Siamese tigerfish
A critically endangered freshwater perch from Indochina.
The Siamese tigerfish is a rare ray-finned fish native to the Mekong and Chao Praya river basins. First described in 1998, it faces severe population declines due to damming and trade, leading to its Critically Endangered status.
- Endemic to Mekong and Chao Praya basins
- Critically Endangered due to dams and trade
- Locally extinct in Thailand since the 1990s
- Reaches a maximum length of 40 cm
- Prefers habitats with submerged wood and rocks
What it is
This ray-finned fish belongs to the family Lobotidae, which includes tripletails. It features a toothless palate and a rounded tail fin. The anal and second dorsal fins have rounded lobes, giving the illusion of three tails. Its body is orange-brown with four or five wide vertical bars. The first bar crosses the head and chest, while others mark the mid-body and tail base. Adults reach a maximum standard length of 40 centimetres.
Where it lives
The species is endemic to Indochina. It inhabits the Mekong and Chao Praya river basins. Populations exist in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, particularly in the middle and lower Mekong. It has disappeared from Thailand. The fish lives in freshwater main rivers, tributaries, and connected lakes. It prefers environments with submerged timber and rocky crevices for shelter.
How it lives
This animal is a predator. Its diet consists mainly of other fish and shrimp. It relies on cover provided by rocks and wood in its freshwater habitat. The specific name pulcher means beautiful, likely referring to its striking barred pattern. It was once considered the same species as the finescale tiger perch before being distinguished in 1998.
Breeding and life cycle
Details on natural spawning are not provided in the available records. However, there have been efforts to breed this fish in captivity. These attempts aim to support conservation and potentially sustain the aquarium trade without wild capture.
Fish and people
Fishers in Thailand and Cambodia historically caught this species for food. It also became valuable in the international aquarium trade, leading to targeted fishing for export. This pressure, combined with habitat loss from damming, caused severe population drops. It has been locally extinct in Thailand since the 1990s. Vietnam occasionally exports live specimens.
Status and threats
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists this fish as Critically Endangered. Damming of watercourses and overfishing for the aquarium trade are primary threats. The species is no longer found in Thailand. Conservation efforts include captive breeding programmes to help restore numbers.
Questions people ask about Siamese tigerfish
Where does the Siamese tigerfish live?
It is found in freshwater rivers and lakes within the Mekong and Chao Praya basins. Current populations exist in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, but it is extinct in Thailand.
Why is this fish endangered?
Population declines result from damming its river habitats and heavy fishing for the aquarium trade. These factors have led to its Critically Endangered status.
What does the Siamese tigerfish eat?
It is a predatory species. Its diet primarily consists of other fish and shrimp found in its freshwater environment.
Good reading and sources
- Siamese tigerfish on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Siamese tigerfish", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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