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Badis badis
Fishes › Gouramis, bettas, snakeheads (Anabantiformes) › Badidae (Badis and scarlet badis)
Badis badis, also known as the blue perch or blue badis, is a small species of Asian freshwater fish in the family Badidae of the order Anabantiformes.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.8 in / 7.1 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Temperature: 57–86°F (range recorded for this species).
- pH: 6–8.
- Hardness: 5–19 dGH.
- Layout: Uses both the bottom and open water: give open swimming space plus cover near the substrate.
- Diet: A predator: feed meaty foods sized to its mouth (frozen fish, shrimp, worms); it will eat tankmates that fit in its mouth. FishBase classes it as a carnivore.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 31 × 12 in (roughly 19 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 59–77 °F, pH 6–7.5, 3–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: temperament territorial; in a pair; not a community fish.
- Difficulty: Easy (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Diet: “Badis species are micropredators feeding on small aquatic crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and other zooplankton.”
- Tankmates: “This species is sluggish with a retiring nature, and may be intimidated or out-competed for food by larger or aggressive species.”
- Breeding: “Members of this genus are cave-spawners that form temporary pair bonds.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Badis and scarlet badis
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: South Asian freshwater streams and vegetated margins, with Dario dario favoring shallow clear streams and Badis badis commonly inhabiting slower, turbid, plant-bearing water (dario; badis). Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- For D. dario, use at least a 45 × 30 cm (17.7 × 11.8 inch) base for a pair or one male with several females (dario).
- For B. badis, use at least an 80 × 30 cm (31.5 × 11.8 inch) base for a pair or small group (badis).
- Provide sand or fine gravel, dense cover, branches and leaf litter, with moss particularly useful for Dario spawning (dario; badis).
- Supply dispersed caves, such as half-coconut shells or accessible clay pots, for Badis spawning and separate male territories (badis).
- Use subdued lighting and gentle filtration for B. badis (badis).
Climate & lighting
| Water | 64.4–77°F |
Diet
- Live or frozen Artemia; use nauplii for tiny Dario (dario; badis).
- Daphnia (dario; badis).
- Grindal, micro- or banana worms for Dario (dario).
- Glassworm for Badis (badis).
Social life
- Use one male in small tanks; rival males need separate territories in larger setups. These slow feeders are easily outcompeted. Avoid mixing Badis species because of hybridization risk, and expect predation on small ornamental shrimp (dario; badis).
Health watch
- Obesity and increased disease susceptibility associated with bloodworm or Tubifex diets (dario; badis).
- Feeding failure from intimidation or food competition (dario; badis).
- Ammonia/nitrite toxicity (fish_vet).
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
It is found in ponds, rivers, ditches and swamps in northern India, eastern Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi and Indus basins. It is sometimes kept as an aquarium fish.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Badis badis” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater, in rivers and streams. Uses both the bottom and open water. Occurs solitarily in rivers, ponds and ditches. Also found in swamps. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater, 57–86 °F (14–30 °C), pH 6–8, hardness 5–19 dH. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
| Wild diet | Hunting macrofauna (predator). |
| Behavior to plan for | Breeding: nesters. |
What this means for care
- Keep water within its wild range, 57–86 °F.
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 93°F (up to 105°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 53°F (down to 47°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 73–81°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 64–77% on average (driest month about 57%) |
| Rainfall | about 2044 mm a year, with strong wet and dry seasons |
Measured at 101 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Badis badis, also known as the blue perch or blue badis, is a small species of Asian freshwater fish in the family Badidae of the order Anabantiformes. It is found in ponds, rivers, ditches and swamps in northern India, eastern Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, including the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi and Indus basins. It is sometimes kept as an aquarium fish. It is a small, predatory fish that feeds on tiny invertebrates. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Reproduction | Distinct pairing with embrace. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Maximum length 7.1 cm tl male/unsexed; maximum published weight 2.58 g. — FishBase |
| Biology | Occurs solitarily in rivers, ponds and ditches. Feeds on worms, crustaceans and insects. Used for behavioral studies. — FishBase |
Data and studies
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Typical adult weight
Average adult body mass in each database (FishBase gives the maximum recorded weight).
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as total length. Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates in nature; aim for the middle.
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 31 × 12 in (about 19 US gallons).
Veterinary & husbandry research
Veterinary & husbandry research
- Effects of carotenoid supplementation on colour, growth and physiological function of the endemic dwarf chameleon fish (Badis badis) Biswas P et al., Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition 2024
Peer-reviewed papers that mention this species alongside captivity, zoos, veterinary care or aquaculture. Some cover several species or mention it only in passing, so check the abstract. 170
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Seriously Fish — Dario dario Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Seriously Fish — Badis badis Experienced keeper or breederAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Merck Veterinary Manual — Management of Aquarium Fish Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- PubMed (U.S. National Library of Medicine) Peer-reviewed researchIndex of peer-reviewed veterinary, zoo and husbandry research.
- iNaturalist (captive observations) Community referenceCommunity observation platform run by the California Academy of Sciences and National Geographic; observations marked captive show animals living in homes, zoos and aquariums.
