Silver Arowana: Morphology and Breeding Methods

1 Silver Arowana: Form and Breeding

I. Morphological Features of the Silver Arowana

The silver arowana is silver all over, large, flat and elongated, with a pair of barbels at the snout and bright, spirited eyes. Juveniles have pink dorsal fins with a touch of blue, overall silvery with pink. They grow fast; adults have semicircular, silver scales with a slight blue tint and lustrous, pale-pink scale edges.

They live mainly in the upper water layer, can be solitary or grouped, and are easygoing, though same-sex fish may occasionally fight during breeding. They like to jump and eat insects and small fish. Long-lived and fast-growing, some exceed 1 m, so provide a spacious environment.

II. Breeding Methods

Choose broodstock that are whole and uninjured, robust, disease-free, with bright lustrous scales, smooth and neat, steady swimming and complete fins. Select one male and one female to ensure enough sperm and higher fertilization. Males 6–8 years and 50–60 cm; females 7–9 years and 40–50 cm. When spawning, avoid startling them or the male will withhold sperm. During breeding keep the tank absolutely quiet and stable; disturbance such as a light change can make them eat the eggs. Keep part of the tank shaded and increase lighting brightness appropriately.

They usually spawn around 10 a.m., though some spawn at 15–16. They are mouth-brooders; after fertilization the male takes all the eggs into his mouth, about 40–50 per male. He keeps his mouth moving or shakes his head to keep balance. The female guards him, spreading her pectorals in a defensive pose. During incubation keep water at 26–28°C. After about two months the fry start swimming in and out of the male’s mouth, about 6–8 cm long; this in-and-out behavior lasts about a month.

This concludes our introduction to the silver arowana’s morphology and breeding methods; we hope it deepens your understanding of the species.