[uNGu]™ Fish : Tiger Fish , Datnioides /Datnoids

Tiger Fish , Datnioides /Datnoids

Types of Tiger Fish

There are many types of tiger fish, all of them have their own unique beauty.

Siamese Tiger Fish aka 'Tai Guo Hu', Wide Bar Datnoid, ST
( Datnioides Pulcher )

Indonesian Tiger Fish 'In Ni Hu', Indonesian Datnoid, IT
( Datnioides Microlepis )

Northern Thailand Tiger Fish, Thin Bar Datnoid, NTT
( Datnioides undecimradiatus )

New Guinea Tiger Fish, New Guinea Datnoid, NGT
( Datnioides Campelli )

American Tiger Fish, Silver Tiger, Silver Datnoid, AT
( Datnioides Quadrifasciatus )

Differentiating Tiger Fish

The most easy way to differentiate the different tiger types is by the different markings on the body and tail. New Guinea Tiger Fish and American Tiger Fish is the easiest to differentiate because they are quite different.

New Guinea Tiger Fish does not have straight and clear lines where the black stripes contrast with the golden body. The differentiation is wavy and 'flowery'.

American Tiger Fish has a more silverish body than all the rest of the Tiger Fishes.

The tricky part is differentiating between Siamese Tiger Fish and Indonesian Tiger Fish. To the untrained eye, they both look the same! The tell-tale sign is the number of stripes on the body. If the body has four black stripes, then it is an Indonesian Tiger. If the body has three black main stripes (discounting the stripes at the eye and tail), then it could be a Siamese Tiger or an Indonesian Tiger. In this case where the body has three black stripes, the differentiation in the marking on the tail. If you look at the thinest part of the tail that joins the tail fins to the bofy, you will find 2 small strips. If this two stripes is the same thickness, it is Indonesian Tiger. If the inside stripe is distinctly larger than the outer one, it is Siamese Tiger.

As for Northern Thailand Tiger Fish, their stripes are thinner and more spaced out than Siamese Tiger Fish. Often, their golden tone is also not as gold.

Tiger Fish Behavior

All tiger fish will turn unstable and blackish when stressed. This can be due to water condition, space constraints or bullying by other fish (even of the same species). Being predatory, they should not be kept together with peaceful fish.

Water Conditions

Optimal pH: 6.5 to 7.5

If your tiger fish is constantly unstable (dark and discoloured) even if the water condition is prisitine (no detectable ammonia and nitrites with low nitrates) and there are no fishes terrorising it, you may want to adjust the water salinity. Some tigers prefer freshwater while others prefer brackish water.

It is also best to have a 'landmark' for them such as a large piece of bogwood or rock that they can swim near to. In nature, they use their black against gold stripes to blend in with the light and shadows around plants, wood and caves.