Siamese tiger perch
Datnioides pulcher
Also known as Siamese tigerfish, Tiger datnoid, Wide-bar datnoid
FreshwaterBrackishFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 17.7 in
- 45 cm
- Minimum tank
- 185 gal
- 700 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Datnioididae
- Origin
- Native to the Mekong and Chao Phraya basins of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia, in slow rivers, floodplains and flooded forest.
Overview
This slow growing predator can reach 40 to 45 cm, so an adult needs a tank of around 700 litres or more with heavy filtration and regular water changes. Keep it at 24 to 28 C with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 in fresh or very lightly brackish water. It is a predator rather than a brawler, so it ignores fish too large to swallow but will eat anything small, and it is often kept alone or with large, robust tankmates. Feed meaty foods such as shrimp, earthworms and fish flesh, and wean it off live feeders onto frozen and prepared foods.
In the wild
The Siamese tiger perch lives in slow stretches of large rivers, floodplains and flooded forest, hanging among sunken wood and roots. It is a bold, wide-barred predator that holds mid-water at a slight nose down angle. It needs a very large tank with tall driftwood, some cover and open water, plus strong filtration to handle its waste. Water is best kept clean and near neutral to slightly acidic.
Good to know
Datnioides pulcher is a tiger perch in the family Datnioididae and is prized for its bold black and gold banding. It is critically endangered and legally protected in its home range, where wild populations have collapsed from habitat loss, pollution and overfishing. Because of this, aquarium fish are rare and expensive, and true examples are often confused with related datnoids.
Did you know
It is one of the most sought after and costly aquarium fish in Asia, and its protected status means legally traded specimens are almost always captive raised.
Common questions
What size tank does a Siamese tiger perch need?
A Siamese tiger perch needs at least 185 gal (700 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Siamese tiger perch need?
A Siamese tiger perch is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
How big does a Siamese tiger perch get?
An adult Siamese tiger perch reaches about 17.7 in (45 cm).
Related species
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Datnioides undecimradiatus
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