Dario Dario - Red Badis - A Guide

Dario dario (Scarlet Badis) are tiny, colourful micro‑predators that stay around 2–2.5 cm, need very clean, stable water, heavy planting, and a live/frozen food–focused diet, so they are best suited to patient hobbyists rather than absolute beginners.

Quick facts for Best4Pets

• Scientific name: Dario dario

• Common names: Scarlet Badis, Red Badis, Scarlet Gem Badis.

• Adult size: About 1 inch (2–2.5 cm), with males more intensely coloured and larger‑finned than females.

• Lifespan: Around 4–6 years in stable, well‑maintained tanks.

• Origin: Slow, clear streams and channels in India with dense vegetation and soft, clean water.

Ideal tank setup

Dario dario do best in a heavily planted, mature nano aquarium with many hiding places, gentle flow, and low to moderate light. Floating plants, fine‑leaved stems, driftwood, and leaf litter (like Indian almond leaves) help them feel secure and show their best colours.

• Minimum tank:

  • Single male with a couple of females: at least 10 gallons / 30–40 litres.

  • Group of 6+ (multiple males and females): 40+ litres with strong line‑of‑sight breaks.

• Substrate and décor: Sand or fine gravel, dense plants, caves (coconut shells, rockwork, small pipes), and shaded areas.

• Filtration: Gentle sponge or low‑flow filter; they dislike strong currents that push them around.

Water parameters and maintenance

This species is more sensitive than common community fish and reacts quickly to ammonia, nitrite, or large parameter swings. Emphasising water stability on your site will reduce post‑purchase health complaints.

• Temperature: Roughly 22–26 °C is a good general range; many keepers aim around 24–25 °C for long‑term comfort.

• pH: Mildly acidic to neutral, typically about 6.5–7.5, avoiding sudden shifts.

• Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water, roughly 5–15 dGH; very hard water is best avoided.

• Cleanliness: Weekly water changes of about 40–50% are commonly recommended in nano setups, with careful gravel cleaning to avoid leftover food issues.

Behaviour, social life, and tank mates

Male Scarlet Badis are territorial, especially toward other males, but rely more on displays and chasing than serious physical harm due to their tiny mouths. They spend their time exploring plants and caves, ambushing micro‑prey, and flashing colour to rivals and potential mates.

Good practices to highlight:

• Stocking:

  • One male with 2–3 females is a classic group; multiple males need plenty of space and visual barriers.

  • Keep them in calm, peaceful community tanks and avoid nippy or boisterous species that out‑compete them at feeding time.

• Suitable tank mates often include tiny, peaceful species that prefer similar water, such as small rasboras, micro‑danios, or small tetras, plus non‑aggressive bottom dwellers and snails.

• Caution with shrimp: Adult Dario dario can coexist with larger shrimp, but will happily eat baby shrimp, so this should be made clear to shrimp keepers.

Diet: micro‑predator feeding

Dario dario are classic micro‑predators that naturally hunt tiny invertebrates, and many individuals refuse dry food, especially when newly imported. Underfeeding or relying on flakes is one of the main reasons hobbyists struggle with this species.

Key feeding points for your educational content:

• Core diet:

  • Small live and frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, grindal worms, micro‑worms, cyclops, and similar tiny prey are ideal.

  • Offer multiple small feedings per day rather than one heavy feeding, to match their natural hunting style and reduce water pollution.

• Foods to avoid or limit:

  • Large, fatty options like bloodworms and tubifex can cause digestive issues and obesity in such small fish, so most specialised sources advise avoiding them or using them very sparingly.

• Transition to prepared foods:

  • Some individuals may gradually accept high‑quality micro pellets if mixed with live/frozen options, but keepers should always assume live or frozen food is required.

This section is a strong upsell opportunity for you: link to live/frozen foods, frozen baby brine, daphnia, and premium micro‑granules on Best4Pets.

Breeding Dario dario

Scarlet Badis are substrate or cave spawners that can breed in home aquaria when kept in species‑only or very peaceful setups. Clear, simple breeding guidance will position your site as a go‑to reference for advanced nano‑fish keepers.

• Setting up:

  • Use a separate breeding tank of at least 20–30 litres, heavily planted with fine‑leaf plants, caves, and gentle filtration.

  • Select a well‑conditioned male (bright colours, active displays) and a plump female, and feed them rich live foods for 1–2 weeks beforehand.

• Spawning behaviour:

  • Males display vivid colour and rapid “shivering” movements to court females before leading them into a cave or dense plant patch to spawn.

  • A single spawn can produce dozens of eggs that are guarded for a short period by the male; adults are often removed after spawning to avoid egg and fry predation.

• Fry care:

  • Once hatched, fry initially take infusoria and other microscopic foods before transitioning to newly hatched brine shrimp and similar tiny live foods.