Scarlet Badis – Tank Raised (Dario dario)

A tiny but beautifully marked member of the Badis family, these peaceful, active fish have been popular in the aquarium hobby since their introduction decades ago. Originating in shallow, slow-moving waters in West Bengal, India, they tend to be found in dense aggregations among stands of aquatic plants, with each fish generally staking out its own territory among the vegetation. In the aquarium, they will do best in heavily planted tanks with ample cover and in groups of 5 or more. Because of their small adult size and shy nature, the Scarlet Badis or Scarlet Gem is best kept with similarly sized, extremely peaceful tankmates. Tank Raised fish tend to be hardier and take to prepared foods easier than wild caught Badis in most cases.