Siamese Tigerfish

[HarleyDude]

*** originally posted by Katt on December 12th, 2006 ***

Scientific name: Datnioides microlepis.

Common name: Siamese tigerfish, Siamese tiger datnoide, Finescale tigerfish.

Distribution: South east Asia, Borneo, Sumatra, Thailand, Cambodia. Freshwater \ Brackish.

Temperature: 22-26C \ 71-78F

Size: 30cm \ 12in, Can grow larger. Up to 60cm \ 24in in the wild.

Sexing: Unknown.

Breeding: Unknown.

The tigerfish is creamy white to tan colour with black bars. Their eyes move independly of each other.

Temperament: Rather peaceful with other species. Will eat small fish. They are semi-aggressive and territorial with their own kind. Best keep one or a group of 5. ( if you have the room ) Should not be housed with overly aggressive cichlids.

Housing: A tank of at lest 300L \ 80gal. In the wild, They are in areas with lots of submerged branches, like the flooded forest. The Tigerfish is a slow growing fish. That requires very good water quality to thrive.
Some people are keeping the Tigerfish in freshwater, others in brackish. So be sure you ask the dealer what kind of water the fish was shipped in,and is being kept in when you buy.

Feeding: D,microlepis is a meat eater. Such as worms, beefheart, baitfish, prawns, cockles, mussels. Juveniles will eat frozen and live blood worms, brine shrimp.


There are now 5 species of Siamese Tigerfish:

Datnioides Campbelli = 45cm \ 18in. Freshwater \ Brackish.

Datnioides Microlepis = 30cm \ 12in. Freshwater \ Brackish.

Datnioides Pulcher = 40cm \ 16in. Freshwater.

Datnioides Quadrifasciatus. = 30cm \ 12in. Freshwater \ Brackish.

Datnioides Undecimradiatus = 40cm \ 16in. Freshwater.


There is not a lot of info on Datnioides Microlepis That I could find, so if anyone knows more please feel free to add to this.