tiger fish
Hoplias microlepis
Freshwater predator from the Pacific slope, from Panama to Peru, reaching 36 cm. It has sharp teeth and is caught commercially.
Also called: traíra-tigre, guanchiche, dientón, pez perro, tiger fish
- maximum
- 36 cm
who is the tiger fish
The tiger trahira is a freshwater fish of the family Erythrinidae, reaching 36 cm. It occurs on the Pacific slope, from Panama to Costa Rica, in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It lives in rivers, streams and slow-current swamps, over sand and mud bottoms, between 20 and 40 meters of altitude, in tropical water. It is a fish predator with strong, sharp teeth. It has commercial fishing and is not a featured species in recreational fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the tiger fish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Elongated, rounded fish with a large mouth and sharp teeth, like the trahiras and trairões of the family Erythrinidae. It belongs to the group of the trahira (Hoplias malabaricus), which also lives in the region, and the two are hard to tell apart by eye: this one has more scales around the caudal peduncle, 22 to 24 versus 18 to 20 in the trahira.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Pacific slope, from Panama to Costa Rica, and also in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in freshwater. In Panama there are records on the Atlantic side, restricted to the canal zone.
Habitat: Rivers, streams and slow-current swamps, over sand and mud bottoms, between 20 and 40 meters of altitude, on the Pacific slope.
rules for the tiger fish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Has strong, sharp teeth, and the bite hurts. Use pliers or a cloth to remove the hook and avoid putting your hand near the mouth.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00676, b = 3.11; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Hoplias microlepis (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Hoplias microlepisNames by country and language.
