I am looking into getting a dat sometime soon. My community tank is set up to have no salt added except for medicinal purposes. The tap water in my area is soft-medium hard. Which species of dat suits my water conditions best? I have been focusing mostly on D. microlepis but I am open to suggestions. What are my options? Also, is it better to get just one, or do they like the company of their own kind?
Which species of Dats do best in soft(ish) water?
- Thread starter lujor
- Start date
Both pulcher and microlepis do fine in soft acid water.
Pulcher is the most unaffected fish by low pH of any fish I've exposed it to.
I've raised them 2" to 20" with discus and they've spawned in that water around pH of 5.0 -5.5. However, in nature from what I've seen, they are generally in around 6.0 and up to almost neutral.
Pulcher is the most unaffected fish by low pH of any fish I've exposed it to.
I've raised them 2" to 20" with discus and they've spawned in that water around pH of 5.0 -5.5. However, in nature from what I've seen, they are generally in around 6.0 and up to almost neutral.
I had the fish for a few years and they started spawning. The males would get very aggressive to each other and the females would get roughed up too. They just sprayed the eggs out in the upper corners of the tank. Pelagic spawners like grouper and marine angelfish etc.
The eggs were then eaten by the discus and/or sucked out by the filter system.
My friend at the Thai Fisheries Dept. told me that to raise the larva I would have to continue to follow grouper protocols. Having done grouper before, I didnt want to put the work into it as it would have been too time consuming. I just go my Thai friend to send me some of the ones they raised.
The ones that bred for me were caught in NE Thailand near Laos by the locals from which I bought them. There is no salt or hard water there. Adding salt to the water for pulcher or microlepis is therefore of no benefit and will put a strain on their kidneys like it does with other softwater fishes. It also might kill eggs and/or larva.
Mine always did fine in discus water pH 5.0 − 6.0 and low conductivity, about 100 us.
While Im at it the name of the fish isnt Datnoids or Datinoids - its Datnioides. (dat nee oh eye deez). How the other names came to be, I have no idea.
The eggs were then eaten by the discus and/or sucked out by the filter system.
My friend at the Thai Fisheries Dept. told me that to raise the larva I would have to continue to follow grouper protocols. Having done grouper before, I didnt want to put the work into it as it would have been too time consuming. I just go my Thai friend to send me some of the ones they raised.
The ones that bred for me were caught in NE Thailand near Laos by the locals from which I bought them. There is no salt or hard water there. Adding salt to the water for pulcher or microlepis is therefore of no benefit and will put a strain on their kidneys like it does with other softwater fishes. It also might kill eggs and/or larva.
Mine always did fine in discus water pH 5.0 − 6.0 and low conductivity, about 100 us.
While Im at it the name of the fish isnt Datnoids or Datinoids - its Datnioides. (dat nee oh eye deez). How the other names came to be, I have no idea.
Bigdat;4276512; said:
How can you tell if they are male or female?
and how small they can start spawning???
Males were bigger, broader across head. Thicker lips.Swelling or thickening of anal fin spines.
...females had rounded bellies and of course were the ones laying the eggs!
The females had a "cleaner" color of yellow. Prettier, less chunky.
It all started happening when the males were about a foot long and the females about ten inches I would say.
...females had rounded bellies and of course were the ones laying the eggs!
The females had a "cleaner" color of yellow. Prettier, less chunky.
It all started happening when the males were about a foot long and the females about ten inches I would say.
I never tried to photograph eggs. Very tiny and my camera at time wasn't good enough, and my skills still aren't good enough now with a better camera.
I have photos of the fish that bred but too many of my photos have been stolen from the net for me to post any. There are loads of photos of large pulcher to be had on the net.
The dats were wiped out by hurricanes Wilma and Katrina. The photos of them dead aren't what I'd like to display either. None of the photos would show or prove breeding, only that I had a lot of big dats at one time.
Those interested should contact the Thai Fisheries Dept. and see if they want to share any info. I doubt it would be in English though.
I have photos of the fish that bred but too many of my photos have been stolen from the net for me to post any. There are loads of photos of large pulcher to be had on the net.
The dats were wiped out by hurricanes Wilma and Katrina. The photos of them dead aren't what I'd like to display either. None of the photos would show or prove breeding, only that I had a lot of big dats at one time.
Those interested should contact the Thai Fisheries Dept. and see if they want to share any info. I doubt it would be in English though.
Hope will get you nowhere.
If you doubt what I say, state your case, references, experience etc. and post a comment useful to those on the thread.
Perhaps, I should have known better than to post to try to help someone out on an amateur forum.
If you doubt what I say, state your case, references, experience etc. and post a comment useful to those on the thread.
Perhaps, I should have known better than to post to try to help someone out on an amateur forum.