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Fast
facts on Arowana
Foreword:
The Arowana (aka Aro or the Dragon/Dragon Fish) is NOT
a cichlid (Fam.: Osteoglossidae)
but is probabaly the most incredible, demanding, fascinating,
tiring, satisfying fish I've ever kept. My Aro has been, because of
its size upon arrival, nicknamed "Junior". Under the name
"Arowana" fishes coming from different environment are
included :
Asian
Arowana (Scleropages formosus, in all its different colours):
from East Asia (this fish is enlisted
in CITES, Appendix II). It is highly
regarded in Far East, because of a "belief" related to the
Chinese Geomacy: the Feng Shui. Its price can reach many (really
many) thousands of US dollars! Import and / or Trading of this fish
is not allowed, by law, in U.S.A; elsewere is ruled by CITES
Convention. This
is something that everyone is requested to respect FULLY !
Australian
Arowana (Scleropages jardini/leichtardti):
from Australia (where they're known as "Saratoga") they
are also higly regarded all over the world. CITES position: Free
trade worldwide.
African
Arowana (Heteriotis niloticus):
from Nile river and its basin, in Africa. CITES position: Free trade
worldwide.
South
American Arowana (Osteoglossum ferreirai/bicirrhosum):
from South America. Is the biggest of all Aros - can reach a full
lenght of 1 meter (3 fts)! CITES position: Free trade worldwide,
probably the cheapest, and (O. bichirrhosum) most kept, Arowana.
Biotope:
Regardless of the origin of a given specimen some requirements are
equal to all: Hot, slow flowing waters of a "calm" river
(i.e.: Amazon River), dim light … what I would call a "Jungle
environment" (Of course it's not very precise but I feel it
gives everybody a general idea !). See also point below (tank).
Tank:
That's the REAL point! I've raised, when asked by my lfs, a S.A.
Arowana (aka: Silver Aro) for 10 months, just to allow him (assuming
that this particular fish is a male!) to grow big enough to share a
2000 Lts (530 gals!) tank with the "monsters" already
populating it: 3 Oscars (Astronotus ocellatus: over one foot each)
and Tiger Shovelnose catfish (Pseudoplatistoma Sp.; possibly
fasciatum: over 2 feet in size). His growth rate has been up to 2,5
cm (1 inch) in a month. When I got him he was still showing the rest
of his jolksac while 10 months after it was hitting 30 cm (1 ft) in
total lenght … 'Nuff Said!!!
In
reality I think a 750 liters tank is - to be conservative - the
absolute minimal size for a fully "grown up" Aro (a Silver
like mine, will, in the long run, request even more room). Keeping
the tank in a quiet ("restricted" access) place is an
highly regarded "plus" for those fishes: odd to say
they're quite shy!. Final note: use a "well-locked" cover
for the tank. Adult Aros are "professional" jumpers!
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