Blue Perch

About

The blue perch (Badis badis) is probably better known in the hobby by its trade name, 'chameleon fish', which hints at one of its most entertaining traits: a rapid ability to shift color, particularly during spawning or when stressed. Males can go from muted earth tones to deep black with vivid blue fins almost instantly. Native to slow rivers, ponds, ditches, and swampy backwaters across the Ganges drainage in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal, this small fish rarely tops three inches and spends most of its time lurking near the bottom or tucked against decor. It is a patient, stalking carnivore that ignores dried foods almost completely, so you will need to keep a steady supply of live or frozen invertebrates on hand. Despite its peaceful label, it is territorial among its own kind, and rival males can get genuinely scrappy in tight quarters. A well-decorated tank with multiple caves spread out across the floor goes a long way toward keeping the peace. Avoid pairing it with boisterous or fast-moving tankmates that will outcompete it at feeding time, and keep it well away from other Badis species due to hybridization risk. Small ornamental shrimp are generally not safe with this species either. Cave-spawning behavior is fascinating to observe, with the male taking sole charge of the eggs and fry after driving the female away.