Arowana: The Complete Owner's Guide for the Most Expensive Fish in the World (eBook)

Arowanas are a type of freshwater bony fish of the family Osteoglossidae, otherwise called bonytongues (a group that also encompasses arapaima and knifefishes). Members of the Osteoglossidae family possess a hard, bony head, an elongated body, and large, tough scales. The name “bonytongue” derives from a toothed bone on the bottom of the fish’s mouth — the “tongue” — which features small, ridged teeth that can press against similar teeth on the roof of the Arowana’s mouth to catch and devour prey.

Arowana species ordinarily develop to around two to three feet in captivity. The Arowana is a facultative air breather, meaning it can acquire oxygen by drawing atmospheric air into its swim bladder, which is lined with capillary tissue much like a human lung.

The Osteoglossidae are the main freshwater fish family found on both sides of the Wallace Line, an imaginary dividing line in the ocean between Asia and Australia that very few freshwater or land species cross. This rare occurrence might be explained by the hypothesis that Asian Arowanas (Scleropages formosus) separated from the Australian varieties (S. jardinii and S. leichardti) around 140 million years ago (Mya), making it likely that Asian Arowanas were conveyed to Asia from Australia via the Indian subcontinent before these continents split apart.

While Arowana classifications are a continuing subject of debate among researchers and aquarium hobbyists alike, there are generally thought to be ten types of Arowana commonly kept as pets: four from Asia, three from South America, two from Australia, and one from Africa (although the African Arowana is not part of the Osteoglossidae family).

The Asian Arowana is common in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Borneo and Sumatra. It is found in blackwater lakes, swamps, flooded woods, and other waterways with overhanging vegetation. There are several regional variations of the Asian Arowana. The most famous of these is the Super Red variation, which is found only in a few small areas of Western Borneo. The numbers of wild Asian Arowana are consistently diminishing, and as a result, the importation and ownership of Asian Arowanas is restricted in the United States and Australia. Special permission is often required to own these fish in the United Kingdom, China, or Asia.

All members of the Osteoglossidae family are predatory. They are great jumpers; Osteoglossum species have been seen launching themselves more than six feet from the water to pick off insects and small birds from overhanging branches in South America, thus earning them the moniker “water monkeys.”

The silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) from South America is the most common type of Arowana. Young silver Arowana fry ordinarily retail cost for $10 or more in most locations, while healthy adults commonly retail for $250 or more. Only the silver and the black Arowana (O. ferreiral) can be transported in the United States and Australia. The most sought-after varieties, including the red and golden Arowanas (Scleropages formosus) are endangered and cannot be legally imported or owned in most localities. A flourishing black market exists for these fish in some Asian countries; a solitary golden Arowana has a market value of about $1,400 in Indonesia.

The Arowana has a unique reproduction process. In order to reproduce, the Arowana takes part in a two-month courtship and incubation process that results in somewhere between 30 and 80 fry. Many types of Arowanas show an unusual degree of parental care, particularly the males. All species of Arowana are mouthbrooders; the parents sometimes hold hundreds of eggs in their mouths while their young develop. Once hatched, the fry may make several exploratory trips to investigate the surroundings before finally giving up the safety of their parents’ mouths for good.

Arowanas are known to be aggressive, and caution must be taken if they will share an aquarium with any other fish. Depending on the temperament of individual fish, many aquarium keepers have had success pairing Arowanas with clown knifefish, pacu, oscars, cichlids (from the same continent as the Arowana; i.e. South American cichlids with South American Arowanas), gars, tinfoil barbs, Siamese tigerfish, and other semi-aggressive fish that can't fit into the Arowana's mouth. Arowanas benefit from a diet featuring a combination of frozen, pellet, and live foods. For most species of Arowana, an aquarium of no less than 250 gallons is a requirement, while tanks upwards of 400-600 gallons are preferable.

