Black Tiger Dario badis – 2 pack

Aquatic Arts are very pleased to offer this extremely rare, beautiful, and peaceful nano fish.  We rarely see the Black Tiger Badis available, so take advantage when they are in stock! Our specimens have been quarantined for a minimum of 3-4 weeks before shipment and are greedily eating enriched frozen Cyclops, Calanus, and other foods of appropriate size!

The Black Tiger Badis (Dario sp. “Myanmar”), is a nano-sized member of the perch family indigenous to Northern Myanmar.  This rare fish displays brilliant red, cream, and black vertical striping with black and blue highlights on the fins of mature males, which are more vibrantly colored than females.  As the Black Tiger Badis reaches maturity, males will often display even more intense coloration, especially when competing for the attention of females.

The Black Tiger Badis is a micro predator requiring a diet of meaty foods.  Many specimens will not accept dry flake and pellet foods, so live and frozen foods should be regularly offered.  In nature, this fish eats various small worms, small crustaceans, insects, and insect larvae.  In the aquarium, cyclops, glass worms, enriched Artemia, and Daphnia will make an excellent staple diet.  Bloodworms and Tubifex worms can be fed on occasion if no other appropriate foods are available, but should generally be avoided since they can lead to obesity problems and disease with badis species.

The aquarium of the Black Tiger Badis should include plenty of plants, rockwork, and driftwood.  Plenty of covers is necessary for this species and will ensure the most activity and least stress.  This fish is a cave spawner, so it is also a good idea to shape some décor into cave-like structures.  During spawning, the male will guard the eggs and newly-hatched fry, but any adults should be removed thereafter if you want to avoid cannibalism of the fry by the parents.

The Black Tiger Badis will thrive in a planted aquarium with relatively mild to moderate water flow and is generally peaceful with other species of fish.  Though it is a micro predator, its small size makes it safe with virtually any fish or invertebrate that is too large to be considered prey.  It can be housed with some invertebrates such as snails and larger shrimp, but it may eat the fry and juveniles of most Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp or any other small invertebrates that will fit in its mouth.  The Black Tiger Badis is somewhat timid compared to more boisterous fish, so it is necessary to make sure that this badis is not out-competed for food.  It may hybridize with other Badis species, so care should be taken if keeping it with the Scarlet Badis (Dario dario).

What We Like About This Fish:

• Beautiful red, black, and cream striping with black and blue highlights
• Peaceful disposition with most fish and peaceful invertebrates too large to be considered prey
• Adaptable to a very wide temperature range
• Very active in the middle and lower levels of the aquarium
• Extremely rare in the aquarium hobby

RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:

• Temperature:  59° – 77° F (15° – 25° C), though 68° – 75° F (20° – 24°) is best for long-term care.
• pH:  7.0 – 9.0
• KH:  2 – 6 dKH
• Minimum tank size:  20+ gallons for a group

CARE GUIDELINES: 

• Diet:  Micropredator. Live and frozen meaty foods, especially frozen foods such as cyclops, Daphnia and Artemia, Bloodworms, and Tubifex worms should generally be avoided.  Dry foods will often be ignored, but some specimens may accept them eventually
• Social behavior:  Mostly peaceful, loosely schooling/shoaling in small groups. Adult males can be territorial with other males.
• Origin:  Northern Myanmar
• Average adult size:  1 – 1.5 inches (2.5 – 3.8 cm)
• Average purchase size:  .5 – 1 inch (1.3 – 2.5 cm)