Moderate
Honey Dwarf Gourami Red (Colisa chuna red)
20–25°C · pH 6.5–7.5 · 30L
£8.99
Assam Badis (Badis assamensis) for quiet planted aquariums; a shy micropredator needing shaded cover, calm tank mates and live/frozen foods.
Badis assamensis
Assam Badis bond and breed in male/female pairs — buying a pair gives them the social structure they need.
Assam Badis (Badis assamensis) for quiet planted aquariums; a shy micropredator needing shaded cover, calm tank mates and live/frozen foods.
Assam Badis (Badis assamensis) is a characterful badid for quiet, planted aquariums with shaded cover and careful feeding. Badis are sometimes called chameleon fish because their colours can shift with mood, dominance, cover and breeding condition, but they are not a bright open-water display fish like a tetra or rainbowfish.
This is a small predatory perch-like fish for keepers who enjoy behaviour at close range: stalking food, holding small territories, using caves and moving in short deliberate bursts. It is best for a mature aquarium with calm tank mates and live or frozen foods available.
| Common name | Assam Badis, Chameleon Fish |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Badis assamensis |
| Adult size | Can reach around 8-9 cm, larger than many small Badis species |
| Care level | Moderate; feeding and tank-mate choice matter |
| Temperament | Shy to territorial; not aggressive in the open-water cichlid sense |
| Diet | Micropredator; prefers live and frozen foods |
| Best aquarium | Quiet planted aquarium with caves, leaf litter, wood and low stress |
Assam Badis suit aquarists who like subtle fish with interesting behaviour. They do not rush around the tank or compete well with boisterous feeders. Instead, they inspect cover, ambush small foods and hold favourite shaded areas. In the right aquarium they become much more confident, especially when the layout gives them safe retreat points.
They are often a better choice for a specialist planted setup than for a busy beginner community. If you want a fish that eats flakes immediately and swims at the front all day, choose another species. If you enjoy watching natural hunting behaviour in a calm aquarium, Assam Badis can be very rewarding.
| Temperature | 22-26°C is a practical aquarium range; avoid hot unstable tanks |
|---|---|
| pH | Around 6.5-7.5 suits most aquarium care references |
| Hardness | Soft to moderately hard water; stability matters more than chasing extremes |
| Flow | Gentle flow with good oxygenation |
| Water quality | Mature filter, zero ammonia/nitrite and regular small water changes |
Badis do best when water is clean and stable, with no sharp swings after arrival. A quiet aquarium with shaded zones is safer than a bright, turbulent setup. If your tank is still new or cycling, wait before adding this species.
| Minimum aquarium | From around 60 litres for a carefully planned small setup; larger is easier |
|---|---|
| Cover | Wood, caves, rock crevices, leaf litter and dense plants |
| Substrate | Sand or smooth fine gravel with shaded areas |
| Lighting | Subdued lighting or floating plants help confidence |
| Territories | Use several caves and broken sight lines if keeping more than one |
A simple open tank is not ideal. The layout should create small territories and sheltered feeding areas. Leaf litter, botanicals and fine plants can make the fish feel secure, but keep water quality steady and avoid letting trapped food rot in quiet corners.
| Good choices | Calm small rasboras, peaceful small barbs, quiet loaches, small catfish and other non-boisterous fish that do not steal all food |
|---|---|
| Use care with | Other Badis, Dario and small territorial bottom/cave fish |
| Avoid | Large predators, fin nippers, fast greedy feeders, aggressive cichlids and tiny fry-sized shrimp |
| Feeding competition | Choose tank mates that leave time for targeted live/frozen feeding |
The main compatibility issue is feeding, not only aggression. Assam Badis may ignore dry foods at first and can lose condition if housed with fish that take every frozen food before it reaches the lower cover. Feed with a pipette or target small portions near their territory if needed.
| Best foods | Frozen bloodworm, daphnia, cyclops, brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and small live foods |
|---|---|
| Dry foods | May be ignored at first; some individuals learn small pellets over time |
| Routine | Small targeted meals, watching the fish actually eat |
| Condition check | A rounded but not swollen belly after feeding is a good sign |
Seriously Fish describes Badis as micropredators that feed on small crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and zooplankton. That is the safest way to think about the diet. Do not rely on ordinary flakes unless you have personally confirmed the fish are accepting them.
| 2.5-3.5 cm | Current smaller size option; easier to settle into a quiet planted tank |
|---|---|
| 3.5-4 cm | Larger option when available |
| First order | Use WELCOME10 when eligible for 10% off your first order |
| Arrival cover | Covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee when delivery and acclimation steps are followed |
| First feeding | Offer small frozen or live foods once the fish has had time to settle |
On arrival, keep lights low and avoid chasing the fish around the aquarium. Give it cover immediately, then feed lightly after it has settled. If the fish hides at first, that is normal for Badis; confidence usually improves in a calm, planted setup.
Choose Assam Badis if you want a quiet, behaviour-rich fish for a mature planted aquarium and you are happy feeding live or frozen foods. It is not the easiest first community fish, but it can be an excellent choice for keepers who like shaded aquascapes, micro-predator behaviour and careful observation.
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