Scarlet badis behavior?

Hi, I recently got a scarlet badis. At first it would swim around normally, but recently, it has been wedging itself in strange places (like the heater and in the roots of plants). I am new to keeping these fish and was wondering if anyone who had experience could let me know if this is normal.
In addition, I’ve been having trouble getting it to eat. I spot feed it baby brine shrimp and occasionally frozen bloodworms, but it seems to ignore them for the most part. I’m worried that its behavior is because it isn’t eating. It’s not as active anymore and seems to be moving slower.





I have also put three Amano shrimp in my tank recently, which have been actively swimming around. Could their presence have been spooking the scarlet badis?

 

What's your flow in the tank like? He might be wedging himself in places to stop from being blown around. They're not particularly strong swimmers. They are the stop, observe, and ambush their prey type of fish. What are the plants/decos like in the tank? He also may feel like he has insufficient hiding spots and these spots are the best he's gonna get.

Scarlet badis are known to be picky eaters. I cannot say what exactly will work for them though, since I've never personally owned them. He might only be interested in something like live bloodworms. He might perk up and be more willing to move out into the open and "hunt" his food when it's not being blown around and he feels like he has a better chance of hiding.

 

I have an Aquaclear 20 that’s been on the higher water flow setting for a little bit. I haven’t considered the strength of the water flow as a possibility, thanks! I’ll try to lower the flow and see what happens. Also, my order for some more live plants and catappa leaves just arrived, luckily, so I’ll put those in and see if he perks up.

 

I have an Aquaclear 20 that’s been on the higher water flow setting for a little bit. I haven’t considered the strength of the water flow as a possibility, thanks! I’ll try to lower the flow and see what happens. Also, my order for some more live plants and catappa leaves just arrived, luckily, so I’ll put those in and see if he perks up.

Any updates? The poster is correct on them being shy and slower swimming. They need lots of places to hide. Mine are out and active in my 20 gallon tank but I have a lot of rock work and a medium amount of plants. Mine do well and eat a variety of frozen foods but they are slow methodical eaters. Wonderful fish. Take care of them and if you need more help ask.

What size tank?

 

First of don't feed them bloodworms they can't cope with them I lost 2 before I found out not to feed bloodworms. I would try feeding live daphnia and adding some dwarf shrimp so they can hunt the babies. They hunt their prey so they can be difficult to feed

 

First of don't feed them bloodworms they can't cope with them I lost 2 before I found out not to feed bloodworms. I would try feeding live daphnia and adding some dwarf shrimp so they can hunt the babies. They hunt their prey so they can be difficult to feed

I feed blood worms but only about once every week and a half. They eat everything I feed them. All frozen foods.
I feed coral gumbo, daphnia, tubifex worms, cyclops, BBS, bloodworms, and they eat daphnia, cyclops, and coral gumbo with gusto. The others they take a bit of but have some reservations about taking it.
I agree with the shrimp and them eating the babies.
I have 5 scarlet badis and they all eat frozen foods and only frozen foods.

 

HI everyone, thanks for your replies!
He’s been doing better. I haven’t seen him wedged anywhere since turning down the flow of the filter, so I will assume that was the cause. He’s also been swimming around the tank and doesn’t seem to be hiding a lot, which is nice.
He’s been readily eating the live baby brine shrimp, which is all I have at the moment apart from frozen bloodworms since I haven’t had the chance to go to the store. Once I get the chance, I’ll try to get more types of frozen food to see what he’ll take.
Happy side note: when I first brought him back from the LFS, his fins were torn up pretty badly, maybe from being nipped. I was worried but it looks like they are growing back nicely!
Before:



After:

 

Oops wait I didn’t see Saltwater60’s question. I have a 10 gallon tank.

 

I toss a few plants in there and a few pieces of slate or other rock for him to hide around.
The fish looks good. Glad he is doing better. They are really cool fish.
I would be sure to vary it’s diet. Love BBS and blood worms is a bad diet for a fish. Get a few other types of frozen foods like daphnia and cyclops if you can. Mine also love coral gumbo. Feed sparingly.

 

Ok cool, thanks for the help!

 

anytime. They are among my favorite fish so I’d be happy to help again if needed.