......................Siamese Tigerfish
Other names:...........none Origin:......................Brackish waters of Thailand, Borneo, Sumatra, Cambodia Max size:..................19" PH:............-..............7.0-7.5 Temperature:...........75-80 F. Min tank size:..........80 gallons Food:.........................live foods, beef heart, worms, pellets |
The Siamese Tigerfish, not to be confused with the more feared African Tigerfish, is an aggressive species that is not seen in
aquariums very often. There are two main species of Siamese
Tigerfish..Datnioides microlepis and Datnioides
quadrifasciatus.
D. microlepis is the more hardy of the two main types of
Tigerfish covered here. The background coloration of this fish varies
from a clear creamy white to pale tan, with verticle jet black bars on
its body. The number of black bars actually depends on its geographic
location. Fish from the Asiatic mainland have six bars, and those from
the indo-Australian archipelago have seven. These bars do not converge
with age.
This fish adapts easy to aquarium conditions and several of them can be
kept together, providing they have a very large aquarium. The tank
should be planted with large-leaved plants as the Tigerfish likes to
lurk beneath the leaves. Its swimming movements are usually slow and
deliberate, especially when stalking prey. As it approaches a fish that
is a potential meal, the Tigerfish slowly sways from side to side, as
if sighting the prey. Then it strikes and eats the victum. This fish
does not require live foods.
Siamese Tigerfish like hard, alkaline water that is clean and well
filtered. While D. quadrifasciatus will only thrive in brackish
water, D. microlepis has shown to flourish in fresh water. When
buying this fish, ask your dealer what type of water they have been
imported in and kept in, as it will vary. In Thailand, the Tigerfish is
sought after as a fish to be eaten, as the flesh is reported to have a
good flavour.
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