Chameleon fish - peaceful, small, rare. Badis Badis or Chameleon Fish (Badis badis) Badis fish

(Badis badis) is a beautiful dark blue fish that has been known to aquarists for several decades. People call her the chameleon fish. It is thanks to this species that the genus got its name. Rarely found in hobby aquariums today. Nevertheless, these calm, not too fastidious fish can be of interest not only for experienced aquarists, but also for beginners.

Initially, they were mistakenly classified as cichlids, although their closer relatives are representatives of the Nandidae family (Nandidae), to which they were also once referred, but later, on the basis of certain signs, they were isolated into an independent genus of the new family Badidae.

They were brought to Europe at the beginning of the last century, the first Europeans to meet them were German aquarists. Soon they were successfully bred by them, forming a stable aquarium population.

For a long time it was believed that the habitat is limited to the waters of central and southern India. But studies carried out in recent decades significantly expanded the area of ​​​​their distribution, to which were added the reservoirs of the southeast of Pakistan, Thailand, including well known to tourists Phuket island. Representatives of the genus are found in Nepal, Myanmar, China and Bangladesh.

In nature, they inhabit stagnant or slowly flowing waters. Their natural biotopes are characterized by a low water level, an abundance of vegetation and driftwood.

An example of such a biotope is the small river Ghotigapga in western Bengal, which in some places can be easily forded. The flow in the river is slow, and the water parameters are as follows: t=30°C, pH 6.4, GH 6°.

Badis badis is the most famous member of the genus.
This small fish, growing up to 8 cm, received its common name for its unusual ability to change color depending on mood, physiological state or conditions of detention.

The color scheme can vary over a wide range. The same individual, different time, may be gray, yellowish, bluish, blue, brown or almost black with a purple tint and a mosaic mottled pattern.

Based on the latest revision, scientific description today they have about 14 species. Apparently, the described species are only a small part of the genus Badis. Every year new as yet undescribed species appear. And if we take into account that the genus has a wide distribution area (from Thailand to India, Bangladesh and Nepal), which is becoming more accessible, which in turn promises new discoveries in the near future.

For taxonomic reasons, they were combined into species groups, which are based on various combinations of characters.

Three such groups are described below:

Burmese
The largest representatives of the genus (the length of males can reach 7-8 cm), but not the most capable in terms of color change. The “combat” coloration differs from the everyday one only by a greater saturation of colored specks and the appearance of dark wedge-shaped spots, the base directed to the crest of the back, and the apex - to the abdomen.

The size of females is 2-3 cm smaller, and their coloration is much more modest. The fins are almost colorless, and the state in which the fish stay has practically no effect on their outfit.

Fights between males break out quite often, but they are more of a ritual, non-contact nature, the result of which is no serious injury. In captivity, fish behave quite naturally, scurrying around the aquarium, using shelters only during spawning.

Siamese
These are a little smaller (the length of males is 6 cm, females - 3-4 cm), but unlike the first, they more correspond to their common name - chameleon fish.

The emotional state of the fish, their hierarchical position in the group, and other factors dramatically affect their coloration. The alpha male usually has the brightest and most contrasting coloration. Other males are somewhat paler in color, but there is also gloss and sophistication in their outfits. But the females are painted very modestly, the observer's gaze usually does not linger on them.

Siamese males are more aggressive, they measure their strength with great excitement, but even they don’t get into serious fights, the winner quickly loses interest in the defeated opponent.

Siamese prefer the bottom layers, and when compared with the Burmese, they spend more time in shelters, especially males at the bottom of the hierarchical ladder. Females are more often found in the middle layers and near the surface.

Bengalis
Compared to others badies, to which they bear little resemblance, they are just dwarfs, the length of males is limited to three centimeters, and females to two.

Representatives of the stronger sex are excessively bright and imposing, unlike females which can hardly be seen in the aquarium. But unlike the first two, there are practically no fights between male Bengalis. True, during the spawning period, males in the heat of excitement are able to inflict injuries on the female.
Bengals prefer to stay near the surface, in thickets of long-stemmed plants with finely dissected foliage (cabombs, ambulia, pinnates, etc.).

