Scarlet Badis (Dario dario)

Dario dario (Scarlet Badis) is one of the most vividly coloured nano fish in the freshwater hobby, with males displaying brilliant scarlet-red vertical banding on an electric blue iridescent body — remarkable for a fish barely reaching 2 cm. Endemic to shallow, slow-moving streams in West Bengal, India, it is best kept in a species-specific nano tank or with very small, non-competitive tankmates. Females are plain brown and easily distinguished from males.

Maintain a well-planted nano aquarium with gentle filtration and subdued lighting. Dario dario is a picky eater that often refuses dry foods — feed live or frozen micro prey such as baby brine shrimp, micro worms, Daphnia, and Cyclops. Males are territorial and fight with each other; keep one male with 2–3 females. Prefers cool water (15–24°C). Sensitive to overfeeding and poor water quality.