Siamese tigerfish
The Siamese tigerfish (Datnioides pulcher), also known as the Siamese tiger perch, is a critically endangered Asian fish native to the Chao Phraya, Mae Klong and Mekong basins.[1] It has vertical yellow and black stripes running the length of its body. The dorsal fin has a spiny appearance.[2] Siamese tigerfish grow to 40 cm (16 in) in standard length.[3]
| Siamese tigerfish | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Order: | Spariformes |
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| Genus: | |
| Species: | D. pulcher |
| Binomial name | |
| Datnioides pulcher (Kottelat, 1998) | |
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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
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. Captive ones are generally smaller than their wild counterparts, though may still require a large aquarium.[2]
Conservation status
D. pulcher is protected in Thailand, and is on the IUCN Red List as critically endangered.[3]
References
- Vidthayanon, C. (2011). "Datnioides pulcher". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011: e.T180969A7656475. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T180969A7656475.en.
- David Alderton (2005). Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish. Dorling Kindersley. pp. 188. ISBN 978-0-7566-0941-2.
- Binohlan, C. B., Torres, A. G., & van Uitert, K. (n.d.). Datnioides pulcher (Kottelat, 1998); Siamese tiger perch. In FishBase. Retrieved October 6, 2013, from http://www.fishbase.org/summary/50395