View Single Post
Old 25-02-2005, 01:35 PM   #18
Mewmender
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Datnioides microlepis

Common Names: Indonesian datnoid, Siamese tigerfish, gold datnoid, tiger datnoid

Family: Datnioididae

Order: Perciformes (perch-likes)

Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

Max. size: 18 inches, although relatively slow-growing and long-lived

Environment: freshwater, rivers and lakes.

Distribution: southeast Asia, including Chao Phraya and Mekong basins of the mainland and the Kapuas basin in western Borneo and Musi basin in Sumatra.

Description (courtesy of fishbase.org): Has the deepest body of any species of Coius , 2.1-2.4 times in SL. Specimens from mainland Southeast Asia invariably with five full bars, specimens from Borneo with 6-7 bars, all usually continued across ventral surface of body. First bar extending uninterrupted and undiminished across opercle and onto thoracic region, and continued across ventral surface of body; a well defined black mark on ventral surface of body immediately anterior to base of pelvic fins (not present in other Coius). Partial bars almost invariably absent. Branched dorsal rays 14-18; branched anal rays 9-11, usually 10 (Ref. 10425).

Temperament: semi-aggressive, more aggressive towards same or similar species.

Water paramenters: Prefers clean water, pH 6.5-7.5, temperature 76-82 degrees F. Although primarily a freshwater species that requires no salt, also does well in light brackish conditions (up to SG 1.005). (As will be discussed later, other datnoid species occur in brackish conditions, hence the common misconception that all datnoids are brackish.)

Feeding: Although often fed live fish, this species can be trained to accept shrimp, krill, frozen brine shrimp, beefheart, earthworms, and even Hikari Sinking Carnivore Pellets.