Silver tiger perch
Datnioides polota
Also known as Silver datnoid, Four-barred tigerfish, Indian tiger fish
FreshwaterBrackishFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 7.0–8.0
- Adult size
- 11.8 in
- 30 cm
- Minimum tank
- 79 gal
- 300 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Middle
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Datnioididae
- Origin
- Widely distributed from India through Southeast Asia to New Guinea, in brackish tidal estuaries and lagoons as well as coastal freshwater rivers.
Overview
The silver tiger perch is a mostly peaceful predator that holds the middle of a large brackish or freshwater tank. It needs a keeper with some experience.
Did you know
The silver tiger perch tolerates a wide range of salinity. That makes it the tiger perch most often seen in the hobby, and the easiest of the group to keep.
Caring for the silver tiger perch
Give a silver tiger perch a tank of 79 gal (300 L) or more, with driftwood and open space. Strong filtration and clean water keep it healthy.
It does best in brackish water with a specific gravity around 1.005 to 1.010. Keep it at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 7.0 to 8.0. Feed meaty foods such as shrimp, prawn, earthworms and the occasional piece of fish. Move juveniles off live feeders onto frozen foods.
The silver tiger perch is more social than its relatives. Unlike the pure freshwater tigers, it can live as a small group in a large enough tank, which spreads out any aggression. A group often looks better than a single fish. It is a predator that eats smaller fish but ignores tank mates too large to swallow.
Good to know
The silver tiger perch, Datnioides polota, belongs to the family Datnioididae. It was formerly known as Datnioides quadrifasciatus. It carries silver sides with dark bars.
In the wild
The silver tiger perch is the most widespread of the tiger perches, from India through Southeast Asia to New Guinea. It lives in tidal estuaries and lagoons as well as coastal rivers, moving between fresh and brackish water. It holds midwater among wood and structure.
Common questions
What size tank does a silver tiger perch need?
A silver tiger perch needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a silver tiger perch need?
A silver tiger perch is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 7.0–8.0.
What does a silver tiger perch eat?
A silver tiger perch eats meaty foods such as shrimp, prawn and earthworms, with the occasional piece of fish. Juveniles should move off live feeders onto frozen foods.
How big does a silver tiger perch get?
An adult silver tiger perch reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).
Related species
12.6 in (32 cm)159 gal (600 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)New Guinea tiger perch
Datnioides campbelli
12.6 in (32 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)
15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Mekong tiger perch
Datnioides undecimradiatus
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17.7 in (45 cm)185 gal (700 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Siamese tiger perch
Datnioides pulcher
17.7 in (45 cm) · 185 gal (700 L)
19.7 in (50 cm)180 gal (680 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)Indonesian tigerfish
Datnioides microlepis
19.7 in (50 cm) · 180 gal (680 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)African knifefish
Xenomystus nigri
11.8 in (30 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)159 gal (600 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)African tiger scat
Scatophagus tetracanthus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 159 gal (600 L)