Badis Ruber
Badis badis · Semi-aggressive · Intermediate care
You save
Out of stock
Ask on WhatsAppAt a glance
Species profile Badis badis
Origin
South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal - Ganges/Brahmaputra basins)
Family
Badidae (chameleonfish family)
Adult size
Up to 6 cm (2.4 in)
Diet
Small live/frozen foods - bloodworm, daphnia, brine shrimp; usually refuses dry food (Carnivore)
Temperament
Semi-aggressive
Swimming level
Bottom to middle
Minimum group
1+ (shoaling)
Lifespan
3-5 years
Minimum tank
40 L (10 gal)
Water type
Freshwater
Size to scale
6 cm adult length, shown to scale against an iPhone 15 Pro (14.66 cm).
Natural range
Where it comes from — South Asia
South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal - Ganges/Brahmaputra basins)
Water
Singapore tap water vs its needs
Hardness: Soft to medium (5-15 dGH).
In the aquarium
How it lives in the tank
Swims in the middle & bottom of the tank
Sensitivity Index — Moderate
Adaptable, but happiest with stable parameters in a matured tank.
Our own read on how forgiving this species is of water changes — not a formal standard.
Keeping & care
What this fish needs
Family
About the Badidae family chameleonfish family
Badidae are small, slow-moving freshwater perciform fishes from South and Southeast Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and neighbouring regions), comprising the genera Badis and Dario. They have stocky, laterally compressed bodies, large eyes and a habit of shifting colour and pattern with mood and lighting, which earns Badis species the name "chameleon fish"; Dario dario (scarlet badis) is among the smallest of all aquarium fishes at roughly 2 cm. They are peaceful but shy micropredators, best suited to calm, well-planted tanks where they can be observed rather than boisterous community setups.
Keep them in a mature, well-planted tank with gentle flow, hiding places and calm tankmates; they are slow, timid feeders that often ignore dry food, so offer small live or frozen foods (baby brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworm) to keep them in good condition.
Breeding
Cave-spawner (Badis); plant/substrate egg-depositor (Dario)Badis species are cave-spawners: a male claims a crevice, coconut shell or piece of pipe, courts a female into it, and then guards and fans the adhesive eggs alone until the fry are free-swimming. Dario such as the scarlet badis spawn among fine-leaved plants, moss or spawning mops, with the male displaying intense colour and driving the female to deposit eggs a few at a time; there is no lasting parental care and adults may eat eggs or fry. In both, tiny fry need very small live foods such as microworms and baby brine shrimp, and separating them from adults improves survival.
Feeding
Recommended food
Compatibility
Best tankmates
Community
