Scarlet Badis

The Scarlet Badis was formally described in 2002 and quickly became a favourite among nano aquarists. Males rarely exceed 2 cm but are adorned with vivid alternating red-orange and iridescent blue-grey vertical bands, making them arguably the most colourful fish per centimetre in freshwater aquatics.

Females are plain grey-brown and considerably larger than males. Males spar with each other using fin displays and occasional chasing but rarely cause serious injury in well-planted setups. This species comes from cool, clear, oxygen-rich streams in West Bengal and Assam.

Scarlet Badis are micro-predators that strongly prefer live or frozen small invertebrates; dry food is often refused, which places them at intermediate difficulty despite their small size.

Water: 15–24°C, pH 6.5–7.5, GH 3–12; clean, oxygen-rich water; light to moderate current. Tank: minimum 20 L heavily planted nano tank; multiple hiding spots to break male sightlines. Feeding: carnivore — live/frozen micro-worm, baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops; dry food often refused. Breeding: male guards a small territory and entices female; eggs deposited on plant leaves or in caves. Compatibility: peaceful with very small, non-boisterous tank-mates; avoid fish that outcompete for food.