Origin

South America, Southeast Asia & Australia

Max Size

30-40 inches

Lifespan

20 + years

Diet

Arowanas are primarily carnivorous (meat eaters) and are known to have large appetites. They will eat crickets, mealworms, earthworms, and krill. You may feed guppies or beef heart as occasional treats

Temperament

Predatory to smaller fish, can be intolerant of those of same kind unless kept in large schools (in very large tanks).

Tank Environment

Minimum of 150 gallons for a single adult arowana. Provide lots of open swimming space, large wood will hinder movement or cause physical damage. Lots of artificial plants will provide cover and security and will not harm the fish. Keep a tight fitting canopy on the tank as these fish are strong jumpers and can dislodge a flimsy hood. Remove un-eaten food to avoid water fouling.

pH Range:

6.0 to 7.4, they are quite tolerant of this range as long as the pH is stable.

Temperature:

74 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit

Tank Mates

Best kept as a single display species, however they will tolerate bottom dwellers and freshwater stingrays, only if the tank habitat is suitable for them.

Common Species

Asian Arowana - Scleropages formosus
Max Size: 36"
Notes: Colors include Red, Gold and Green. These are highly endangered in the wild and are CITES protected. Those bred in captivity fetch high price tags. Extremely rare in U.S. pet trade.

Australian Arowana - Scleropages jardini
Max Size: 36"
Notes: Close cousin to Asian variety but blander in color. Called Northern Barramundi in Australia. Not a protected species but still relatively rare in U.S. pet trade.

Silver Arowana - Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Max Size: 37"
Notes: Found in the Amazon river basin, this is the most common arowana available in pet stores. Also called Blue Arowana. Fins are more elongated than Asian and Australian species.

Black Arowana - Osteoglossum ferrerai
Max Size: 40"
Notes: Found in Rio Negro. Very similar to silver arowanas, juveniles are black, adults fade to silver with black/gray fins.