A substrate spawner forming temporary pairs, not a true cave spawner: eggs are scattered on the underside of a leaf or other solid surface (Java moss works well). The male holds the territory afterwards, but adults eat the fry, so move eggs or adults.
A harem of one male and 3-5 females.
A 20-30 L planted tank with caves and moss.
Live food and a mature, plant-rich tank.
Eggs hatch in 2-3 days; fry take up to a week to absorb the yolk and need infusoria-sized food before microworm or Artemia nauplii. No egg count given in sources.
Fry eat infusoria and baby brine shrimp.
One breeding tank for the scarlet badis, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 18–26 °C · pH 6.5–7.8
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 2 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the scarlet badis in numbers.
In total: 6 tanks, about 204 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Males are red with seven iridescent blue vertical bars and longer pelvic, dorsal and anal fins. Females are smaller, plainer, with no red or blue on the flanks and faint or no bars and a shorter, stumpier body. Shops often stock only males.
Typical for cave spawners
Give one cave per pair or female, plus a varied diet.
Eggs are laid inside the cave and guarded, usually by the male.
Eggs hatch in 3–7 days depending on the species and temperature.
Feed baby brine shrimp and crushed food. Plecos need wood and vegetables.
Fry grow on in their own tank.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Give one cave per pair or female, plus a varied diet.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.