Black arowana
Osteoglossum ferreirai
Also known as Blue arowana, Ferreira's arowana
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–86°F
- 26–30°C
- pH
- 5.5–6.5
- Adult size
- 35.4 in
- 90 cm
- Minimum tank
- 396 gal
- 1,500 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Top
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Osteoglossidae
- Origin
- Native to the Rio Negro and Orinoco blackwater systems of South America, living in soft, acidic, tannin-stained flooded forest.
Overview
The black arowana is a blackwater cousin of the silver arowana and a surface fish for a very large tank. It is often considered more delicate than the silver and is for experienced keepers.
Did you know
Newly hatched black arowanas carry a yolk sac larger than their own head. The father shelters them inside his mouth until the sac is absorbed.
Caring for the black arowana
Plan on a tank of at least 396 gal (1,500 L) for an adult black arowana. Fit a secure lid, since they jump like all arowanas.
Give them soft, warm, acidic water at 79 to 86°F (26 to 30°C) and a pH of 5.5 to 6.5, kept very clean. Juveniles are sensitive to poor water and sudden changes in chemistry.
Feed insects, prawns and quality pellets. Black arowanas are mostly peaceful, but house them only with large, peaceful tank mates that they cannot swallow. They are mouthbrooders, and breeding them is hard.
Good to know
Osteoglossum ferreirai is a bony-tongue in the family Osteoglossidae, described in 1966. It is also called the blue arowana or Ferreira's arowana. Juveniles show a striking blue and yellow stripe that fades to dark charcoal as they mature, and adults are slightly smaller than silver arowanas. Wild-caught juveniles remain the main source in the trade.
In the wild
The black arowana is restricted to the Rio Negro and Orinoco drainages of South America. It hunts at the surface in soft, tea-colored water, in flooded forest shaded by the trees.
Common questions
What size tank does a black arowana need?
A black arowana needs at least 396 gal (1,500 L). It spends most of its time in the top.
What temperature and pH does a black arowana need?
A black arowana is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 5.5–6.5.
What does a black arowana eat?
A black arowana eats insects, prawns and quality pellets.
How big does a black arowana get?
An adult black arowana reaches about 35.4 in (90 cm).
How does a black arowana breed?
Black arowanas are mouthbrooders. Breeding them is hard.
Related species
39.4 in (100 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Silver arowana
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
39.4 in (100 cm) · 396 gal (1,500 L)
35.4 in (90 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)Asian arowana
Scleropages formosus
35.4 in (90 cm) · 264 gal (1,000 L)
35.4 in (90 cm)317 gal (1,200 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)Gulf saratoga
Scleropages jardinii
35.4 in (90 cm) · 317 gal (1,200 L)
35.4 in (90 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)Spotted saratoga
Scleropages leichardti
35.4 in (90 cm) · 396 gal (1,500 L)
34.6 in (88 cm)528 gal (2,000 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Red-tail pike characin
Boulengerella cuvieri
34.6 in (88 cm) · 528 gal (2,000 L)
35.4 in (90 cm)185 gal (700 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Nile bottlenose mormyrid
Mormyrus kannume
35.4 in (90 cm) · 185 gal (700 L)