 – 2.5 cm)
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Lifespan: 3 – 5 years
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Tank Zone: Mid to Bottom
🌊 Water Parameters
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TDS: 100 – 250 ppm
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pH: 6.5 – 7.5
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Temperature: 22 – 28°C (72 – 82°F)
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Hardness: 5 – 12 dGH
🐟 Characteristics
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Small, colorful fish with bright red body and blue vertical stripes.
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Males are more vibrant, females are duller and smaller.
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Peaceful but males can be territorial toward each other.
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Very shy – prefers densely planted aquariums.
🍽️ Food
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Type: Carnivorous (micro-predator)
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Diet: Live/frozen foods like daphnia, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, micro-worms.
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Rarely accepts dry flakes or pellets – needs live/frozen foods.
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Feeding: Small meals 1–2 times daily.
🛠️ Maintenance
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Tank Size: Minimum 10 gallons for a small group.
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Filtration: Gentle – they dislike strong currents.
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Decor: Heavily planted tanks, caves, driftwood, and leaf litter.
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Water Change: 20–25% weekly with stable parameters.
👥 Social Behavior
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Minimum Group Size: Best kept in pairs or harems (1 male + 2–3 females).
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Tank Mates: Peaceful nano fish (rasboras, ember tetras, small shrimp, otocinclus).
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Avoid: Aggressive or fast-feeding fish – Red Badis are shy eaters.
✅ Do’s
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Provide heavily planted aquariums with hiding places.
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Offer live/frozen foods regularly.
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Keep in peaceful nano setups.
❌ Don’ts
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Don’t mix with big/aggressive fish.
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Don’t rely on dry food alone.
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Don’t overcrowd males – they become territorial.
⭐ Quick Tips
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Red Badis are tiny but stunning fish for nano aquariums.
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Males display beautiful red and blue colors, especially when courting.
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Perfect for aquarists who enjoy small, peaceful species with unique behavior.
