|
|
|
Others
/ Bedotiinae / Badis
Badis, Blue Perch, Dwarf Chameleon Fish
Badis badis | Pictures
Synonyms: Badis
buchanani, Labrus badis
Physical description: An elongated, oval-shaped species with slight lateral compression.
The mouth is small and the caudal fin
in fan-shaped.
The dorsal fin runs from above the pectoral fin to the caudal penuncle and may be very
elongate depending on the fish.
Healthy males have a brownish-red back with with raspberry to red to blue flanks.
The
flanks are marked with red, yellow, and/or blue spots.
The lower parts are orange to green.
A black stripe extends from the mouth,
through the eye, to the base of the dorsal fin.
The dorsal fin is reddish and marked with green or red horizontal stripes.The
other fins vary from blue to red in color.
Size/Length: To 3.2" (8 cm)
Similar species: None
Habitat: Inhabits still and slow moving water with heavy vegetation in India
S: bottom, middle
Aquarium: A tank measuring 24" (61 cm) with a capacity of 15-20 gallons (57-76 L) is sufficient.
The
tank should be well-planted with plenty of hiding places (flower pots, wood, rocks, roots, pipes, etc.).
Use
a fine gravel or sand substrate.
Water chemistry: pH 6-8 (7.0), 3-16 dH (8), 75-84°F (24-29°C)
Social behavior: A peaceful fish suggested for some community tanks.
At first shy, this species will gain
trust for its owner once acclimated.
Under cramped conditions this species may become more aggressive.
Do
not keep with fish that will compete aggressively for food as this species may starve.
Parents form a patriarchal family.
Suggested companions: Barbs, Rasboras, Danios,
Colisa,
Corydoras, Hemigrammus, Hyphessobrycon, Loricarids,
Pangio
FOOD: Live; Tubifex
, insect larvae, Brine Shrimp; grated meat; acclimated fish may accept flakes and pellets
SEX: Males are more colorful and females have rounder bellies.
Breeding techniques: Use a small aquarium with a volume of 5-10 gallons (19-38 L).
The water temperature should be increased
to 81-86°F (27-30°C).
Furnish a spawning site of a cave or flower pot.
After an active spawning with includes
embracement, up to 100 eggs are laid.
These are guarded by the male.
The eggs hatch after three days and the fry are free-swimming 4-5 days later.
The
male continues to care for the young until the contents of their egg sac is gone.
Remove the parents and start feeding
the fry with Artemia
nauplii.
Breeding potential: 6.
Breeding is fairly easy.
Remarks: This species is sensitive to disease, especially fish tuberculosis.
A sub-species
B. badis Burmanicus with red body coloring
is imported from Burma.
This species is closely related to the Labyrinth fish family.
Difficulty of care: 5.
This species requires frequent partial water changes in order to prosper.
It also requires a diet of live foods.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
|
|
|
