Deal about Dats

[Bigg081]

what is the deal with Datnoids? i havent been into )\/(onsters for very long. but i just dont know what the deal is.

they are good looking but i cant see the difference between them. good bars bad bars? HELP!!

[Jesse]

Datnoids are popular in some Asian countries because they are thought to bring good fortune. It's thought to be good luck to have a dragon (arowana) above and tigers (datnoids) below. However, I've always liked datnoids for reasons other than superstition, such as their striking appearance and engaging "personality."

There are five recognized datnoids species:

Datnioides pulcher, widebar datnoid
Datnioides microlepis, Indonesian datnoid
Datnioides undecimradiatus, thinbar datnoid
Datnioides campbelli, New Guinea datnoid
Datnioides quadrifasciatus, silver datnoid

As far as bars are concerned, they are generally only an issue with widebar datnoids, Datnioides pulcher. Wider, darker, and cleaner bars are typically preferred over thinner, more muted, and ragged bars. A full necklace, i.e., a first bar that completely encircles the fish, is also considered desirable.

[Bigg081]

are they supper aggresive? or just BIG fish?

[MANGCH1]

umm...i wouldnt say aggressive but they are predators. all i know is when i first got into fish. wes showed me his huge ATF and huge datnoids. watching them open their mouthes huge to suck in fish drawn me into them. looks like they could eat anything.

[Bigg081]

yeah that is part of waht drew me to my Jag....mouth with a lil bit of body.

[Bigg081]

i can see why they are popular in other parts of the world...but why the US. is it because of the Cost....they are expensive therefore a prised possesion? WHY ARE THEY SO POPULAR!?!?

[redtailfool]

i can see why they are popular in other parts of the world...but why the US. is it because of the Cost....they are expensive therefore a prised possesion? WHY ARE THEY SO POPULAR!?!?


Its beautiful and have a great personality. It livens up your comm tank like no other fish. Bottom line is you cant appreciate as much as the dat fanboys do until you own one yourself.

[rayboy]

how much do they run i find them facinating?>

[Jason_S]

I loved the dat I used to have for its personality and antics. It was in a 150 C/A cichlid community tank and lived fine among them. He had his hiding spot and he'd come out whenever I got around the tank. When I lifted the lid to feed them, I would drop in some pellets to get the other fish eating while the dat mind you stayed down around the bottom of the tank. then, once the other fish were eating I'd get out the can of freeze dried krill, take out a piece and wave it in front of the glass where the dat could see and you could just see the excitement out of the dat as much as you could possibly see excitement in a fish. I'd raise my hand up to the top of the tank with krill in hand and the dat would follow my hand very closely until I dropped the krill in and he snatched it up. :D I really miss that guy...lost him when I moved. :( I'll definitely be getting another...or 2, or 3. :D

[guppy]

Great sized, beautiful colors (esp. the campbelli), active personalities. costly enough to be uncommon.

[DiXoN]

i love mine its huge and acts like a lost puppy

[rallysman]

they have a very unique look, lightening fast when feeding, and just fun to watch

[scottv]

Saw small widebar one at the LFS the other day...It looked really cool! Wanted it, but not right now...no tank space.

[ThisIsTong]

they really liven up the tank. i only have 2 small ones in my growout tank right now and they always hide but when they come out the tank gets a majestic glow and attracts all my neighbors. they start knocking on my door and run into my room to watch them swim. hahahah JK but they do really liven up the tank

[angeladay]

Reading these replies makes me want dats real bad... who's got some dats to sell in chicago?

[MarlboroMan]

I had a datnoid that would try to eat the flame on my BIC lighter.

[Steve_89]

Datnoids....

I cannot get enough of them!