After reading various publications, we can conclude that males are territorial and pugnacious. Violent fights between them often end in the death or injury of one of the opponents. And you can keep them together only in a spacious aquarium, with an abundance of shelter and females.
From the same sources it follows that they love the twilight, they are shy, secretive, they spend most of their time in shelters.

One can argue with such definitions, since their tendency to shady corners is not true. If there are zones with different light intensities in the aquarium, the vast majority prefer to stay in well-lit places.

The notorious pugnacity is also greatly exaggerated.
It can manifest itself only in small tanks, where keeping two males can lead to negative consequences, at first their behavior is clearly competitive, this continues until one of the rivals proves his superiority, after which the dominant male begins to persecute and oppress more a weak opponent, which in the end can lead to his death.
Females behave more calmly, although conflicts sometimes arise between them.

Tournament fight between two males

In larger containers (from 200 liters) there are no such problems. Several couples can coexist in them without conflict. Although shelters in the form of grottoes, crevices, caves in heaps of stones, snags, dense thickets of plants around the perimeter of the aquarium will not interfere. They will be useful for both spawning pairs and "subordinate" males and adolescents.
So these medium-sized fish are quite peaceful. Males protect their small territory from the claims of neighbors and fellow tribesmen. During tournament fights, the color of the fish changes, becomes brighter, more contrasting, the pattern is constantly updated. Fights between males are quite emotional, but they are almost harmless in nature and end with the expulsion of the opponent from someone else's territory.

Quite unpretentious, quickly get used to different conditions, can live both in soft (4-6 dGH) and rather hard (up to 20 dGH) water with a pH of 6.5-7.5, with a temperature of 20 to 26°C.

Fish demonstrate their best qualities and most fully reveal them in a relatively small species aquarium with a capacity of 50-70 liters, decorated in pastel colors. In which lighting should be muted by floating or long-stemmed plants. Under such conditions, the variability in the color of fish will be most noticeable.

Badis near the shelter

For successful maintenance, the water in the aquarium must be of good quality. If some species need water that is close in its parameters to natural water, then some liberties can be afforded in the maintenance of others. In most natural water bodies, the pH level is in the region of 7 units or slightly less, and the hardness value lies in the range of 3-4 dGH.

Such indicators should be sought only when breeding, although many species are able to breed in ordinary tap water with a pH of no more than 7.5 and a hardness not exceeding 8 dGH. Let us not, however, forget that the fish, which in question, for the most part, come from nature, so it would be logical, at least at first, to maintain the water parameters characteristic of natural biotopes.

On average, it is necessary to replace from 10 to 30% of the total volume of the aquarium per week.

Due to the vast range, the temperature in their biotopes can vary significantly. For example, in Thailand the water is usually warmer than in Nepal, and in some areas of Myanmar it sometimes snows. For this reason, the water for keeping should not be too warm.

The water temperature in natural biotopes depends on the season, so in winter time it can drop to 15°C, and in summer rise to 25°C or one or two degrees higher. That is, the difference can be more than 10 degrees! These values ​​can be considered extreme.

For most species, winter water temperatures can drop to just below 20°C. and in summer rise to 25-27°C, which is the absolute maximum.

The flow of water in the aquarium should be moderate, and for young individuals - slow. And since many species live in water bodies with a current, the circulation of water in the aquarium will not harm them.

As for the size of the aquarium. Then for a pair or a nest consisting of one male and two females, an aquarium 60 cm long (54 liters) is enough. For two pairs, an aquarium already 80 cm long will be required, while the likelihood of conflicts between males decreases in direct proportion to the volume of the tank.

A prerequisite for keeping is the creation of numerous shelters in the aquarium: it can be dense thickets of plants, heaps of stones, coke nut shells, in which fish often spawn.

Badis near the shelter

The benefits of a large number of shelters will soon become apparent. Pisces will quickly get used to the new environment, stop being afraid and show themselves in the best possible way.

Ideally fit into the community of small calm fish, where it occupies a zone near the bottom. Basically, the territory of a pair or an adult male is limited to a small space near some kind of shelter: a coconut shell, a snag, a ceramic pot turned over on its side.

