HomeFreshwater aquarium fishGouramis & bettasBadis Badis (Badis badis) Scientific name: Badis badis Hamilton, 1822 The Badis (Badis badis) is a freshwater fish of the family Badidae that grows to about 8 cm (3.1 in). It is semi-aggressive, needs carefully chosen tank mates and needs a tank of at least 75 L (20 US gal), water at 23–26°C (73–79°F) and a pH of 6.0–8.0. Native range: Asia, Ganges River drainage in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Badis care at a glanceTemperamentSemi-aggressiveCommunity tankWith cautionAdult size8 cm (3.1 in)Minimum tank75 L (20 US gal)Temperature23–26°C (73–79°F)pH6.0–8.0Hardness5–19 dGH (89–339 ppm)DietCarnivore. Accepts pellets, live foods, bloodworms and brine shrimp. BiologyDorsal spines: 15 - 17; Dorsal soft rays: 7-10; Anal soft rays: 6 - 8; Vertebrae: 26 - 28. The species has conspicuous dark blotch covering superficial part of cleithrum above pectoral fin base. Lacks a dark caudal peduncle blotch. Body depth 30.7-38.9%SL; interorbital width 6,5-8,3% SL; scales in lateral row 25-27; circumpeduncular scales 19-20; pectoral rays usually 12. Has a series of prominent dark blotches along dorsal fin base and/or a series of dark blotches along middle of dorsal fin; and has indistinct bars on side. Has a distal extrascapular.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameBadis badisFamilyBadidae (Chameleonfishes)OrderPerciformes (Perch-like fish)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length8.0EnvironmentFreshwater;; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 5 - 19 benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionAsia: Ganges River drainage in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, from Himachal Pradesh to the estuary; the Mahanadi River drainage; Assam lowlands close to Brahmaputra. Also reported from Bhutan and Pakistan.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercialResilienceLow, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=10-100) More gouramis & bettasChocolate gouramiSphaerichthys osphromenoidesOrnate ctenopomaMicroctenopoma ansorgiiSpotted ctenopomaCtenopoma acutirostreSlim bettaBetta bellicaCrescent bettaBetta imbellisSpotted bettaBetta pictaSee all gouramis & bettas Can it live with...?Badis and Chocolate gouramiBadis and Crescent bettaBadis and Croaking gouramiBadis and Moonlight gouramiBadis and Ornate ctenopomaBadis and Pygmy gouramiBadis and Roundtail paradisefishBadis and Siamese fighting fishBadis and Slim bettaBadis and Spotted bettaBadis and Spotted ctenopoma SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026