🐟 BASIC IDENTITY

• Scientific Name: Osteoglossum bicirrhosum

• Common Names: Silver Arowana, Dragon Fish, Monkey Fish

• Family: Osteoglossidae

• Origin: Amazon River Basin, as well as the Rupununi and Essequibo rivers of South America

🌈 APPEARANCE

• Color: Metallic silver with a reflective sheen; slight bluish or pinkish hue in some lighting

• Body Shape: Long, sleek, and flat-bodied with large, mirror-like scales

• Distinctive Features:

  • Two sensory barbels under the lower jaw

  • Upturned mouth for surface feeding

  • Long dorsal and anal fins that run nearly the length of the body

• Juveniles: Smaller with yellow-orange tints around the tail and fins

📏 SIZE & LIFESPAN

• Adult Size: Up to 3 feet (90 cm) in home aquariums; even larger in the wild

• Growth Rate: Rapid, especially in first year

• Lifespan: 10 to 20+ years with optimal care

🏠 TANK REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum Tank Size: 250 gallons or more

• Ideal Tank Dimensions: Long and wide (more horizontal space for swimming)

• Tank Lid: Must be extremely secure — silver arowanas are powerful jumpers

• Water Conditions:

  • Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)

  • pH: 6.5–7.5

  • Hardness: Soft to moderately hard (1–10 dGH)

• Filtration: Heavy-duty filtration; strong oxygenation

• Water Changes: 25–40% weekly to maintain quality

• Decor: Sparse — prioritize open swimming space with soft substrate and floating plants (optional)

🍽️ DIET & FEEDING

• Feeding Style: Surface predator

• Natural Diet (Wild): Insects, small fish, frogs, crustaceans, and even birds

• Captive Diet:

  • High-quality floating carnivore pellets

  • Frozen: shrimp, fish, krill

  • Live (occasionally): feeder fish, crickets, mealworms

  • Avoid fatty or unquarantined feeders to prevent disease

• Feeding Frequency:

  • Juveniles: 2–3 times daily

  • Adults: 1 time daily or every other day

🧠 BEHAVIOR & COMPATIBILITY

• Temperament: Semi-aggressive; territorial especially when mature

• Activity: Active swimmer; spends most time near the surface

• Compatibility Tips:

  • Best kept alone or with large, peaceful/semi-aggressive fish

  • Compatible tankmates: Oscars, large Plecos, Bichirs, large catfish, Datnoids

  • Avoid: Small fish (will be eaten), fin-nippers, aggressive cichlids

• Note: Can coexist in groups only when young — becomes territorial with age

🧬 BREEDING INFO

• Breeding Method: Mouthbrooder

• Parenting: Male carries fertilized eggs and fry in his mouth for 6–8 weeks

• Breeding in Captivity: Rare and extremely difficult without large ponds or controlled breeding environments

• Sexing: No reliable method when young; subtle differences as they mature (e.g., jaw shape)

⚠️ HEALTH & SPECIAL CONCERNS

• Jumping: Arowanas can launch themselves several feet into the air — tight lids and no gaps are essential

• Droop Eye: Common in captivity; causes include fatty diet, reflection on glass, or looking down at food

• Injuries: Prone to eye, jaw, or scale damage from jumping or poor tank decor

• Disease Resistance: Fairly hardy but sensitive to poor water quality

✔️ PROS & CONS

📌 QUICK FACT SHEET

IMAGES ARE FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSES ONLY.