Asian arowana
Scleropages formosus
Also known as Dragonfish, Golden arowana, Red arowana, Green arowana, Super red arowana
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–86°F
- 24–30°C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Adult size
- 35.4 in
- 90 cm
- Minimum tank
- 264 gal
- 1,000 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Own kind
- One per tank
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Top
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Osteoglossidae
- Origin
- Native to slow blackwater rivers, swamps and flooded forest across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
Overview
This is a protected, permit-heavy fish: check your local laws before buying, and only source chipped, certified captive-bred stock. Adults reach about 90 cm and need at least 1000 litres with a secure lid, water at 24 to 30 C and pH 6.5 to 7.5. Keep singly or with large tankmates, since they are territorial and predatory. Feed insects, prawns and pellets, and avoid a diet of only feeder fish.
In the wild
The Asian arowana is a heavy-bodied bony-tongue famous for its large metallic scales, which come in red, gold and green strains. It patrols the surface of slow rivers and flooded forest, taking insects, fish and small vertebrates. It is one of the most expensive and tightly regulated aquarium fish in the world.
Good to know
Scleropages formosus has been listed on CITES Appendix I since 1975, so legal specimens are captive-bred and individually microchipped and documented. It is a paternal mouthbrooder that produces a small number of very large young. Several colour forms are treated by some authors as separate species.
Did you know
In parts of Asia the Asian arowana is treated as a living symbol of luck and prosperity, and top show specimens have sold for tens of thousands of dollars.
Common questions
What size tank does an Asian arowana need?
An Asian arowana needs at least 264 gal (1,000 L). It spends most of its time in the top.
What temperature and pH does an Asian arowana need?
An Asian arowana is comfortable at 75–86°F (24–30°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.
How big does an Asian arowana get?
An adult Asian arowana reaches about 35.4 in (90 cm).
Related species
35.4 in (90 cm)317 gal (1,200 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)Gulf saratoga
Scleropages jardinii
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35.4 in (90 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)Spotted saratoga
Scleropages leichardti
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35.4 in (90 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Black arowana
Osteoglossum ferreirai
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39.4 in (100 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Silver arowana
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
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35.4 in (90 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Adonis pleco (L155)
Acanthicus adonis
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Gymnothorax polyuranodon
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