The Arowana fish (aruanas, arawanas, dragon fish, or bony tongues) is very popular among fish lovers. In China, this fish symbolizes good luck. They grow to about 4 feet and survive only in freshwater. Because of the high demand and because its on the endangered species list, they do have a high price tag. Some of these fish have been sold for $1000s of dollars.

These fish grow quickly in size. Males normally have a bigger head and mouth and are more colorful. Females have a larger shape and exhibit less aggression than its male counterpart.

Water conditions for this fish should be slightly acidic and soft. If you know your water is hard (an increase of minerals) then you need to look into getting a system that can take these minerals out of your water before placing it in your tank.

In regards to certain species of this fish being able to grow at great lengths, a large fish tank will be needed to keep this aggressive type fish. If your aquarium doesn’t have a lid, this fish will jump out and die. It is in their nature to do this; when they were out in the wild, they would jump out of the lake to get their prey and then jump right back in the water. Of course an aquarium will not allow them to do this.

Choose a tank that is acrylic because it is much stronger and durable than glass tanks. You also need to select a tank that can hold up to 100 gallons of water.

Different Arowana Fish Species

* Asian Arowana (Golden Arowana) – an endangered species found in Southeast Asia.
* The Silver Arowana comes from the Amazon Basin.
* The Spotted Arowana found in southern Australia
* Northern Arowana found in northern Australia
* African Arowana located in western and central Africa
* The Black Arowana comes from South American in the Rio Negro Basin

All of these fish are carnivores and will basically eat just about anything you give it. This fish does better when feeding it a variety.
Because this fish produces much waste, you need to keep an eye on your water conditions and change it at least every week in order to maintain your tanks pH levels.

Along with checking the water condition, you should also monitor the temperature to make sure it’s not too cold or too warm to help maintain a healthy environment for your fish.