In the presence of proportionate, peaceful neighbors who are not perceived badies as a source of a real or potential threat, fish behave freely, openly, moving freely throughout the aquarium, allowing the observer to enjoy their peculiar behavior to their fullest.

In order to get to know these interesting fish aquatic flora should not be allowed to grow up to the front glass, and shelters should not be made too deep. Shallow grottoes and dense thickets provide the necessary sense of security at the same time, do not allow them to completely hide from view, which is natural for these fish.

While the females swim around the aquarium, exploring its most hidden corners, the males first capture a small area around one of the shelters and leave it only to feed.

Badis diet

In this regard, they are quite picky, mainly consuming live food, while often agreeing only to bloodworms.

They completely refuse dry food even after a week of starvation.

The pipe maker is not taken willingly, only when they are very hungry. But with great appetite they eat freed from shells physical and coils.

Appetite is very moderate. As a rule, they are not prone to overeating. In males, after a hearty meal, the stomach is rounded, the concavity of the body in the abdominal region, characteristic of their appearance, disappears. In females, especially mature ones, lush forms are observed both before feeding and after.

In a community aquarium, feeding should be given Special attention, especially if their neighbors are such nimble fish as tetras or rasboras. Slow ones often do not have time to feed. Therefore, you should make some effort and feed near their shelters, otherwise they will be constantly hungry.

From poor feeding, fish quickly lose weight and may die. An excess of food is also harmful and can lead to obesity. Once - twice a week it is useful to arrange "fasting" days, thereby keeping the fish in good shape.

Badis - sexual dimorphism

They become sexually mature quite early, depending on the species, by 5-8 months of life. At this age, their length can be 2/3 of the nominal.

Sexual dimorphism begins to appear even in immature individuals: the male before feeding can be distinguished by the retracted abdomen, the females are more rounded, not so brightly colored, their dorsal and anal fins do not have sharp ends.

Pair of badis in the aquarium

In addition to the bright attire, larger dimensions and the characteristic shape of the abdomen, males are distinguished by wider and higher anal and dorsal fins, which they show to females with pleasure.

Reproduction of badis in an aquarium

There are also many contradictions in the breeding information.

The hardness value of 8dGH, thus defined as the upper limit, should not be taken too harshly.

They are undemanding to water quality and can spawn even in water with a hardness of about 20 dGH, although they feel better in water with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction that has passed through a peat filler.

Spawning is paired, on a solid substrate, in most species occurs in approximately the same way.

The initiative often comes from the female, her first attempts to approach the male usually stumble upon aggression from his side, despite this, she pushes him again and again, already dressed in marriage attire. Finally, the male responds to the female's efforts by wrapping and turning her over. In this position, the pair can remain above the substrate for quite a long time, after which it releases caviar and milk. After that everything starts all over again.

Spawning continues until the female's entire supply of caviar runs out. For almost an hour of spawning, the female lays 150-200 amber-colored eggs. The caviar is quite large (0.8-1 mm in diameter) and very sticky. It is almost impossible to tear them off the substrate without damaging them. There are very few unfertilized eggs in the clutch, and the waste during incubation is also small.

After spawning, it is better to remove the female. The male is responsible for guarding the clutch to the offspring. During this period, it also actively changes its color, surprising the observer with a variety of shades of color.

Unlike most cichlids and labyrinth fish, the male can hardly be called a caring father. All his care for the caviar is limited to fanning it with his fins.

Hatching of larvae, depending on the temperature, occurs after 40-50 hours. Hatching is friendly, lasts no more than an hour. The larvae are 2.5 - 3 mm in size, at first they are practically motionless, they can stay in the same place for hours.

When the water temperature in the spawning ground is 27-28 °C, the yolk sac in the larvae resolves on about 6-7 days and the larvae, grown up to 4-5 mm, pass into the fry stage, starting periodically to break away from the substrate, trying to swim in the water column. But only after a day they are fully mastered and begin to search for food.

If at this moment the male is still in the spawning area, then it's time to transplant him. Since some males do not quite adequately relate to the spreading of their offspring and are too energetically trying to return the fry to their place, collecting them with their mouths.

