Siamese Tigerfish (Datnioides microlepis) Species Profile & Care Guide

The Siamese Tiger Fish is a large, beautiful, deep-bodied aquarium fish. This fish is an excellent addition to any large tank containing relatively non-aggressive, predatory fish.

Siamese Tiger Fish are not aggressive towards other species but will sometimes fight among themselves. They will also try to eat any fish that will fit into their mouth. Unless your tank is enormous, only keep one Siamese Tiger Fish. If you would like to keep more, you will need a giant aquarium, and it is suggested to own several. A group setting five or more is required to disperse any aggressive behaviour.

The Siamese Tiger Fish is not recommended for beginner aquarists as they are a large predatory fish. Even though they are relatively peaceful with similar types of fish, they need a large aquarium to live in, and these fish require pristine water conditions. They can also be challenging to feed. These fish can take an incredible amount of space and pose great financial responsibility.

The Siamese Tiger Fish has a sharply slanted forehead and golden-yellow and black vertical bars running across the entire length of its body. Depending on their original location, they can have between 5 and 7 bars. The dorsal fin has a spiny appearance.

Natural Habitat of the Siamese Tigerfish

Siamese Tiger Fish are found on the Southeast mainland of Asia in the Chao Phraya the Mekong river basin in the centre of Thailand, the Kapuas basin in western Borneo, the Musi basin in Sumatra and Cambodia. The origin of this fish can be defined by the number of stripes on the fish. Fish from Southeast Asia will typically have 5 bars and the ones from Borneo and Sumatra will usually have 6 to 7 bars.

These fish inhabit large bodies of lowland waters such as lakes, reservoirs, and rivers. It lives amongst submerged roots and trees.

The Siamese Tiger Fish has also been collected from flooded forests during the annual wet season.

Other Oddballs of interest

Diet

In the aquarium you can offer juveniles bloodworm, chopped prawn and small earthworms, the adults main diet consists of smaller fish although you can sometimes persuade them into eating shrimp, whole prawns, muscles worms or insects. One look at their big mouth will tell you that small tank mates will disappear quickly. Older individuals do not require feeding daily, with 2-3 times per week sufficient.

Breeding the Siamese Tigerfish

The Siamese Tiger Fish has never been successfully spawned in a home aquarium. Captive breeding efforts are underway in Thailand and Cambodia in Indonesia, but with little success to date.

You may enjoy the following profiles