Silver Tiger Fish (Datnioides polota)

Silver Tiger Fish (Datnioides polota) is a species of brackish water fish that can be found in a lot of places in India, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and New Guinea.

It is also found in Vietnam.  Tropical fish keepers also call it the Silver Datnoid, American Tigerfish, Four Barred Datnoid, and Silver Dat.

Silver Tiger Fish are mostly collected from coastal brackish water estuaries, mangrove swamps, and lagoons, despite the fact that they can occasionally be found in landlocked freshwater lakes.

II. You would love the fish because…

There are a total of 12 dorsal spines, 13 to 14 soft dorsal spines, 3 anal spines, and 8 to 9 soft anal spines in the Silver Tiger Fish.

They have a predorsal profile that is very concave, large scales, and up to seven full black vertical bars that can be in a very different color pattern over their silver body.  Between the full bars, there may be anywhere from one to four partial bars.  There is no discernible gender difference.

Silver Tiger Fish can live for some time in hard, alkaline freshwater in an aquarium, but they are primarily a species of brackish water that needs marine salt added to the tank.

A biotope-like environment is the ideal setting for Silver Tiger Fish in a tank.  The fish will be able to behave in the most natural way in a large tank with a sandy or fine gravel substrate, a densely planted aquascape, and plenty of driftwood branches for cover.

In a brackish water tank with Scats, Monos, Archerfish, Eels like the Indian mud moray (Gymnothorax tile), and larger gobies, they can be kept with larger cyprinids, knife fish, peaceful Central American cichlids, or similar species.

Although Silver Tiger Fish are predators that will consume fish of a smaller size, species of a similar size are typically left alone.  In fact, more boisterous species can intimidate them.  Due to the fact that one fish will constantly bully the other, they should never be kept in pairs.  They should be kept as a single specimen or in groups of three or more fish in a tank dedicated to just one species.

Some hobbyists who keep tropical fish prefer to keep Silver Tiger Fish in a tank with no substrate or a bare bottom for easier maintenance, but a natural setting is much more appealing. Tigerfish require exceptionally clean water.

III. Is this fish species peaceful or hostile?

Semi-aggressive and will push around smaller vulnerable fish.

IV. Species compatibility

• Cherry barb
• Rosy barb
• Tinfoil barb
• Red-tailed shark
• Corydora
• Pleco
• Molly.
• Platy.

V. How to feed this species?

Tiger Fish can be taught to eat from the hand as well! They never nip fingers because they inhale food from a distance. As juveniles, datnoids should be fed twice a day, but as adults, only once.

Disclaimer for Live Aquarium Species

Disclaimer for Individual fish prices