Tigertooth croaker (Otolithes ruber)

Scientific name: Otolithes ruber Bloch & Schneider, 1801

The Tigertooth croaker (Otolithes ruber) is a brackish-water fish of the family Sciaenidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 26–29°C (79–84°F). Native range: Indo-West Pacific, East Africa, including Madagascar (absent in the Red Sea), eastward to southern China Sea and Queensland, Australia.

Tigertooth croaker care at a glance

Temperature: 26–29°C (79–84°F)

Biology

Found in coastal waters. Feeds on fishes, prawns and other invertebrates. Generally marketed fresh, may be dried or salted.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Otolithes ruber
Family: Sciaenidae (Drums or croakers)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 90.0
Common length: 40.0
Depth range: 10–40 m (33–131 ft)
Environment: Marine; brackish; benthopelagic; amphidromous; depth range 10 - 40 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific: East Africa, including Madagascar (absent in the Red Sea), eastward to southern China Sea and Queensland, Australia.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.41; tm=1; tmax=5; Fec= 53,676)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026