Silver arowana
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Also known as Dragonfish, Monkey fish, South American arowana, Golden Sun Arowana
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 75–82°F
- 24–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 39.4 in
- 100 cm
- Minimum tank
- 396 gal
- 1,500 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Top
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Mouthbrooder · Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Osteoglossidae
- Origin
- Native to the Amazon and surrounding river basins in South America, where it patrols slow flooded forest and backwaters just under the surface.
Overview
The silver arowana is a surface predator built like a long silver blade. It needs a very large tank and an experienced keeper.
Did you know
Silver arowanas are known as monkey fish. They can leap over a meter out of the water to snatch insects, and even spiders, from overhanging branches.
Caring for the silver arowana
A silver arowana is a big-tank commitment, needing a footprint of at least 396 gal (1,500 L) with a wide, well-covered top. A tight, weighted lid is essential, since they can jump. They are powerful, nervous fish that can crash into the glass or leap clean out of an open tank when startled.
Keep the water at 75 to 82°F (24 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Strong filtration handles the heavy waste load. Feed a varied diet of pellets, prawns, insects and fish.
Silver arowanas will eat any tank mate that fits in the mouth, so pair them only with large, calm species. Males are mouthbrooders that carry the large eggs and fry inside the mouth for weeks. Breeding them is hard.
Good to know
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum belongs to the bony-tongue family Osteoglossidae, an ancient lineage sometimes called living fossils. It is also called the dragonfish or South American arowana. It has a steeply upturned mouth and two barbels for detecting prey. Young are sold as button juveniles while they still carry a visible yolk sac.
In the wild
Silver arowanas come from the Amazon and surrounding river basins in South America. They cruise the top few inches of flooded forest and backwaters, taking insects, fish and anything that falls onto the water.
Common questions
What size tank does a silver arowana need?
A silver arowana needs at least 396 gal (1,500 L). It spends most of its time in the top.
What temperature and pH does a silver arowana need?
A silver arowana is comfortable at 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a silver arowana eat?
A silver arowana eats a varied diet of pellets, prawns, insects and fish.
How big does a silver arowana get?
An adult silver arowana reaches about 39.4 in (100 cm).
How does a silver arowana breed?
Male silver arowanas are mouthbrooders, carrying the large eggs and fry inside the mouth for weeks. Breeding them is hard.
Related species
35.4 in (90 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Black arowana
Osteoglossum ferreirai
35.4 in (90 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)
39.4 in (100 cm)528 gal (2,000 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)African arowana
Heterotis niloticus
39.4 in (100 cm) · 528 gal (2,000 L)