2006 FAAS Publication Awards TIGERFICHI by DAN RADEBAUGH

Photo by Alex Apostolos

uring a visit to New York City by two of In keeping with the current taxonomic my sisters a couple of summers ago, we chaos in our hobby, there are three or five D(the sisters, my wife Marsha, and stepson of Tigerfish currently recognized - all from Alex) were walking up Mulberry Street in Little Southeast Asia and the Indonesian archipelago. Italy, when I spotted a small fish shop that I hadn't The body is compressed and deep, and the lateral seen before. In addition to the shop's good line is arched and complete. The jaws are selection of goldfish and Flowerhorns, a tank with protractile. Most are freshwater dwellers, though baby Oscars also contained some striped fish that Datnioides quadrifasciatus inhabits brackish I hadn't seen before, which were about the same waters. Datnoids are now in their own family, size as the young Oscars. The owner told me they Datnioididae, within the order were Siamese Tigerfish. My Chinese being (perch-like fish). They were formerly placed non-existent, I couldn't fmd out much more about within the family Lobotidae along with marine them, but I was intrigued enough that, while we tripletails, and then in the family Coiidae, which were having desserts at Ferrara's, I slipped out, was subsequently renamed Datnioididae. The first returned to the shop, and bought one, then returned three species listed below were all formerly with my prize to fmish my treat. This little striped included under Datnioides microlepsis. Short of fish with the big personality quickly became one of counting rays or scales, and even with photos and my favorites, and remains so, though he's not so stripe diagrams, it can be tough for the casual little these days. hobbyist such as myselfto distinguish species with any degree of certainty. I believe my fish to be Datnioides pulcher.

Modem Aquarium- Greater City A.S. (NY) August 2006 5

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Datnioides microlepsis: Commonly called the In the aquarium, I have found the Datnoid Indonesian Tigerfish, Indo Dat, or IT is native to to be mostly a good citizen, though it is highly Cambodia, Thailand, Sumatra, and Borneo. This piscivorus, and its mouth will open very wide. I've is probably the most frequently encountered come across conflicting opinions regarding species in the hobby. Like the others, it has a tall, compatibility. The most convincing description deep body, with black vertical stripes on a creamy I've seen is that with one another they get along yellow or gold background. A relatively slow best in groups, where a hierarchy can be grower, it can eventually attain a size ofaround 20 established. Where only two are kept, the weaker inches. In Thailand D. microlepsis is sought after will be constantly tormented. I have only one, so as a food fish. I can't speak to the conspecific issue, but mine will bully some tankmates. Datnioides pulcher: Wide-barDatnoid, or Siamese Datnoids are ambush predators, and like Datnoid, It was formerly included under D. hiding places such as leafy plants or caves, where microlepsis. The number and arrangement of its they can lurk. They usually move rather stripes is the main (though not always obvious) deliberately, but are capable of bursts. "Eat and point ofdifferentiation. This is currently the "hot" Run" types, they will grab a mouthful, and rush to species among Datnoid fanciers. a hiding place to eat. Highly piscivorus, they can be quite difficult to convertto non-swimming food. Datnioides undecimradiatus: Thin-bar Datnoid. Mine will take frozen foods, such as bloodwonns, Northern Thailand Tigerfish. It was also formerly prawns, krill, silversides, etc. He'll also take treats included under D. microlepsis. The most rarely like whole shrimp from the hand, but so far will not seen of these first three species. The thin stripes touch pellets or freeze-dried foods, though on-line are the giveaway. acquaintances tell me some of theirs will. By all accounts, they seem to prefer neutral pH with some Datnioides quadrifasciatus: Silver Datnoid, hardness. Mine does very well in New York City American Tigerfish. This species has a similar tap water, with the temperature in the high 70s. range to that ofD. microlepsis, but prefers brackish They grow rather slowly, but with a potential size waters. Its body is silver-gray with the of over twenty inches, a large tank will eventually characteristic black stripes. It has a slightly more be needed. There is no record of aquarium elongated body. spawning, but they are farm-bred in Singapore. These are fun fish to keep! They're very Datnioides campbelli: New Guinea Tigerfish. aware oftheir owner, and will come to the front of This species is found in New Guinea and Australia. the glass for a greeting, as well as to remind you They are tall and bulky, but with a smaller mouth about feeding time, or to complain that the first than the other Datnoid species. This is the most portion wasn't enough for a growing fish! Not seldom seen, and reportedly the mostterritorial and exactly common in the hobby, but not rare either, aggressive, ofthe five species. these personable percifonnes can be pricey, but if you have the space, they'll win you over! ~

6 August 2006 Modem Aquarium - Greater City A.S. (NY)

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