Indo Tiger Fish - Characteristics, breeding methods and latest price list 2025
Blog | by
Indo Tiger Fish (Datnioides microlepis), a brave predatory aquarium fish with a special appearance with clear black stripes standing out against a shiny yellow background.
Indo Tiger Fish , also known as Indo datmoid, is one of the most popular predatory ornamental fish today because of its wild appearance with strong tiger stripes, plus eye-catching colors. This fish not only stands out in the aquarium but also brings interesting experiences to the owner.
In today's article, let's go deeper with Nice Fish to learn about information related to Indo Tiger fish to know where it comes from, what it looks like, and how to take care of it to help new players get acquainted and confident when raising this fish species!
Information about Indo Tiger Fish :
| Scientific name | Datnioides microlepis |
| English Fairy | Indonesian tiger datnoid, finescale tigerfish, Indo datmoid |
| Gender | Animalia - Animals |
| Class | Chordata - Chordata |
| Set | Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes |
| Surname | Perciformes - Sea bass |
| Lifespan | 10 - 15 years if conditions are good. |
| Size | 30 - 40 cm |
Origin of Indo Tiger Fish
The Indo Tiger Fish is a carnivorous fish native to Indonesia.
The Indo Tigerfish, scientifically known as Datnioides microlepis, is a predatory fish native to Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and parts of the Mekong River in Thailand and Cambodia. They live in rivers, freshwater lakes, or swamps with slow currents and warm water.
During the 1990s and 2000s, Indo Tiger Fish was exported to Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and Europe, and quickly became one of the most popular predatory fish because of its beautiful colors and interesting hunting behavior.
Classification of Indo Tiger Fish
Sumatran Tiger Fish has brighter colors and more beautiful stripes than Borneo.
Currently, Indo Tiger fish are often divided into two main types: Sumatra Tiger fish and Borneo Tiger fish. How to identify these two types of fish is as follows:
| Criteria | Sumatran Tiger Fish | Borneo Tiger Fish |
| Source | Sumatra Island - Indonesia | Kalimantan Island - Indonesia |
| Body shape | Tall, thick body, slightly hunched back | Lower, longer body. |
| Background color | Bright yellow or deep orange | Gold dulls, turning grey or brown |
| Zebra | Even stripes, clear, few errors | Stripes are thinner, more prone to defects, and uneven |
| Value | Tall, popular for his standard appearance | Low, often mistaken for a bug, easier to find. |
Physical characteristics of Indo Tiger fish
Indo Tiger Fish with impressive appearance.
Indo Tiger Fish is a fish with a striking appearance with characteristic black stripes like tiger stripes. Let's learn more about the appearance of this fish.
- Body : Flat, tall, upright oval, large head, wide mouth slightly upward.
- Size : On average, adult Indo Tiger fish can be up to 30 - 40 cm in length.
- Dorsal fin : High, erect, extending along the entire back.
- Anal & pelvic fins : Symmetrical, help fish swim stably.
- Caudal fin : Rounded, strong.
- Eyes : Large, round, slightly convex, reflective and very sensitive.
- Color : The fish's body color is usually light yellow, orange or silver gray, often with 3 - 5 dark black stripes running from the back to the belly, the stripes are clear, even, and unbroken.
Indo Tiger Fish Behavior
A mini Indo Tiger fish tank.
Indo Tiger Fish is a prominent predatory fish in the family Perciformes - Bass, with unique and interesting habits. Let's learn more about the habits of Indo Tiger Fish below.
It is a predatory fish but not too aggressive.
Although the Indo Tiger Fish is a predatory fish, it is not as aggressive as the Flowerhorn or Red Parrot. It usually hunts its prey in a very patient way, lurking and waiting, rather than rushing in aggressively.
Slightly territorial
Indo Tiger Fish have a fairly mild territorial nature, they only fight over territory when the tank is too large, or kept with many other predatory fish. However, if in a large enough aquarium with hierarchical levels, they can live together very "peacefully".
Very shy when first bought
Indo Tiger Fish is a predatory fish but it is quite shy, especially when first released into the tank, it will hide in the corner or lie still below, even lose color, fade stripes due to stress, and it takes them a few weeks to get used to the environment before the color comes back.
Calm as an adult
Once the Indo Tiger Fish is used to the tank and matures, it will become much more confident, but it is very calm, carefully observes its surroundings and always keeps a safe distance from other fish, only fighting when forced close.
Guide to raising Indo Tiger fish for beginners
Tiger fish need to be raised in suitable conditions to be able to grow and have beautiful colors.
If you want to raise Indo Tiger fish but don't know where to start, please refer to the content below, we will guide you in great detail from how to set up the fish tank, water parameters, fish food and effective disease prevention. Let's find out now.
Preparing the tank for raising Indo Tiger fish
Indo Tiger Fish need a large space to swim comfortably. When designing a fish tank, you need to ensure the following conditions:
- Minimum tank size : 120 L - 300 L for fish size 10 - 40 cm, spacious tank, over 1m.
- Tank Cover : Fish can jump when startled so you need a tank cover.
- Aquarium background : Choose a black or dark background to get the best color for the fish.
- Water filtration system : Tiger fish eat a lot and excrete a lot, so they need a strong filtration system with moderate flow. Should use an overflow filter or an external tank filter.
Water parameters suitable for raising Indo Tiger fish
To help Tiger fish grow healthily and have beautiful colors, the water in the tank needs to meet the following parameters:
- Temperature : 26 - 30 degrees Celsius because Tiger fish like warm water.
- pH : Maintain 6.5 - 7.5
- Ammonia : Always 0.
- Change water : Change 20 - 30% of water every week, do not change all at once because it can easily stress the fish.
What do Indo Tiger Fish eat?
Indo Tiger Fish are carnivores, so they only like to eat live foods such as: Shrimp, prawns, small bait fish, bloodworms,... However, when they get used to the environment, you can train them to eat pellets specifically for carnivorous fish.
How to release Indo Tiger fish when you first buy them
Releasing Indo Tiger fish into the tank properly when you first buy them is very important because it will determine whether the fish will be shocked by water or stressed or not. You can follow the instructions below to release the fish most safely.
- Step 1 : Make sure the indicators in the aquarium meet the standards, the tank has been running the filter for 1 - 2 days.
- Step 2: Let the fish bag float on the tank for 15 - 30 minutes to let the fish get used to the temperature in the tank.
- Step 3 : Every 5 minutes, add water from the tank to the fish bag, about 20% of the bag's volume, repeat 4-5 times to let the fish get used to the environment in the tank.
- Step 4 : Use a net to gently scoop the fish from the bag into the tank, then monitor and observe the fish, do not feed the fish for 12 - 24 hours, then feed lightly.
Common diseases in Indo Tiger fish and how to treat them
Although Indo Tiger fish are quite "strong", they are still susceptible to some diseases related to the water environment, stress or parasites. Below are some common diseases in this fish species, let's learn together to know how to handle them promptly.
| Disease name | Reason | Symptom | Treatment |
| White mushroom |
Sudden temperature change, fish are stressed. Fungal infection from new fish that has not been quarantined or treated |
The fish has white spots like salt on the body and fins. Fish constantly rub themselves against rocks and tank walls to relieve itching. |
Increase temperature to 30 degrees Celsius for 3 - 4 days to kill parasites. Use antifungal medications such as Anti White Spot, JBL Punktol. Bathe fish with diluted salt water (2 - 3g/L) |
| Bloating |
Due to overeating, food is difficult to digest. Due to intestinal infection |
The fish's belly is swollen and the fish is not eating. Fish floating head up or upside down |
Stop feeding the fish for 2 - 3 days. Bathe fish with diluted salt water and intestinal antibiotic Metronidazole. Change the water in the tank, |
| Stress, hiding in the corner, fish lost color |
Due to sudden environmental changes. Due to threat from other fish species |
The fish is pale in color. The fish just lies still in one place, or hides in the corner. |
If changing to a new environment, let the fish get used to it for 2-3 days. Limit the lights and do not change the water when you put new fish in the tank. |
Here are some tips for disease prevention for Indo Tiger fish:
- Do not overfeed fish, just give enough to avoid overfeeding and polluting the pond.
- Limit feeding fish live foods of unknown origin because of the high risk of parasitic infection.
- Maintain stable water temperature.
- Newly purchased fish should be quarantined for 3-4 days before being released into the tank.
Indo Tiger Fish Price List (Updated 2025)
Currently, in the Vietnamese ornamental fish market, the price of Indo Tiger fish often depends on the size, line, number of stripes and quality of the fish, in which Indo Sumatra Tiger fish will often be preferred over Borneo Tiger fish because it has a more standard appearance. Please refer to the following price list to know the exact price.
| Indo Tiger Fish | Reference price | Note |
| Indo Tiger Fish is usually small in size from 5 - 7 cm. | 350,000 - 400,000 VND/child | Popular, easy to find |
| Small 3-striped Indo Tiger Fish | About 1,200,000 VND/child | Selected goods, even stripes, clear color, no defects |
| Sumatran Tiger Fish size 6 - 10 cm | 1,000,000 - 2,300,000 VND/child | Beautiful type, even stripes, bright color, healthy fish. Smart |
| Indo Tiger Fish max size | 1,200,000 - 1,800,000 VND/child | Standard color, even, beautiful, bold stripes. |
| Sumatran Tiger Fish max size | 2,000,000 - 5,000,000 VND/child | Selected goods, high quality, excellent appearance. |
Note :
- You should choose to buy Indo Tiger fish with 3 or 4 stripes because they are aesthetically pleasing and have high value.
- You should choose fish that swim quickly, flexibly, have bright eyes, and have no signs of skin diseases such as fungus or parasites.
- Fish imported directly from Indonesia always has higher price and quality than domestic fish.
Beautiful and brave Indo Tiger fish image
Let's explore beautiful and brave images of Indo Tiger fish with outstanding colors and sharp stripes that make everyone fascinated.
A beautiful Indo Tiger fish is swimming in the pond.
Indo Tiger Fish with black striped pattern stands out on bright yellow background.
A super fish tank with 4 striped Mini Tiger fish.
Above, nicefish.net has shared all the information related to Indo Tiger fish , including origin, habits, care, disease prevention and reference price list. Hopefully this knowledge will be helpful for those who want to try raising this special carnivorous ornamental fish.
If you are an aquarium enthusiast, please visit our Blog section to discover more beautiful fish breeds!
_350x250.jpg)
