Siamese tigerfish
The Siamese tigerfish is a species of fish from Thailand. It has vertical yellow and black strips running the length of its body, and the dorsal fin has a spiny appearance. It is different from the Datnioides microlepis (Indonesian Tigerfish) in terms of numbers of black strips on its body as well as markings on the tail fin. |
| Siamese tigerfish |
image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ginkgo100
In the aquarium
This fish should be kept in fresh or brackish water. 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. It should be fed various live foods and frozen foods. While a Siamese tigerfish in the aquarium is unlikely to grow as big as a wild one, it still requires a large aquarium because it grows to 24 inches (61 cm) in the wild.
In the wild
The Siamese Tiger originates from the Chao Phraya river basin in the center of Thailand. Unfortunately the fish is completely extinct in the wild. The last know sighting was over 5 years ago. The fish has been over fished for the aquarium trade and more extensively for the dinner plate. In its last years big Pulchers were fetching about 1000 Dollars U.S and being sold to rich customers in restaurants. The Department of Fisheries in Thailand(DOF) has a captive breeding program, however success is limited as of yet.