I am going to touch on a long debated and controversial topic: The elusive Datniodes Pulcher or more commonly known as the Siamese Tiger or ST for short.
DESCRIPTION
The ST is a large (more then 24" ),predatory,long lived fish (over 20 years) which originates from the Chao Phraya River basin in Thailand.They are found in both fresh and brakish waters.
This fish is believed to be extinct in the wild due to overfishing over the years for both consumption and the aquarium trade.
The Thai Government has taken measures to conserve this beautiful fish, banning the export of this fish and Department of Fisheries in Thailand(DOF) has a captive breeding program, however there is not much success as to date.
The Chao Phraya River System, picture courtesy of wikipedia.
IN CAPTIVITY
The ST is usually kept in large,full freshwater aquariums although it's known to be found in brakish waters in the wild. They are fairly hardy fishes which can tolerate waters with PH 6 to PH 8.
They are usually fed a variety of food ranging from live frogs,fishes,shrimps,crustaceans to frozen prawns,fish meat and even pellets.
COMMON ILLNESS/DISEASES AFFECTING DATNIOIDES
Cloudy Eye
One of the most common problems affecting datnioides keepers is the much dreaded cloudy eye.If not treated immediately,it will eventually cause blindness in the eye.
The cloudy eye is usually separated into two different types:
The internal and external cloudy eye.Treatment for both types are the same.
One of the cause is due to injury,the fish injuring the external membrane of the eye structure and causing inflammation to the wound.
Another reason is poor water quality.Most datnioides keepers have this problem.If you observe your datnioide long enough, you will realise that most of its waste is liquid form ,quite similar to diarrhoea rather then the solid black lumps that we are used to seeing in other fishes.
Being aquarists,we usually have the tendency to remove the solid waste products from our aquariums when they become an eyesore but as the waste of the datnioide is in liquid form, it 'dissolves' quickly in the water and gives the aquarist a very decieving false sense of security that their water in still in good condition.
Thus lesser water changes are done,contributing to the build up of waste products, affecting water quality
TREATMENT
On top of maintaining good water conditions,I have been using 'Myzaxin' from 'Waterlife' with very good results.A heater set to 30 degrees can be added for faster results.Increased aeration is good to use in warmer water as it increases the D.O (dissolved oxygen) rate in the water.
Remember:
Warmer water;lesser D.O
Cooler water;higher D.O
INTERNAL/EXTERNAL PARASITES
Due to the reluctance of some datnioides to accept frozen food, live food are inevitably fed to it.Unfortunately feeders contains parasites and other nasties which are bad for your fish.
A good practice is to quarantine your feeders for a few days, using appropriate medication to disinfect them before feeding them to your fishes.
TREATMENT
Commercially available anti-parasitic medication are easily available from different manufacturers.
A personal favourite of mine is 'Parasites Clear' from 'Jungle Lab' and 'Sterazin' from 'Waterlife'.
HOW TO IDENTIFY AUTHENTHIC SIAMESE TIGER FROM 3 BAR INDO TIGER?
This is probably the most widely debated topic pertaining to this fish. Most of the more traditional hobbyists strongly belief in 'ST must have ST tail'.
attached below is a a very good example of the standard ST with a classic ST tail.
This is what I am led to believe until I had the chance to travel to Thailand and spoke to several fishermen and old-timers in the trade.
The below factors are what makes a ST,a ST :
1)Bars
2)Stability
3)Behaviour
4)Tail Marking
1)BARS
The middle bar of the ST is 'Knife-shape'thick at the top and tapered down to a point,always slanted towards the anal fin of the fish.
The middle bar of the 3 bar Indo Tiger is usually straight, without the pronounced slant and 'Knife shape'
Another tell tale sign is to look at the bar immediately after the middle bar, towards the aft of the fish. A ST's bar will be smooth in appearance whereas a 3 bar IT will have 'bumps' on the top of the bar.
ST
3 bar IT
2)STABILITY
The ST generally has a 24/7 stable bright colouration as compared to the IT, which tends to turn dark,with random patches of colouration all over its body.
However who says there is no such thing as an unstable ST? Yes! There are STs out there which are unstable and ITs out there which are stable.
The difference between an unstable ST and an unstable IT are:
An unstable ST is uniformally black throughout its whole body, with no erractic black patches of colouration, unlike an unstable IT which exhibits erratic patches of black throughout its whole body.
Stable ST
Stable IT
Unstable ST
Unstable IT
3)BEHAVIOUR
It has been observed that a ST is generally bolder, swimming around more confidently as compared to the IT, which is more shy and tends to sulk in a corner.
Having said that, there are shy STs and bold ITs as well.So how do we tell them apart?
Try this with your Datnioide and be surprised!:
-Hold the Datnioide out of the water with your bare hands
-An IT will try its very best to wrigle out of your hands and splash around in a bid to get free.
-A ST however, will remain rock still in your hands without any attempt to get back into the tank ; that is unless its been out of the water for too long.
4)TAIL MARKING
This is one of the most debated areas, with traditionalists believing that a ST MUST HAVE a ST tail.
Can we then argue that a Crossback Golden Arowana that does not cross fully is not a Crossback? Or a Red Arowana that is not Red be renamed an 'Orange Arowana'?
As with all fishes there are different grades. It has however been observed that STs CAN have an IT tail.
lets take a look at the different types of tails.
Classic ST 'Wrap' Tail (GRADE A*)
To qualify for this highest grading, the black marking on the tail must 'connect' with the other side,leaving no area exposed.
This picture below for an example of a ST with Classic ST 'Wrap' tail marking
Classic ST Tail (GRADE A)
The black marking on the tail failed to join or connect with the black bar below the posterior dorsal fin.
This picture below for an example of a ST with Classic ST tail marking
GRADE B
As you can see from the pictures, it falls between a classic ST tail and an IT's tail
This picture below for an example of a ST with GRADE B tail marking
Grade C
This above is a typical IT tail marking, look at the picture below for an example of a ST with IT tail marking
To conclude, a ST is a ST only if the above mentioned factors are met.
Having said that,the undisputed way to confirm whether a ST with an IT is really a ST is to take DNA samples of a ST with an IT tail and compare that with a ST with a ST tail and also have samples of a IT to compare against the other STs.
I am willing to provide the necessary samples.....anyone wants to do the test? ;)
