How To Create The Best Possible Life For Scarlet Badis!

Hello all!

My LFS is currently ordering a pair of Scarlet Badis for me! I told them if it was possible to get a female, that would be wonderful, though if not, that's okay, too.

They warned me about ordering them. The guy said, quote, "Now, when we get them, they aren't those pretty little fish you see all over the internet. They're these small, grey, scared fish. You're gonna have to work to make them pretty" to which I replied "Uh duh?"

Anyway, I'll be getting them sometime this week. How can I set them up for success? What foods have you noticed are their favorites? What layout is best for my tank?

I have a ten gallon with two filters, an aqua clear 20 and a top fin power 10.

Thanks!

 

I was thinking about doing some Dario Dario in a heavily planted 10 gallon until I found out how they can be extremely picky when it comes to food. Most will eat frozen bloodworms, daphnia, krill, small mysis shrimp, cyclops or brine shrimp, but many of them have been known to refuse all flakes, pellets or frozen and require a live food diet. Pellets and flakes have been done with them but just not likely. They can be shy so they do best with a lot of decor, plants, caves, driftwood and hiding spots.

Looking forward to some pictures of them!

 

I was thinking about doing some Dario Dario in a heavily planted 10 gallon until I found out how they can be extremely picky when it comes to food. Most will eat frozen bloodworms, daphnia, krill, small mysis shrimp, cyclops or brine shrimp, but many of them have been known to refuse all flakes, pellets or frozen and require a live food diet. Pellets and flakes have been done with them but just not likely. They can be shy so they do best with a lot of decor, plants, caves, driftwood and hiding spots.

Looking forward to some pictures of them!

i've heard they can be picky! I've got no issues feeding them live food though, thankfully I'm just excited to watch them grow!

Wonder if they would eat live tubifex? Some black worms?

 

They can be shy so they do best with a lot of decor, plants, caves, driftwood and hiding spots.

Looking forward to some pictures of them!

Here's my currently tank set up

An Overlook of My Tank (:

• KaitlynR
• Oct 9, 2017

Current set up!

There's two rocks that can be hid inside, lots of fake plants (slowly transitioning to a planted tank!), a wisteria in the back, and that log which is hollow with a closed end.

Should I readjust my tank set up, add more, get rid of something, etc.? Or is this enough for them?

 

Yes, on the black worms but I'd personally stay away from frozen/live tubifex as they are known carriers of parasites, disease and bad bacteria if not properly raised. There are quality sources though, but usually just not worth it when there are much better options. You may even want to look into hatching your own daphnia or live food source.

Looks good for now! They have plenty of places to hide. They'll definitely love having more live plants though.

 

Yes, on the black worms but I'd personally stay away from frozen/live tubifex as they are known carriers of parasites, disease and bad bacteria if not properly raised. There are quality sources though, but usually just not worth it when there are much better options. You may even want to look into hatching your own daphnia or live food source.

Looks good for now! They have plenty of places to hide. They'll definitely love having more live plants though.

Yes! It's a slow process, lol.

Got it, no tubifex. Thank you!!

 

Yeah, as already mentioned they are just going to need PLENTY of cover and they are a shy "wilder" fish. That of course comes with being finicky eaters. Garlic juice can help entice picky eaters, just let their food soak in a cup of the juice for a couple minutes and BAM!