Scarlet badis
Dario dario
A tiny, under-an-inch scarlet fish for nano tanks; it eats mostly live and frozen foods, and males split the tank into territories.
Key facts
- Body length
- 0.8 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 13 gallons
- Group
- 2+
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shy
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Live and frozen brine shrimp, daphnia, grindal worms
- Origin
- Brahmaputra tributaries, West Bengal and Assam, India
- Hardier than53%
- Bigger than2%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Scarlet badis tank mates
- Bladder snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Malaysian trumpet snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Rabbit snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Assassin snailAssassin snail (predatory) will bully the peaceful Scarlet badis.Risky
- Mystery snailMystery snail outcompetes the slow-eating Scarlet badis for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Ramshorn snailGreat ramshorn snail outcompetes the slow-eating Scarlet badis for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Colombian ramshornColombian ramshorn outcompetes the slow-eating Scarlet badis for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Great pond snailGreat pond snail outcompetes the slow-eating Scarlet badis for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Neon tetraScarlet badis should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraScarlet badis should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Fancy guppyScarlet badis should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Panda corydorasScarlet badis should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- OtocinclusScarlet badis should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpScarlet badis should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for scarlet badis: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 2 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 0.12 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 0.24 BU
- Min. water
- 41 L net
- Min. footprint
- 45 × 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: Dario dario
Care notes
Scarlet badis come from clear, shallow, densely planted streams feeding the Brahmaputra. They are slow and timid, and males show off bright red bars.
Keep a pair or one male with a few females in a 10-gallon planted tank, alone or with tiny peaceful schooling fish. Offer brine shrimp, daphnia, grindal and micro worms, and skip bloodworm and tubifex.
Questions
What size tank does a scarlet badis need?
At least 13 gallons (41 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 0.8 inches without fins.
How many scarlet badis should be kept together?
Keep at least 2, ideally 3 or more: fewer feel exposed and hide or turn nippy.
What water do scarlet badis need?
64–79 °F, pH 6.5–8.5 and 1–15 dGH. Scarlet badis come from Brahmaputra tributaries, West Bengal and Assam, India.
How long do scarlet badis live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with scarlet badis?
Good tank mates include Bladder snail, Malaysian trumpet snail and Rabbit snail. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.