Siamese tigerfish

The Siamese tigerfish (Datnioides pulcher) is a critically endangered Asian fish native to the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong and Mekong basins. It has vertical yellow and black stripes running the length of its body. The number of stripes varies depending on region of origin. The dorsal fin has a spiny appearance.

The many species within Datnioides are quite commonly confused. Datnioides pulcher is the Siamese tigerfish, or wide-bar datnoid. Datnioides microlepis is the Indonesian tiger datnoid. Datnioides polota is the silver datnoid.

In the aquarium

This species of datnoid survives best in in brackish water, with a specific gravity between 1.002 and 1.007. It prefers a pH of 7.6–8.0, and a temperature of 22–26°C (72–79°F). The Siamese tigerfish is predatory and will eat smaller fish, various live foods, and frozen foods. Many hobbyists pellet-train their datnoids to reduce the risk of disease and parasites from live food. Wild Siamese tigerfish grow to 24 in (61 cm). Captive ones are generally smaller, though may still require a large aquarium, since some Siamese tigerfish have been grown to 16 in or more in length.

Habitat: Distribution / Background

The Siamese Tiger Fish Datnioides microlepis (previously: Coius microlepis) was described by Bleeker in 1853. Currently there are six species in the Datnioides genus. This genus was revised from Datnioides to Coius and the family Coiidae by Roberts and Kottelat in 1994. Kottelat again revised the genus In 2000 to its current classification of Datnioides and the family Datnioididae. Other common names it is known by include Indonesian Tiger Fish, Finescale Tigerfish, Gold Datnoid, Gold Tiger Datnoid, Finescale Tigerfish, Yellow Tiger Fish, and Black Barred Tiger Fish.

This species is found on the Southeast mainland of Asia in the Mekong basin, the Chao Phraya river basin in the center of Thailand, the Musi basin in Sumatra, the Kapuas basin in western Borneo, and in Cambodia. The origin of this fish can be determined by the number of bars on the fish. Fish from Southeast Asia will normally have 5 bars and the ones from Borneo and Sumatra will usually have 6 to 7 bars.

These fish are not listed on the IUCN Red List, but may be endangered in many regions from capturing them for food fish and the aquarium industry. It is said to possibly be extinct in the Chao Pharya river basin in Thailand.

The Indonesian Tiger Fish inhabits large bodies of waters such as lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. It dwells among submerged trees and roots. The young will eat zooplankton, but as they mature their diet becomes fish fry and small fishes, small shrimps, crabs, worms, and insect larvae. They possibly eat some plant matter as well.

Description

The Siamese Tiger Fish is a deep bodied fish with a sharply slanted forehead. It has a golden toned body with black vertical bars. They are usually full bars extending across the entire body. Depending upon the geographic location, they can have between 5 and 7 bars. These fish can get up to at least 18 inches (45 cm) in length in the wild. This size is rare in home aquariums however. In captivity they will generally generally only reach between 9 to 12 inches (20-30 cm). They have a life span of about 15 years.

The two commonly available Datnoids species are this fish, D. microlepis, and the Silver Tigerfish or Four-barred Tigerfish Datnioides quadrifasciatus. Two less common species are the New Guinea Tigerfish Datnioides campbelli which will show up on occasion commanding a very high price, and the rare but much sought after Wide Bar Tigerfish Datnioides pulcher, also frequently called the Siamese Tigerfish.

Foods and Feeding

Indonesian Tiger Fish are primarily carnivores. They are a predator that in the wild primarily feeds on fish fry and small fishes, small shrimps, crabs, worms, and insect larvae. In the aquarium their main diet consists of smaller fish although they can sometimes be coaxed into eating shrimp, worms or insects. One look at their large mouth will tell you that small tank mates will disappear quickly. They are not aggressive towards other species but will attempt to eat any fish that will fit into their mouth.