Badis female at the entrance to a coconut shell

In principle, you can leave the male for several weeks with offspring. Because adults are not inclined to eat their fry.

The fry need very small live food, it is better if they are rotifers, nematodes, brine shrimp or cyclops nauplii, feeding with paramecia also gives good results - frequent and in a moderate amount for each meal. The fry are inactive, in order to get enough food there should be a lot and it should be in front of their very nose.

A great danger to the life of fry is their overfeeding, which quickly leads to water pollution, as a result of which the entire brood dies in a short period of time. Therefore, changing the water and cleaning the bottom is required almost every day.

In a nursery tank with sandy substrate, live plants, a few snails and biological filtration, the risk of fry death is reduced.

The growth rate of fry cannot be called fast, by the age of one month they barely reach 1 cm. After switching to feeding on crushed bloodworms, things go faster, as the fry become more dynamic. There is less food leftovers and fry care is simplified.

Increasingly rare in amateur aquariums. It's a pity. After all, in their intelligence they are close to cichlids. Bright, impressive in their own way, interesting, and even not paying attention to their neighbors - well, why not an attractive object for a common aquarium. In general, keeping and breeding is a real pleasure. Do not deny yourself it and do not believe unverified horror stories.

Badis-chameleon (badis badis) - estimated price in Russia

Badis badis, or chameleon fish, is a very secretive fish whose family is considered endangered. Why is the fish called a chameleon? Perhaps the secret is in her appearance?

Why secretive? But because Badis badis does not really favor representatives of the sea and does not come into contact with other fish species. It lives in stagnant waters, where there are many plants and little lighting. The 8-centimeter beauty was originally brought to Europe from India around 1905. This was done by the Germans from the fish farming company "Matte and Tum". In record time, badis-badis spread not only throughout Germany, but also throughout Europe.

Despite the secrecy, breeding is quite simple: a 20-liter aquarium is taken, more plants and some kind of pebble or stalk from a clay pot 10-15 cm in size. Light is needed dim. During spawning, the water temperature should be 26°C, pH - 6.5, and dGH 7°, dKH 1°. The fish are seated in pairs, and this is where a stone or a piece of a pot is needed - it serves as a kind of cradle for eggs. Sometimes small depressions in the sand are also dug for these purposes, and males are engaged in this business. In the future, they also take care of the eggs and fry, although this is not necessary. In addition, males are quite jealous of their territory and unfriendly to other males.

If speak about appearance, then the males are quite large - 8 centimeters in length, with powerful fins.

The color of the scales of the chameleon fish varies in a very wide range, but the main feature is a kind of iron reflection.

In old age, their abdomen falls, and the body bends like a bow. Females are small and inconspicuously faded, with a convex abdomen. After the spawning period is over, the females should be transplanted separately. More than 200 fish are born from one litter of Badis badis. The larvae hatch in two days from transparent and sticky eggs less than a centimeter in size. After a week they can be fed.

The fry themselves are transparent, there is only a black spot on the tail and head, so it is rather difficult to distinguish them. They almost do not move, lie at the bottom of the aquarium. The main food of these fish is something living, for example, small larvae of aquatic insects or a marine tubifex.

The Badidae family is often considered a subfamily of another fish family, the Nandidae. And in 1936, Al made a note about a red-brown variety from Burma.

Aquarium enthusiasts know many different types of fish that are fun to keep. or chameleon fish, not popular. It is all the more interesting to know what kind of species it is and how to handle it.

Description

The chameleon fish belongs to the Nandidae family, which is represented by supposedly three subspecies. Not all researchers agree with this. At least 7 more subspecies have been identified. Three are detailed:

• badis;
• Burmese;
• Siamese.

Coloring: bluish-gray, brownish, reddish.

All badis are chameleons, they change color according to environment. Males are up to 6 cm long, females are slightly smaller. Fish have gender differences: females are smaller and rounder, not so brightly colored. Males are more beautiful and larger, the body is thinner.

Did you know? “Mute like a fish” is definitely not about fish, because they are able to make sounds in a frequency range inaccessible to the human ear.

