Asian Arowana

Scleropages formosus

The "dragon fish" – a living fossil whose shimmering scales are said to bring luck and prosperity. It rules the surface of any tank.

A predatory freshwater fish that grows to 70 cm, lives near the surface and needs 26–30 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and an aquarium of at least 800 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

26–30 °C (79–86 °F)

pH

6.0–7.5

Adult size

70 cm (28 in)

Aquarium

800 L or bigger (211 US gal)

Temperament

Predator

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Top

Diet

Carnivore

Wild home

Blackwater rivers of Southeast Asia

Good to know

• Shy. Stressed without plants, rocks or caves to hide in.

Tank mates

Good company: Black Ghost Knifefish, Motoro Stingray, Mystery Snail, Nerite Snail, Ornate Bichir, Siamese Tigerfish.

Will eat: Amano Shrimp, Angelfish, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Bristlenose Pleco, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb and 52 more.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey, Pea Puffer.

Eats the newborn fry of: Motoro Stingray.

Its fry are eaten by: Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Golden Crossback legendary
• Super Red legendary
• Silver epic
• Platinum mythic

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 7 cm long and take after one of the parents.

Now and then a rare mutation shows up: Platinum.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.