Live food for Dario dario (aka Scarlet Badis, Badis bengalensis sp. Scarlet)

[IndianaSam]

Hi all. Long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm setting up a 20 gallon long heavily planted tank and I'm currently looking for inhabitants. After a long search and lots of thought, I've decided on trying to keep Dario Dario. Link to supplier I'm considering. (http://www.azgardens.com/misc_fish.php)

From my reading, I know that they prefer live foods. Even preferring them to the point of not taking any prepared food. That's fine, I'm willing to deal with that. Unfortunately, I have almost no previous experience with feeding/raising live foods.

So what food would be good for these fish? I was thinking microworms, but I was afraid that the microworms may be too small.

Anyway, that's my question. Also, I'm only thinking about having 6 of them in the tank (possibly with some red cherry shrimp), is that too large or too small of a group?

Thanks,
IndianaSam

[IndianaSam]

Should I move this thread? Bump.

[OrionGirl]

I think you'll get more help in the Cichlid section...OG

[IndianaSam]

Originally posted by OrionGirl
I think you'll get more help in the Cichlid section...OG

Thanks so much. Um...even though it's not actually a Cichlid (I've done my homework). :p

[Harry Tolen]

Hey, although it isn't a cichlid, it sure looks like one. So we'll call it an honorary cichlid.

I have heard about this fish's live food requirements as well. It is quite small enough to take baby brine shrimp on a long-term basis. In addition, white worms are also relatively easy to culture.

I seem to remember that another member here picked up some of these fish last year. Let me see if I can track that down and get you some info.

[IndianaSam]

Thanks for your help. I mostly just need to know if microworms are the right size for dario dario's mouths :)

Or maybe guppy fry for food? That could be cool...and easier than raising worms. Anyway, my wife thinks that raising worm is gross.

[Harry Tolen]

Really small baby guppies might be OK, although I don't know enough about the Scarlet Badis to know whether it would be able to catch them. If they are a viable foodsource, they are still not all that nutritious, so you would need to feed them just before you feed them to the Badis.

Microworms aren't really that gross. They grow in a closed container (with airholes, of course) in potting soil with bread and milk for food. Not too bad. In my experience, the most difficult thing is getting them to concentrate in a ball so you can get them out of the culture medium.

Baby brine shrimp will also definitely work. It's just a fair amount of work to keep hatching and harvesting them.