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This page will give a completely detailed profile of the selected
fish, from A to Z. The profiled fish will be chosen randomly by Badman,
and will come from the complete genre of tropical fish. New profiles
are added on a regular basis. If you would like to submit a profile
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Scleropages jardini
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Overview:
One of the giants of the home aquarium, the Jardini Arowana cannot be
a casual purchase. Their size and dietary requirements make them a choice
for only those willing to meet their needs. This profile concentrates
on the Asian species, but the needs of the South American species are
similar.
Quick stats:
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Listed tank sizes are the minimum
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| Size: |
Up to 40 inches in the wild.(100 cm), usually smaller
in the 24 inch range (60cm). |
| Tank: |
72 inches, 125 gallon minimum. |
| Strata: |
Top, middle. |
| PH: |
6.5 to 7.5 |
| Hardness: |
Soft to medium, or dH to 16° . |
| Temperature: |
75° to 86° f (24 to 30°C) |
Classification:
| Order: |
Osteoglossiformes |
| Suborder: |
Osteoglossidei |
| Family: |
Osteoglossidae |
| Genera: |
Scleropages |
Common name:
Jardini Arowana, Northern Spotted or Gulf Saratoga Barramundi
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Distribution
Oceania, Northern Australia and central-southern
New Guinea.
General Body Form:
The body is very flat from side to side and if you look at if from above
the fish looks very thin, its' up and down profile is very deep, however.
The Anal and dorsal fins are very long and low and run from the center
of the body almost to the caudal fin. They have very large mouths which
open like a trap door from the bottom hinges. They have two forked Barbels
that extend from the lower lip and in the male these extend above the
upper jaw. Mature females are much larger in circumference and the anal
fin is not as long as the males.
Coloration:
The sides appear quite dull, grayish silver to a pale Greenish Yellow.
Each of the individual scales on the sides have a bright Red spot. In
mature specimens, the throat is a Golden orange to Red color and the
barbels have a Blue to Green tint to them. The fins overall appear Greenish
or Yellow, but if you look closely you can see patterns of Red or Orange
markings. This species develops an orange cast with age
Jardini Arowana
Maintenance:
The average hobbyist will be satisfied with the younger specimens, but
these will soon outgrow all but the largest of tanks. The Aquarium must
be well covered as these fish can jump! While it obvious that you must
provide plenty of open space for swimming it's also require places to
hide, such as plant thickets or driftwood. Temperature should be on
the higher side with 77° f (25° C) being a happy medium. Feeding
the Arowana is where the real challenge (or fun) comes in. The Arowana
will eat only live food so you must find the right food for the size
fish you have. Brine shrimp, baby Livebearers and the such for the small
ones and moving all the way up to nightcrawlers and full size Goldfish.
I have read that some small specimens have been trained to accept non
live food. As with most of the Predators you will need a good filtration
system to help with the clean up. I feel a Canister filter with the
intake and outflow at opposite ends of the tank would be ideal. These
are very interesting fish that seem to develop their own personality
and to recognize their keeper and genuinely get excited about seeing
them. Another Fact about the Arowana is that in their native habitat
they are an important food resource for the native peoples. Given the
proper tank size and conditions the Arowana would be a fine addition
to a species tank that will provide years of pleasure and conversation.
Biotope:
Still waters of streams and swamps where it is usually seen near the surface or close to shore among aquatic vegetation.
Breeding:
They are Mouthbrooders, with the male incubating the eggs and young
for about sixty days. The fry would stay in the parents care until they
are about three or four inches long. Many times the only ones we see
available at the shops still have the egg sac attached and have been
forcibly removed from the father and can be very difficult to raise
due to their young age and rough removal. This is very sad to me and
I see it more with the Black Arowana, which I believe is rarer than
the silver. I would not buy one with the sac unless you are very patient
and experienced and if you see them like this, please let your store
know your disappointment. End of Badmans ranting.
Jardini Arowana
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