Due to the difference in appearance, males sell better, so females are in short supply. This is important for those who breed these rare individuals. Rare because chameleons are not very popular among aquarists.

Range and habitat in nature

In nature, this family lives in Asia, it is widely represented in the rivers of India and neighboring states. They need slow muddy water, they hide under snags, in the rotting remains of grass, fallen leaves, where they are really hard to find. In fact, no one is looking. This fish has no industrial value, is of interest exclusively as an aquarium.

Life in an aquarium

In an aquarium, a badis fish will feel great if an amateur aquarist creates the conditions she needs.

Badis needs:

• an aquarium of at least 40 liters in volume;
• sandy or gravel bottom;
• many shelters made of snags, coconut shells, branches;
• lack of bright light;
• water of medium hardness and pH 6.0-7.5;
• temperature +15...+25 °C;
• desirable biotope;
• plants attached to the decor and floating on the surface for shading.

Feeding

natural food chameleon fish:

• worms;
• insects;
• larvae;
• any zooplankton.

For this reason, at first they do not eat artificial food, but with the persistence of the owner they get used to it. However, this should not be abused and still give fish live and frozen food, namely:

• artemia;
• daphnia;
• coretra.

Coloring directly depends on nutrition: the better and more varied the food, the brighter it is. Fish have poor health and are prone to stomach diseases, so bloodworms and tubifex are excluded from the diet. Neighbors should not overeat these shy and timid inhabitants of the aquarium.

Important! Fish can die from a single overfeed.

Care

Caring for these fish is not difficult, it all comes down to the general proper functioning of the aquarium as ecosystems. This is what the owner should be concerned about. To ensure this, firstly, you need regular and proper water changes, preferably once a week. Tap water cannot be poured without purification and settling.

Secondly, it is required to clean the internal space of the aquarium from the waste products of fish and other inhabitants. Since the badis aquarium has a volume of 40 liters or more, it will take time to put things in order in it. All these nuances must be taken into account when deciding to start aquarium fish, and badis in particular.

Compatibility

Badis do not belong to nimble fish, so they have developed a different defense: the ability to mimic the environment. They are chameleons, and that says it all.

Did you know? gold fish Also called office. It is a couple of such individuals that can most often be found in office premises.

They feel best in the biotope, but if this is not possible, then when keeping these fish, it is important to remember some of their features as a species.

• Males are prone to aggression towards their own kind, therefore they contain either a pair or one male at the head of several females.
• They eat individuals smaller than themselves - fry, shrimp.
• Neighbors should be peaceful - neon, panda.
• Similar behavior of other species will create problems in the aquarium, apistograms are definitely not suitable for living together with badis.

Breeding

Badis do not belong to a species that cannot be bred in an aquarium, such as brocade catfish.

They spawn well in shelters, a large number of which guarantees a high survival rate of fry. The male will guard the offspring in artificial caves, and it is better to plant other fish during this period. Spawning is stimulated by an increase in water temperature within reasonable limits, as well as abundant live food.

The mating ritual of this species goes like this:

• Before spawning, males darken, and their fins turn bright blue.
• They invite females to their cave, displaying a special courtship behavior.
• The female lays 30-100 eggs, and on this her mission is completed.
• The male no longer needs her, and she is put away.
• The badis male will guard the eggs until the fry hatch. He fans the masonry with his fins to increase the flow of water.
• The fry appear within a day, sometimes after 36 hours, but live near their father for a week.

Important! As soon as the little thing starts to leave the shelter, the adult male forgets whose father he is and begins to perceive his own children as food.

Very important at this moment separate a parent and its offspring. They begin to feed the fry with commercial special foods, microworms, then brine shrimp and other plankton.

“Mighty nature is full of miracles” - even Lomonosov noted this. And the little badis-badis brilliantly demonstrates the possibilities and incomprehensible diversity of the world around.

Homeland - clean rivers and stagnant reservoirs of the Indian Peninsula.

Description

Reach a size of 6 cm, females are smaller. The body is relatively low, laterally compressed, the back is slightly convex, the abdomen is somewhat concave, the head is relatively small, and the dorsal fin is long. This species has many geographic forms.

The fish got its name for the ability to change color (males are especially distinguished by this), which depends on mood, physiological state, environmental conditions and can be gray, gray-yellow, brownish, bluish, greenish or black with a violet-blue tint and a mosaic pattern of silvery, blue-black and reddish scales. The fish is either completely invisible on the ground, or it suddenly darkens to the color of coal, then suddenly transverse stripes are sharply indicated. Hiding in a cave where he guards the offspring, the male periodically swims up literally every time with a new brilliant color. The back is olive to black-blue in color, its belly is greenish or bluish. On the back, a dark spot in a light edging is sometimes visible. The fins are yellowish green, bluish or dark blue. The caudal fin comes with a red or green stripe and a pinkish edge. Large head with deep slit mouth. A thin black stripe runs from the mouth through the eye to the beginning of the tail. The coloration of the male is characterized by an iron sheen and frequent alternation of a wide range of colors. Its fins are more powerful than those of females and have elongated ends of the dorsal and anal fins, old males are somewhat bowed, their abdomen is sunken. It is especially beautiful during spawning: dark brown, almost black, with brilliant red, blue, green alternating dots. The fins are bright blue with a pearly sheen. On the side of young fish, 6-10 dark transverse stripes are often visible. Females are smaller, faded in color, they lack blue color in the fins, and the abdomen is distinctly convex.

Get along with any non-predatory species. While the females are constantly darting back and forth, exploring the aquarium, the males very quickly establish their small territory around one of the shelters and leave it only to feed. Males are territorial and aggressive towards each other, fierce fights between them often end in death. A single male in a community aquarium is very aggressive, it is better to keep one male and several females, arrange several caves from halves of a coconut. It is possible to combine it with similar, territorial inhabitants of the bottom only in big aquarium. Pisces lead hidden image life, do not like the company of other species, they are best kept separately in aquariums with diffused lighting, with plenty of shelters and plants.

If the hiding places are too deep, then you are unlikely to be able to see your pets. Dense plants and shallow grottoes give the badis a sense of complete security, and also do not completely hide from view, which is natural for these fish. Needs fine sandy soil. Stone structures and snags that provide plenty of cover and at the same time are designed to delimit the territory.

Water changes are done gradually, in small portions. They eat only live food.

Breeding

They become sexually mature at 4-6 months. Spawning can take place in a common aquarium. The eggs are deposited in the cavity flower pot or on its surface, as well as on stones covered with plants. Some males prepare spawning grounds in the sand in the form of small pits. The male takes care of the eggs and fry. If the brood is completely left in the aquarium, then, depending on the capacity of the aquarium itself, only some, stronger males, which have allocated their territory, develop normally. dH 5-20°; pH 6.0-7.5; T 20-26°C.

Today, chameleon fish are widespread in amateur home waters due to their relative unpretentiousness. It belongs to the Nandidae family and perch-like order, has the nickname "chameleon fish" because of the ability to quickly change body color in stressful situations, when breeding, or depending on the environment that surrounds it. There are 3 subspecies of badis-badis, which differ in color: simple and Siamese badis (with a brown or gray-blue tint), Burmese (reddish).

Sources say that the badis-badis fish was previously distributed throughout the world, but now it lives in South America, Africa, Thailand, Pakistan, Nepal, as well as in a huge number of tributaries of the Ganges.

Chameleon fish loves ponds and streams with slow flow or standing water. Most of their lives are spent in disguise. Fish hide under fallen leaves and snags lying at the bottom of the reservoir, and also, thanks to the natural ability of badis-badis, changes color and mimics the environment.

The body length of the male fish reaches 6 cm, the female is slightly smaller.

Appearance

The chameleon fish can dramatically change color scheme its body from bright orange to dark purple or blue. A metallic shade can be observed in its color, which allows the aquatic individual to adapt to the environment and successfully hide from predators.

Distinctive features:

• small body length - 5-6 cm, however, single representatives of this species can reach 8 cm;
• the fish has an oval shape, flattened in the lateral parts. The torso passes directly into the head, on which small black eyes and a mouth are located;
• the fish have a high fin, almost to the very tail;
• strong pectoral fins of medium size;
• fan-shaped and semicircular tail, allowing individuals to move quickly in the water column.

Badis-badis fish will be very comfortable living in aquariums with a volume of at least 40 liters with a gravel or sandy bottom, where shelters are located. It is also recommended to plant biotope plants that adhere to the decor, such as:

• anubias;
• Thai fern;

To create maximum conditions for water chameleons, you will need to additionally set attributes that bring your home reservoir closer to your beloved, natural environment habitat badis-badis:

• dried leaves;
• driftwood;
• coconuts;
• branches;
• floating plants;
• pots.

It is also recommended to pay attention to the following water parameters: medium and 6-7.5 with a temperature that can fluctuate freely for a short time period from 15-25℃ without creating discomfort. In warm water, the fish will begin to breed offspring.

Badis-badis in the aquarium:

Compatibility

By nature, chameleon fish are slow and shy. They regularly hide behind foliage and snags, and also change body colors, so it is best for them to live in a separate aquarium, without neighbors. They can eat small shrimps and fry, because of this it is better not to let them into a container with miniature inhabitants.

If, nevertheless, the aquarist has expressed a desire to place neighbors with them, then it is recommended to choose peaceful fish:

• characins;
• neon;
• erythrosonus;
• small catfish.

But from outwardly similar or with similar habits of fish, it is better to refuse. Badis do not get along with neighbors apistograms and the like.

How to distinguish a female from a male

Female and male chameleon fish have their own distinctive features. Female individuals have a pale color, slight fullness, they are smaller in size relative to the opposite sex. They also have transparent fins, while the males are flesh-colored. However, imports are more individual male, because their brightness and colorful colors better attract buyers.

Food

In nature, badis-badis fish feed on zooplankton with pleasure: insects living in the water, worms, larvae, so once they get into a home pond, they can refuse store food, but some individuals get used to it over time.

• daphnia;
• coretra;
• artemia.

The more diverse the food for fish of this species, the brighter the color of its body will be. You should also carefully consider the choice of neighbors for them, because they are shy, so some fish can take food from chameleons.

Chameleon fish tend to inflammatory processes inside gastrointestinal tract(GIT), so it is better not to use complementary foods: tubifex, bloodworm, or wash them well before serving.

Breeding

The stimulus for spawning is a slight increase in the temperature of the aquarium liquid, and an increased amount of food of living origin. Chameleon fish spawn freely in domestic reservoirs with a large number of shelters, hiding their offspring in them. They are able to breed both as a pair and as a whole family, therefore they are easy to breed. Before spawning, each male will prepare a separate shelter for himself, because he, as a male representative, protects his fry.

The survival rate of small badis is quite high, regardless of the temperature of the water and the fish living in the neighborhood, however, to increase survival, it is worth transplanting them into another container.

If the male is ready to spawn, he becomes aggressive and invites the female to his territory. At this moment, the fish changes color to an unforgettable black color with blue, luminous fins. For chameleons during the mating season, clutching with lips is typical, where the male practically absorbs the female and drags her into a prepared spawning place.

For 1 spawning, the female is able to lay up to 100 eggs, then she can be transplanted into another container, and the male will continue to take care of the cubs. After 2-3 days, the fry begin to hatch, and after a week they will swim. Naturally, the first 7 days they do not leave the shelter, and starting from the 2nd week, it is recommended to transplant them to another aquarium so that adult badis-badis do not eat them.

The initial food for badis-badis fry is commercial food and microworms, and after a few weeks you can sprinkle them with artemia naupelii.

Chameleon fish hiding:

Mobile and bright chameleon fish are easy to care for and maintain, therefore they deserve a place in home waters. They will give it an unusual look and will delight with multi-colored bodies. However, it is worth watching them and noticing the appearance of offspring in time so that the cubs do not become live food for adults, and it is also recommended to carefully consider the choice nutrients and the neighborhood, because shy fish are prone to gastrointestinal diseases and eating any zooplankton that fits in the oral cavity.