BURMESE SCARLET BADIS (Dario Hysginon)

Endemic to Myanmar where it has been recorded from small streams and tributaries close to the city of Myitkyina in Kachin State as well as in nearby Lake Indawgyi, the largest inland lake in Southeast Asia, with and all known habitats within the Irrawaddy/Ayeyarwady river system.

Displays a marked preference for small, often turbid pools with dense growths of aquatic plants or submerged grasses.

The type locality is a shallow (~ 1m depth during the dry season), clear water stream with a sand and pebble substrate which flows through both secondary forest and agricultural land.

The water is described as having a moderate current with grassy marginal vegetation and a Cryptocoryne sp. growing submerse.

D. hysginon occurs sympatrically with Badis corycaeus and B. kyar with the three occupying different ecological niches; B. corycaeus is found in running water towards the margins of the stream, B. kyar in the faster flow towards the centre and D. hysginon only in still pools around the shoreline.

A number of other fishes were found at this location from Acanthocobitis, Schistura, Danio and Puntius to Pillaia, Indostomus and Microphis species.

In Lake Indawgyi it occurs alongside B. corycaeus with both species collected from heavily-vegetated marginal zones.

One of the smallest percoid fishes known. Males grow to around 20 mm and females 15 mm.

Temperature: It is subject to seasonal temperature fluctuations in nature and is comfortable within the range 59 – 77°F/15 – 25°C with even greater extremes being tolerated for short periods. In many countries/well-insulated homes it can be therefore maintained without artificial heating year-round.

Higher temperatures are known to stimulate spawning activity meaning a heater will be required if you want to breed the fish outside of spring and summer months though. Set it to around 20 – 24 °C for long-term care and breeding.

pH: Prefers neutral to alkaline water with a value between 6.5 – 7.5.