Arowana Fish Types Around The World

 

Arowana fish, often referred to as "dragon fish" due to their long, sleek bodies and shiny, scale-covered appearance, are among the most prized ornamental fish in the aquarium trade. These freshwater fish belong to the family Osteoglossidae and are revered for their beauty, rarity, and cultural significance, particularly in Asia. Here's a detailed overview of the main types of arowana:

1. Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus)

Subtypes

Asian arowanas are highly sought after and come in several color varieties:

Red Arowana (Super Red):

Origin: 

Kapuas River and Sentarum Lake, Indonesia.

Appearance: 

Intense red coloration, especially on the fins and scales.

Features: 

Highly prized due to rarity and vibrant colors.

Golden Arowana:

Crossback Golden: 

Found in Malaysia, known for golden scales that extend over its back.

Red-Tail Golden: 

Originates from Indonesia, with golden scales and a reddish tail.

Cultural Value: 

Symbolizes wealth and prosperity in Chinese culture.

Green Arowana:

Origin: 

Found across Southeast Asia, including Thailand and Malaysia.

Appearance: 

Greenish sheen on scales, with less vibrant coloration than other varieties.

Blue Base Arowana:

Variation of the crossback golden, with a bluish hue under the golden scales.

Key Traits

Size: Up to 35 inches (90 cm) in captivity.

Conservation Status: Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List; trade is regulated under CITES.

Behavior: Territorial and aggressive.

2. Silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum)

Origin: 

South America, primarily in the Amazon, Essequibo, and Oyapock rivers.

Appearance:

Long, slender body with shiny silver scales.

Fins are large and flowy, giving them a graceful swimming style.

Size: 

Can grow up to 48 inches (120 cm), making them one of the largest arowanas.

Behavior:

Known for their ability to jump out of the water to catch prey like insects and small animals.

Hardy and more affordable compared to Asian arowanas.

Popularity: 

Common in the aquarium trade due to their size and striking appearance.

3. Black Arowana (Osteoglossum ferreirai)

Origin: 

South America, particularly in the Rio Negro basin.

Appearance:

Juveniles: 

Black body with yellow or white markings.

Adults: 

Gradually transition to a silvery-black color as they mature.

Size: 

Similar to silver arowanas, reaching up to 40–44 inches (100–110 cm).

Traits:

Less common than silver arowanas but equally hardy.

Juveniles are highly sought after for their striking coloration.

4. Jardini Arowana (Scleropages jardinii)

Other Names: 

Pearl Arowana or Australian Arowana.

Origin: 

Northern Australia and New Guinea.

Appearance:

Bronze or gold sheen with small, pearly spots on scales and fins.

Slightly smaller and stockier than Asian arowanas.

Size: 

Grows up to 24–36 inches (60–90 cm).

Traits:

Aggressive, especially toward other fish.

Popular among aquarists due to their unique pattern and hardy nature.

5. Leichhardt’s Arowana (Scleropages leichardti)

Other Names: Southern Saratoga.

Origin: Northern and eastern Australia.

Appearance:

Reddish to pink hue on fins and body with distinct spots.

Size: Similar to Jardini arowanas, reaching up to 36 inches (90 cm).

Traits:

Less aggressive compared to Jardini.

Ideal for larger aquariums with ample swimming space.

6. African Arowana (Heterotis niloticus)

Origin: 

Freshwater bodies across Africa, including the Nile and Congo rivers.

Appearance:

Less ornamental, with a more subdued gray or brown coloration.

Lacks the prominent barbels seen in other arowanas.

Size: 

Can grow up to 39 inches (100 cm).

Traits:

Primarily a filter feeder, consuming plankton and small particles.

Distinct from other arowanas in both appearance and behavior.

7. Platinum Arowana

Description: Not a distinct species but a rare genetic mutation resulting in an entirely white or platinum-colored arowana.

Types: Occurs in various arowana species, including silver, Asian, and Jardini.

Value: Considered the "holy grail" of arowanas, with some specimens selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Traits: Extremely rare and highly prized by collectors.

Key Considerations for Arowana Care

Tank Requirements

Size: Arowanas require large tanks due to their size and active swimming habits. Minimum tank size: 250–500 gallons.

Water Quality: Prefer soft, slightly acidic to neutral water with stable temperature (75–86°F or 24–30°C).

Diet

Natural Diet: Carnivorous, feeding on insects, small fish, crustaceans, and even small birds in the wild.

Aquarium Diet: Accepts pellets, frozen foods, and live prey such as shrimp or feeder fish.

Behavior

Highly territorial and aggressive, especially toward smaller fish.

Best kept as solitary fish or with similarly large and robust tank mates.

Arowanas are symbols of luck and prosperity in many cultures, particularly in Asia. Their majestic appearance and unique behaviors make them a centerpiece in aquariums, but they require careful attention and substantial resources to thrive.

The History Of Arowana

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Arowanas are freshwater bony fish of the subfamily Osteoglossinae, also known as bony tongues (the latter name is now often reserved for Arapaiminae). In this family of fish, the head is bony and the elongated body is covered by large, heavy scales, with a mosaic pattern of canals. The dorsal and anal fins have soft rays and are long based, while the pectoral and ventral fins are small. The name "bonytongues" is derived from a toothed bone on the floor of the mouth, the "tongue", equipped with teeth that bite against teeth on the roof of the mouth. The arowana is a facultative air breather and can obtain oxygen from air by sucking it into its swim bladder, which is lined with capillaries like lung tissue.

Evolution

Within Osteoglossinae, the South America Osteoglossum arowanas diverged from the Asian and Australian Scleropages arowanas about 170 Mya, during the Middle Jurassic.

The Osteoglossidae are the only exclusively freshwater fish family found on both sides of the Wallace Line. This may be explained by the theory that Asian arowanas (S. formosus) diverged from the Australian Scleropages, S. jardinii and S. leichardti, about 140 Mya, making it likely that Asian arowanas were carried to Asia on the Indian subcontinent.

Fossil record

At least five extinct genera, known only from fossils, are classified as osteoglossids; these date back at least as far as the Late Cretaceous. Other fossils from as far back as the Late Jurassic or Early Cretaceous are widely considered to belong to the arowana superorder Osteoglossomorpha. Osteoglossomorph fossils have been found on all continents except Antarctica. These fossil genera include Brychaetus, Joffrichthys, and Phareodus.

Taxonomy

Genus Anaedopogon Cope 1871

Genus Foreyichthys Taverne 1979

Genus Nieerkunia Su 1992

Genus Osteoglossidarum [otolith]

Genus Ridewoodichthys Taverne 2009

Genus Taverneichthys Kumar, Rana & Paliwal 2005

Genus Tetoriichthys Yabumoto 2008

Genus Phareodus Leidy, 1873

Subfamily Osteoglossinae Bonaparte 1832

• Genus Scleropages Günther 1864
• Genus Osteoglossum Agassiz ex Spix & Agassiz 1829 non Basilewsky 1855

Behavior

Osteoglossids are carnivorous, often being specialized surface feeders. They are excellent jumpers; Osteoglossum species have been seen leaping more than 6 feet (1.8 m) from the water surface to pick off insects and birds from overhanging branches in South America, hence the nickname "water monkeys". Arowana species typically grow to around 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 m) in captivity.

Arowanas can be troublesome to keep as pets. They are expensive, require wide living space, are picky eaters, and need a lot of care. Arowanas are renowned for their aggressive behavior and personality.

Several species of osteoglossids exhibit parental care. They build nests and protect their young after they hatch. All species are mouthbrooders, the parents holding sometimes hundreds of eggs in their mouths. The young may make several tentative trips outside the parent's mouth to investigate the surroundings before leaving permanently.

Unlike most fishes that start reproducing at around six months of age, the arowana usually takes three to four years to reach sexual maturity.

In the Aquarium

Depending on the classification system used, there are ten types of arowana commonly kept as pets: four from Asia, three from South America, two from Australia, and one from Africa.

Asian arowana is an endangered species and banned in the United States. It is a status symbol among wealthy Asian men. An albino arowana sold for a record price of $300,000 in 2009. Most pet arowana are farmed behind high-security fences.

Arowanas are solitary fish and only allow company while young; adults may show dominance and aggression. Some compatible species often partnered with this fish are clown knifefish, pacu, oscars, jaguar cichlids, green terrors, gar, tinfoil barb, Siamese tigerfish, and any other somewhat aggressive fish that cannot fit in the arowana's mouth. These fish are best kept with live or frozen feed and they easily outgrow the tank within eight to ten months. An aquarium with the minimum diameter of 6 by 3.5 feet (1.8 by 1.1 m) and 300 US gallons (1,100 L; 250 imp gal) is suggested as a bare minimum but 400–800 US gallons (1,500–3,000 L; 330–670 imp gal) is the best way to go. Australian species are best kept alone in aquaria.

It is estimated that the total annual revenue of the Asian arowana sector was over US$200 million globally since 2012.

Etymology

The name comes from the Tupí language arua'ná, aruanã, or arauaná.