Silver Arowana

The silver arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) is a long, ribbon-bodied surface predator from the Amazon basin with large mirror-like scales, an upturned mouth and two short chin barbels. In the wild it hunts along the surface and leaps to take prey from overhanging branches.

Aquarium care

• Grows very large, commonly past 90 cm, and grows quickly.
• Needs an aquarium measured in metres. Buy one only if that tank already exists.
• A powerful jumper — a heavy, fully secured lid is essential, not optional.
• Predatory; it will eat any tankmate it can swallow.
• Needs excellent water quality and heavy filtration.
• Prone to drop eye, in which the eye turns permanently downward; varied feeding and a tank with visual interest above the fish are usually recommended.

Best kept alone or in a very large tank with large, calm fish that cannot be swallowed. Most silver arowanas sold as small juveniles are rehomed within a couple of years because the aquarium was never going to be big enough, so please plan for the adult rather than the fish in the bag.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is available for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. Browse the assorted and interesting collection.