AquaRank.com

FishProfiles.com Message Forums

faq | etiquette | register | my account | search | mailbox
# FishProfiles.com Message Forums
L# Freshwater Aquaria
 L# General Freshwater
  L# Badis badis
 Post Reply  New Topic
SubscribeBadis badis
superlion
 
----------
Mega Fish
Posts: 1246
Kudos: 673
Votes: 339
Registered: 27-Sep-2003
female usa
Has anyone had experience with Badis badis? I have two in my planted 10-gallon tank (they're the only current residents). They really like to hide all the time, and they're good at it. One hides more than the other, too. I was wondering if adding small dither fish like harlequin rasboras or small tetras would help encourage them to come out. Or, would the badis be bullies to other fish?

><>
Post InfoPosted 22-Jun-2007 20:49Profile Homepage PM Edit Report 
im-trying
-----
Hobbyist
Posts: 115
Kudos: 53
Votes: 0
Registered: 25-Feb-2007
Hi, I've been researching them myself as an idea for my tank. As far as ive read they can be housed with other fish safley. Though I think you will have to be careful how well you stock the tank as ten gallons isnt much to playwith stocking wise. I wonder if you have two males though and one is quite dominant? To try and let shy fish settle in sometimes its a good idea to decorate it quite thick with plants? or floating plants to subdue the lights.

One question though shy are they colouring up very well? As i have seen some pictures of brilliant specimins that are bright red etc but others that have had only slight red tints over silver? I know the female is quite dull compared to the male but I wondered how the males looked?
Post InfoPosted 23-Jun-2007 00:48Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
superlion
 
----------
Mega Fish
Posts: 1246
Kudos: 673
Votes: 339
Registered: 27-Sep-2003
female usa
EditedEdited by superlion
There's driftwood and I recently put in more plants so I think it fits the definition of heavily planted (my first thought was that that more plants would help).

They change colors all the time to go with whatever they're near. When they're hiding by the black background or cave in the driftwood, they're about black. When next to a lighter area of the wood, browner. Earlier today one came out and it was lighter with reddish stripes. Makes sense that they're called chameleonfish. I've had them for about three or four weeks now.

The one that hides most is a little bit bigger and often has a light tan nose/top of the head.

And for your research, be aware they're hard to get to eat. Mine won't even eat while I'm watching. They don't seem to have lost any weight since I got them. They seem to be taking Betta Bites pellets when I've got my back turned. Or else they're eating bugs that came on the plants or something...

><>
Post InfoPosted 23-Jun-2007 01:09Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
Calilasseia
 
---------------
-----
*Ultimate Fish Guru*
Panda Funster
Posts: 5496
Kudos: 2828
Votes: 731
Registered: 10-Feb-2003
male uk
Innes noted in his venerable book how variable Badis badis can be. In fact, the illustration accompanying his piece brings this into VERY sharp relief. Plan your aquarium decor correctly and you could end up with Badis that match the wallpaper.

Here's what Innes has to say about them:

William T. Innes, Exotic Tropical Fishes, page 330

Many of our exotic fishes have extensive wardrobes of coloured garments which they wear according to whim and occasion, and an author attempting descriptions feels that he is helplessly repweating himself in saying very much the same thing about a number of species. However, Badis badis is one of the extreme cases. Our colour plate saves words. The reader may imagine any intermediate shade he pleases and not be far wrong. The usual colour is brown with black or red bars in a chain-like pattern. The clearness of the pattern as shown is not exaggerated.

Sexes cannot be told positively, but the males are more hollow-bellied and are apt to be darker and larger. Their fins are larger, too.

They usually spawn upside down on the inside of a flower-pot. Temperature around 80 [Fahrenheit] is preferred, at which point the eggs hatch in 2 days. The male guards them and protects the young for a short period.

This is one of those species that stands still in peculiar positions. It will eat live food only. Safer in community tank than in pairs.


Innes places Badis in the Family Nandidae, along with the Leaf Fishes Monocirrhus polyacanthus, Polycentrus schomburgki and Polycentropsis abbreviata. Later authors assign them to different Families taxonomically - Fishbase currently places them in their own Family, the Badidae, and lists no less than thirteen valid species of Badis. One can expect care and maintenance regimes for all of them to be similar with respect to water chemistry parameters, temperature, decor and compatible companions.

They will prove to be interesting fishes for a number of reasons, not least their colour schemes.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002
Post InfoPosted 23-Jun-2007 23:33Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
superlion
 
----------
Mega Fish
Posts: 1246
Kudos: 673
Votes: 339
Registered: 27-Sep-2003
female usa
I've read almost that exact same article from Innes, Cali... I have the 1966 19th edition But it is a really interesting one, especially with the color plate.

><>
Post InfoPosted 24-Jun-2007 07:15Profile Homepage PM Edit Delete Report 
Post Reply  New Topic
Jump to: 

The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.

FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies