Photo taken at Wharf Aquatics
The picture above shows two semi-adult fish (at about 18"/45cm long) that had been raised together and appeared to
be a pair - adults will not always share a tank peacefully in this way!
Photo © Sean Evans
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| Common name: | Silver arowana |
| Scientific name: | Osteoglossum bicirrhosum |
| Synonyms: | (none) |
| Size: | Usually 24-30" (60-90cm) in captivity, recorded up to 48" (120cm) in the wild. |
| Origin: | Amazon river basin and the still waters of Guyana. |
| Tank setup: | A very large tank (suggest 200 gallons/900 litres plus for an adult) with lots of open swimming space.
A few branches or pieces of bogwood can be used for decor. |
| Compatibility: | Highly predatory, can be aggressive. |
| Temperature: | 24-28oC (75-82oF) |
| Water chemistry: | Soft and acidic (pH 6.0-6.9) ideally, well filtered. |
| Feeding: | Will usually accept dead meaty foods such as cockles, mussels, prawns,
whitebait etc, or even floating pellets. |
| Sexing: | There may be differences in body depth. |
| Breeding: | Large eggs are mouthbrooded by the male for about 2 months. The
young remain in the mouth of the male until the yolk sac has been absorbed. |
| Comments: |
The aquarium should have a tight-fitting heavy cover, as these fish may jump. They can breathe air by
utilising their swimbladder. Only the largest home aquaria are suitable for this fish.
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