Chapter 2: Arowana Myths and Legends

The Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus) is known by many in China and other Asian countries as the “dragonfish.” These truly unique aquarium inhabitants are coveted by fishkeepers throughout the world. In numerous legends, the Arowana is considered a symbol of luck, riches and success. Owners of the fish believe that if the Arowana is well cared for, it will protect the owner and their family against hardships and misfortune.

The name “dragonfish” stems from the Asian Arowana’s likeness to the mythical beast of Chinese lore. Because the coin-like scales and elegant swimming pattern of the Arowana seem to invoke a dragon, which is itself a symbol of good fortune, the Arowana is viewed as one of the best fish for Feng Shui in the home. It is widely believed that the fish brings a benevolent, nurturing “yang” quality to the residence it inhabits.

It’s common for business owners in Asian countries to purchase not only one Arowana, but nine. Purchasing nine Asian Arowanas is believed to ensure that the company will always remain in business. This widespread belief is tied to the fact that the Mandarin word for the number nine (“jiu”) also signifies “long-lasting.” The number nine is closely tied with a number of myths relating to dragons, including the legend of the Dragon King, who had nine children. The Dragon King himself is considered to have nine forms, and is described in nine attributes.

Another common belief relating to Arowanas is the idea that the fish will sacrifice its life for its owner. A story tells of a man who kept an Arowana in his home, who was in a serious car accident. Despite the severity of the crash, the man escaped with only a few minor cuts. When he returned home, he found that his Arowana had jumped through the covering on its aquarium and died. Stories like these emphasize the belief that the Arowana can absorb negative energy and misfortune on behalf of its owner.

Many owners of Asian Arowana are positive that the fish understands their intentions and can even influence their lives. Another story tells of a man who kept an Asian Arowana for around eight years. The man promised the fish that if he won the lottery, the first thing he would do would be to buy a huge, beautiful tank for the Arowana. He won the lottery and made enough money to buy the new fish tank two times over. Many owners feel a strong connection to their Arowana, and are certain that they fish understand them just like a human.

Chapter 3: Arowana History

The Arowana is an exceptionally old fish. Its form is largely unchanged since the Jurassic era, more than 150 million years ago. The Arowana lived through the rise and fall of the dinosaurs, and survived with few modifications to its ancient appearance. Through millions of years of evolution, the Arowana is now available to us in pet stores looking much the same as it has for millennia.

Modern-day Arowanas can be found in three different continents: Australia, Asia, and South America. Scientists believe that Arowanas arrived in these various habitats before the continental breakup placed oceans in between the land masses that we recognize as separate continents today. Before the continental breakup, the supercontinent Pangea was the only landmass on Earth, allowing the Arowana to spread through interconnected waterways across Pangea’s vast surface.

Pangea first began to break apart 175 Mya. Arowanas have undergone such little differentiation since that time that the fish on all three continents are readily identifiable as the same species, despite nearly 100 million years of isolation.

In terms of relatively modern history, the Arowana species Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, or silver Arowana, was discovered and named by Geroges Cuvier in 1829. The Greek term “Osteoglossum” signifies “bone-tongued” (from “osteo” meaning bone, and “glossum” meaning tongue), and “bicirrhosum” signifies “two barbels” — so the scientific name aptly describes Arowanas as a bony-tongued fish with two barbels. The fish is known by several common names, including “bony-tongued fish” or simply “bonytongue,” “arawana,” “aruana,” “arrowana,” “dragonfish,” and “water monkey.”

Many individuals have an interest in owning one of these beautiful fish, but don’t realize that certain varieties, particularly of Asian Arowanas, are facing extinction in the wild. The population of Arowanas in Asia has declined rapidly over the past half century. Conservation efforts and a worldwide movement to purchase only captive-bred Arowanas (as opposed to wild-caught) are helping restore the Arowana population in the wild.

Chapter 4: Arowana Habitat

The silver Arowana is found throughout the slow-moving and blackwater floodplains of South America. Their native habitat includes the broad region encompassed by the Amazon River...