What tank size does a Scarlet Badis need?

A Scarlet Badis needs an aquarium of at least 30 litres (7.9 US gallons) with a footprint at least 40 cm (15.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.

What water parameters does a Scarlet Badis need?

Scarlet Badis does best at 18–26 °C (64.4–78.8 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.

Is the Scarlet Badis suitable for beginners?

Scarlet Badis sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.

Species library

Scarlet Badis

Dario dario

Badidae

FishDifficulty: ●●●○○Data: well-established

📷 Ida (Flickr "keen-eyed") · CC BY-NC 2.0 · resized · Flickr

Scarlet Badis — Dario dario — 📷 Ida (Flickr "keen-eyed") · CC BY-NC 2.0 · resized · Flickr

About

The scarlet badis is one of the smallest aquarium fish in the hobby, with males reaching barely 2 cm yet blazing with alternating red and iridescent blue stripes. Endemic to shallow, densely vegetated streams of the Brahmaputra basin in India, it is a shy micropredator that hunts tiny invertebrates among plants and leaf litter. Peaceful toward other calm species but squabbling among rival males, it needs a mature, heavily planted nano tank to feel secure and colour up fully.

Care

Keep in a mature, densely planted nano tank as a pair or one male with several females; pair only with small, calm, slow tankmates and provide many sightline-breaking plants and hides.

Diet

Micropredator that usually refuses dry food; offer small live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp, daphnia, cyclops and microworms, and go easy on bloodworm to prevent obesity.

Tankmate compatibility

Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.

Telling males from females

What works for this species, most reliable first.

Colour and patternA hint only · from about 6 months, and only on a settled fish
In rainbowfish, killifish and several barbs the male carries the colour — deeper and more saturated, intensifying further when he displays.

All the methods, with diagrams

Also in these lists

Nano fish Fish for a 30 litre tank Fish for a 54 litre tank Bottom dwellers

Frequently asked questions

What tank size does a Scarlet Badis need?: A Scarlet Badis needs an aquarium of at least 30 litres (7.9 US gallons) with a footprint at least 40 cm (15.7 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
What water parameters does a Scarlet Badis need?: Scarlet Badis does best at 18–26 °C (64.4–78.8 °F), pH 6–8 and a general hardness of 2–15 °dGH.
Is the Scarlet Badis suitable for beginners?: Scarlet Badis sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.

Sources

Water & tank

Temperature18–26°C

Optimal temp.22–25°C

pH6–8

Hardness (GH)2–15°d

Carbonate (KH)0–8°d

Adult size2.5 cm

Min. volume≥ 30 L

Min. tank length≥ 40 cm

Swimming zoneBottom

TemperamentPeaceful

Water typeFreshwater

FlowLow

Lifespan~4 yrs

Try in the calculator