Wide-bar Datnoid (Datnioides quadrifasciatus) Breeding Guide

Datnioides quadrifasciatus is an invalid synonym of D. polota, a brackish partial spawner that is not bred in the aquarium.

Overview

The name Datnioides quadrifasciatus is widely used in the aquarium trade, but it is an invalid junior primary homonym: Chaetodon quadrifasciatus Sevastianov, 1809 is preoccupied by an older 1801 name, so the valid name for this brackish tigerfish is Datnioides polota (Coius polota Hamilton, 1822). The fish is a brackish-water predator of southern Asia found in estuaries, mangroves, coastal lagoons and the lower reaches of rivers, and it is a display species rather than a breeding subject.

Sexing

Sexual dimorphism is unknown; there are no documented external differences between males and females, so reliable pairing for breeding cannot be done by sight.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Field observations describe year-round breeding with spawning in small batches each time, i.e. a partial (fractional) spawner. Specific spawning locations, egg counts and parental behaviour are undocumented, and captive spawning remains unreported.

Egg & Fry Care

No aquarium egg or fry data exist because the species has not been spawned in captivity. Brackish maintenance at roughly 10–20% seawater strength supports adult condition but is not a breeding protocol.

Common Challenges

Unknown sexing, estuarine spawning requirements, large adult size and the lack of any captive-breeding precedent place reproduction beyond reach for hobbyists. Buyers should be aware that fish sold as D. quadrifasciatus are the same species correctly named D. polota.