Water Temperature: 22 - 26 °C
pH Value: 6.5 - 7.5 (weakly acidic to neutral soft water, with a slightly alkaline neutral being preferable).
Tiger Fish are very sensitive to water quality. If the body color of your Tiger Fish often changes unstably (too dark or changes color), it's very likely caused by water quality problems. Please check whether ammonia nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate and pH value are within the normal range, and also whether there is sufficient dissolved oxygen.
Besides, it may also be caused by space limitations or being attacked by other fish. If none of the above is the case, you can consider adjusting the salinity in the water. Because some Tiger Fish prefer brackish water. When raising Tiger Fish, you should try your best to imitate the natural environment, plant some aquatic plants, place some rocks, make some stone caves, and you can also use some ceramic flowerpots to simulate rock caves, which can make Tiger Fish happier. Sufficient dissolved oxygen and a certain water flow are indispensable for Tiger Fish.
When feeding live food, it is recommended to wash and check it beforehand to see if the feed is contaminated. River fish, such as crucian carp, common carp and grass carp, should have their scales removed, their internal organs removed, and their gills removed, and then be disinfected with salt water before they can be used. Because river fish carry a large number of parasitic bacteria and some parasites. The sharp part of shrimp may stab the fish's stomach, leading to enteritis and digestive system diseases. For beef, the fatty part should be removed to ensure that the fish's digestion is not affected by greasiness and resulting in loose stools. All other feeds also need to be processed. If you are rather lazy, these steps can be simplified. However, if you ignore this detail, it is very likely to bring unnecessary losses.
Tiger Fish have big mouths and eat quickly and accurately. For their prey, they can definitely be called the ultimate killers. Tiger Fish eat very cleanly. Unlike fish like Flowerhorn Cichlids that need to chew with their throat teeth for a long time, it can be said that Tiger Fish mainly swallow their food. After each big meal, they stay still at the bottom of the tank to digest the food. It is recommended not to overfeed them. Feeding them until they are 60% full is the best. Long-term overeating is extremely harmful to the fish's digestive function.
Although the predation of Tiger Fish is wonderful, the feed also needs to be processed. It is recommended to keep these feeder fish for a few days first, and then feed them after the waste in their bodies has been excreted.