Silver Arowana (18-20 cm)

The Silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) is an iconic, ancient freshwater fish native to the Amazon River Basin. Known as the "Dragon Fish" or "Water Monkey," it is famous for its sleek, metallic silver body, upturned mouth, and extraordinary ability to leap up to 3 feet out of the water to catch prey. Because they can grow up to 3 to 4 feet in length, they require massive aquariums and are strictly suited for experienced fishkeepers.

Key Characteristics & Anatomy.

Appearance: They feature large, pearly-silver scales that can reflect blue, green, or red glints as they age. They have a streamlined shape with dorsal and anal fins almost fused to the tail.

The "Bony Tongue": Belonging to the family Osteoglossidae, they have teeth on their tongue and the roof of their mouth to crush food.

Sensory Barbels: Two prominent barbels sit on the lower jaw to detect movement and vibrations at the water's surface.

Mouthbrooders: Males display exceptional parental care by incubating eggs and sheltering young fry inside their mouths for about two months.

Natural Diet & Hunting Style

In the wild, Silver Arowanas are surface-dwelling predators. They float near the top of the water column to ambush insects, smaller fish, crustaceans, and frogs. Thanks to their powerful jumping ability, they can even snatch low-hanging birds, bats, and lizards from overhanging tree branches.

Aquarium Care Requirements

Keeping a Silver Arowana is a massive commitment due to their size, long lifespan (10 to 15+ years), and specific environmental needs:

Tank Size: A minimum of 250 to 300 gallons is required for an adult to swim and turn around comfortably.

Strict Lid Security: A heavy, tight-fitting glass lid is mandatory. Their natural instinct to jump means they will easily escape or injure themselves against an unsecured top.

Water Parameters: They thrive in warm water between 24–28°C (75–82°F) with a pH of 6.0–7.5. Strong filtration and frequent water changes are critical to manage their heavy bio-load.

Tank Mates: They are territorial and predatory. They must be housed alone or with other large, bottom-dwelling, non-aggressive species like freshwater stingrays, large catfish, or Oscars. Any fish small enough to fit in its mouth will becomefood.

Drop Eye Condition: Captive arowanas are prone to "drop eye" (where one or both eyes point downward permanently). Aquarists often add dark substrates or floating toys to prevent the fish from continuously staring downward at bare glass bottoms.