Anyone keeping Tigers, specifically Berdmorei

[Mike Lang]

I'm planning a new 125 US gallon, 72x18 tank and I'd love to keep tigers in it, particularly the Berdmorei, if I spelled that correctly. I'll be using a river tank setup with either a large pump or power heads for current and a canister(s) for filtration, probably a Rena XP-3, or XP-4. I know these guys get big, and are feisty, so any help on tank setups would be appreciated. Yes, I've been reading the articles online here and they're helpful, but if anyone has personal experience with these beautiful fish I'd like to pick your brains about anything you may have learned in the process. I like to avoid as many mistakes up front as possible, it saves money and stress. A few questions to start, do they bother plants? Could I keep a comparably sized pleco(s) with them?? Do they need to have the PH lower than mid 7's, which is what I have coming out of my well and it seems to suit my Botia Macracanthus and South American catfish just fine. In a tank that size, how many might be too many or about right, 6,8, 10, or the more the better?? I look forward to your experiences and advice, thanks!!

[piggy4]

Hi Mike , my experience with S.Berdmorei is they aren't that bad if kept in a group ! perhaps 8 individuals ? BUT i wouldnt keep them with slow movers , as that could present them with easy targets , as for PH i'd aim for neutral 7.0 ! i think plants would be appreaciated, along with wood ,pebbles ,stones etc , as for tank mates mine are kept with Skunk's Y.Mortleti , these being more feisty than the Berdmorei i m o , as for other types of Tigers [Syncrossus ] Helodes are possibly the most feisty, added with that they can reach a good size ,at least 8 inches Beauforti can be feisty espesially with slow moving tank mates , i once kept some with Lepidocephalus's and the Beaufoti's liked to come up behind the Lep's and nip the tail ! which made the Lep's Jump , the Beauforti seemed to enjoy this ha ha ,hence the Lep's were hastily removed to another tank ! as for the Indonesian ones Hymenophysa and Reversa , i've never kept any ! though some of the Guys here do ,Graeme has some , i think he says they arent as bad as Helodes , but not that far behind ha ha , as for tank mates in the upper void , there are loads of Cyprinids i.e . Barbs etc etc , though there are one or two pit falls to be aware of the benefits far outweigh these , all in all the Syncrossus group is a fascinating group of fishes ,that have given me years of pleasure , and always remember this we all learn off sharing our mistakes ! so armed with a little commonsence and a bit of luck you'll be OK!

[Mike Lang]

Hi Piggy...thanks for your help...Just how big are your Berdmorei anyway. I know the literature says 10 inches, but sometimes those are based on wild caught fish, not aquarium fish, which may not get as big. Just curious. I'm really anxious to get a tank set up for them, but it will probably be later in the Spring. I need to put all the hardware together first and the Berdmorei are not always available in this area. I can get them now at a place about 100 miles away, but I don't have a tank ready, so it will have to come together later in the year....You're in Manchester.....England?? Funny how this whole internet thing enables us to talk to fellow hobbiests all over the world. I read a lot of books, but you can't beat personal feedback from other hobbiests!!

[Tinman]

Syncrossus berdmorei I have never kept but I have 12 Syncrossus hymenophysa in one tank, 48 Syncrossus helodes in another and one Syncrossus beauforti with my 20 or so Yasuhikotakia modesta. I have seen them with helodes and find congestion in the tank decreases hostility in all I keep. They really pile up together and appreciate large groups. I hope to find berdmorei myself. They are more stunning when seen in person. Mid 7's is pushing your luck ,lower seems to be helping me.

[piggy4]

Hi Mike , i'd say my Berdmorei are between 4 and 5 inches , the Beauforti is about 6 inches , i did see a Berdmorei that was about 8 maybe 9 inches ? but in my opinion this fish looked different , it was fully spotted instead of just around the head and shoulders ! BUT it wasnt a Beauforti ?

[Mike Lang]

Tinman, if you're looking for berdmorei, try "thatpetplace" website. They are a hundred miles or so from me in Lancaster PA. I get there about once a year. Anyway, they're huge, have a good website, good prices and they will ship fish. As of a week or so ago they did have berdmorei available for about $20 each. I don't know the current status since I don't have a tank set up for them yet...

[Mike Lang]

Piggy, in your opinion, would a 75 gallon 48x18, tank be too small for berdmorei?? I'm still planning to set up a 125 this Spring, but I was thinking to move my existing loaches, clowns and now kubotais into the larger tank and perhaps use their 75 for the berdmorei?! What do you think??

[piggy4]

Hi Mike , i m o this tank would be ok ! as long as you put plenty of blind spots i.e. rocks ,wood ,plants , etc , i suppose some people might disagree ? personally i'd probarbly put about 8 to 10 Berdmorei's in a tank this size , depending on the filters capacity , you could perhaps add a few Skunks [Mortleti] these are stunning fish once they put a bit of size on ! and they seem ok with Berdmorei .
GOOD LUCK!