scarlet badis aka dario dario

[SammyP]

Has anyone ever seen them for sale anywhere? I've asked around at alot of LFS stores about these little guys over the years and pretty much every time i get the same answer. either "no" or "we'll give you a call" which basically means no. I'm thinking about doing a planted tank again.. geting that urge to plant and make things grow.. it must be because its spring. Anyways, thats the fish i want for the tank. Thanks.

[Sponsors]

[Grendel]

I've seen them in the Denver area once before, but that's it.

This guy seems to have some (As well as some other cool fish)...

http://www.franksaquarium.com/badis.htm



G

[waterfaller1]

Member xcooperx has them too. Search for the nano fish thread in the swap & shop. Though Frank is awesome to deal with, and he's in NY too.

[KurtG]

I saw them on aquabid recently (yesterday?) and twofishguyz.com (PA) might have some as well if you email them

[phatpanduh]

I have been looking for female dario dario for a while...and the hunt continues

[SammyP]

Thanks guys. Honestly i thought it'd be futile asking about them. Its good to see these fish are around. They're really an awesome fish. i thought they were dwarf cichlids when i first saw them but they're actually related to killies if i'm not mistaken. I was thinking like 10 or 15 specimens in my 15H with some Java fern and maybe some cryptos, m. minuta in the front... yeah... Hey, has anyone seen them in person? I've only seen 'em in a magazine, TFH had an article on them a year ago or so, thats what got me interested in them. I wonder if they all look as good as the ones in those photos.

[macclellan]

Originally Posted by SammyP

i thought they were dwarf cichlids when i first saw them but they're actually related to killies if i'm not mistaken.

They are the smallest known 'perchlike' fish, i.e. taxonomical order Perciformes. So, while not cichlids, they are a closer relation to cichlids, guaramis bettas etc. evolutionarily speaking, than to killies, which are of the order Cyprinodontiformes.

They look every bit as good in person. It's a shame females are so hard to come by.

[SammyP]

Thats pretty interesting mac. From what i've heard, these little guys are from a place in india where collection is somehow prohibited now makeing them only available from breeders and I highly doubt whoever is breeding these will give up any females. Someone will have to get lucky and get one that slipped by.

[kornphlake]

I've seen them at the legendary local fish store "The Wet Spot." At one time someone had posted on the local fish club forum that they'd seen females for sale, I'm not sure if anybody in the club bought them though.

[SammyP]

I'm reading that they mostly dont like flakes or pellets and that they prefer live foods. Its funny because the sites that i'm reading say they are easy to care for as long as you have perfect water and can feed them live foods. I dont know about you but a fish that will only eat live brine, rotifers, daphnia, etc.. doesnt exactly sound easy. I'm finding people say they are pretty bold fish. The fact that they're related to bettas, are recommended to pe kept in groups and only males are available, makes me think the tank would be a war zone. just imagine a 29 gallon with 10 male bettas in it! the carnage! I wonder how compatible they will be with shrimp, and ottos.

[macclellan]

Originally Posted by SammyP

Its funny because the sites that i'm reading say they are easy to care for as long as you have perfect water and can feed them live foods. I dont know about you but a fish that will only eat live brine, rotifers, daphnia, etc.. doesnt exactly sound easy.

You've ignored a middle category: frozen and freeze dried. Very easy. They just need clean water in the sense of decent regular water changes. They are easy like cherry shrimp are easy; don't be a retard and bathe them in ammonia and buy the right food. That's all.

They're nothing like male bettas. 2-3 male darios can be kept in a 10g.

[waterfaller1]

I love mine..he eats Hikari bloodworms, frozen cyclop-eeze, and live grindal worms{which are real easy to keep}. I keep mine with shrimp, and so does Frank from franksaquarium. They just move like a predator...a tiny one.

[SammyP]

cool! i already have cyclopeeze but its the freezedried kind. Its like powder and it floats on the surface. I guess i could just turkey baster it like i do with my SW tank.

At >1" i thought i'd be able to keep more in a 10g. the tank i'm thinking of is a 15H which is the same footprint as a 10 only its 50% taller. I'm was thinking about 10-15 range initially thats probably too many huh?

[macclellan]

Originally Posted by SammyP

I'm was thinking about 10-15 range initially thats probably too many huh?

Yeah, especially if they're all males. It isn't a schooling fish.

[waterfaller1]

Nope..the powdered stuff is for corals. Get frozen cycop-eeze.Only use a teensy tiny bit, a little goes a long way.