Badis
Badis badis
A small chameleon fish that changes colour with its mood; a calm bottom-dwelling hunter that needs caves and live or frozen food.
Key facts
- Body length
- 2.4 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 23 gallons
- Group
- 2+
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shy
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Frozen brine shrimp, daphnia and cyclops, live foods
- Origin
- Ganges basin and Assam, India and Bangladesh
- Hardier than53%
- Bigger than36%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Badis tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cardinal tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyFancy guppy outcompetes the slow-eating Badis (chameleon fish) for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Cherry shrimpBadis (chameleon fish) eats dwarf shrimp: Cherry shrimp (SF: Caridina/Neocaridina могут быть съедены).Risky
- AngelfishAngelfish eats small fish: Badis (chameleon fish).Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Badis (chameleon fish) is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Amano shrimpBadis (chameleon fish) eats dwarf shrimp: Amano shrimp (SF: Caridina/Neocaridina могут быть съедены).Risky
- Chinese algae eaterTwo territorial bottom-dwellers: need ≥ 9150 cm² of floor, tank has 5612 cm².Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Badis (chameleon fish): prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Convict cichlidConvict cichlid can eat Badis (chameleon fish): prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Badis (chameleon fish): prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- Jewel cichlidJewel cichlid can eat Badis (chameleon fish): prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 3.8 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Badis (chameleon fish): prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Badis (chameleon fish): prey body depth 1.3 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for badis: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 6 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 3.17 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 1.36 BU
- Min. water
- 72 L net
- Min. footprint
- 80 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 2+ (best 3)
- Swims in
- bottom, middle
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- micropredator
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Badis badis · FishBase: Badis badis
Care notes
Badis come from slow, murky, weedy waters of the Ganges basin and Assam and grow to about 2.5 inches. They are slow and shy, and males can switch colours in seconds.
A small tank of 20 gallons suits one male with a few females, each male needing his own cave. They often refuse dry food, may eat dwarf shrimp, and should not be mixed with other Badis species.
Questions
What size tank does a badis need?
At least 23 gallons (72 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 2.4 inches without fins.
How many badis should be kept together?
Keep at least 2, ideally 3 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do badis need?
59–77 °F, pH 6–7.5 and 3–15 dGH. Badis come from Ganges basin and Assam, India and Bangladesh.
How long do badis live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with badis?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Panda corydoras, Otocinclus and Betta. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.