Platinum arowana - Facts | Traits | Care | Breeding | Size

The Platinum Arowana is a freshwater fish of the ancient ray-finned fishes, the Actinopterygii. There are many families of Platinum Arowana, originating from South America, Africa, Asia, and Australia.

Platinum Arowana profile

The acquainted Silver Platinum Arowana (Osteoglossum bircurrhosum) diverged from their Asian and Australian cousins (Scleropages spp.) in the course of the Jurassic period.

Overview

In the pet trade, there are 10 types of Platinum Arowana which are categorized by their origin. Platinum Arowanas of the species Scleropages formosus (Asian bonytongue aka Green Platinum Arowana) and Sclerophages inscriptus (Myanmar bonytongue aka Scripted Platinum Arowana) are endangered and listed as CITES level I, requiring a particular allow and are threatened with extinction.

Platinum Arowana Description

Platinum Arowanas are long, elongated fish belonging to the family Osteoglossidae. These fish have a slim body that provides them an almost eel-like look.

Platinum Arowanas are freshwater fish and are present in rivers, lakes, and ponds in Asia, South America, and Australia.

They may also be present in flooded forests. This family of fish is intently associated with the Arapaimidae family, one other family of bony-tongued fishes that are additionally generally referred to as Platinum Arowanas.

Some Platinum Arowanas will be very costly pet fish. There are experiences of some varieties promoting for >$100,000 per fish. There are some states that don’t enable the cargo of Platinum Arowana resulting from its potential risk to native species if it has to be launched.

Platinum Arowana Traits

Platinum Arowanas are slender, bony fish that are coated by massive, heavy scales that may attain over 2cm in size! Different species are available in quite a lot of colors, starting from silver to blue to red. Their bodies are flat and so they have massive mouths that face upwards.

The form of their mouth helps them to breathe oxygen on the water’s floor in addition to catching any prey they might discover there. They even have good eyesight which helps them to identify prey both on or above the water.

These fish are ambush predators and swim near the floor of the water, the place they take their unsuspecting prey without warning.

They have a varied diet, virtually feeding on something they will get their massive mouth round. They feed on bugs, crustaceans, and small fish. Some have even been discovered with bats and snakes of their bellies!

They are additionally glorious jumpers and have been noticed leaping virtually 2 meters out of the water to select bugs and birds off of branches. One species – the Silver Platinum Arowana – has even earned the nickname the silver cash or monkey fish for its acrobatic skills.

Platinum Arowana Habitat

Habitat destruction and seizure for pet commerce are the 2 greatest threats to Platinum Arowana fish species and have brought about a pointy decline of their inhabitants’ quantity.

The Asian Platinum Arowana is among the most prized and costly aquarium fishes on this planet, with some rumored to have bought for as a lot as $300,000!

This fish has been likened to a dragon, with its massive, metallic scales and whiskers that jut from its chin. It is this resemblance to a dragon that has made it such a sought-after aquarium fish, as people imagine that the fish brings good luck and prosperity.

Colors and Markings

The numerous Platinum Arowana varieties are generally categorized by their origin and coloration. The frequent Silver Platinum Arowana is a pale silver to gold.

Juveniles might have a blue tint and a yellow-orange bar alongside their aspect. Other species could also be tinted red or green, relying on their species.

All Platinum Arowana has very massive scales with a pair of barbels on their jaws. The dorsal and anal fins are virtually fused with the tail, giving the fish a streamlined look.

Platinum Arowana Tankmates

No matter what selection, Platinum Arowana are solitary fish. Unless you will have a VERY massive system and are planning on breeding Platinum Arowana, just one fish is advisable.

Unfortunately, some Platinum Arowana is very choosy eaters and refuse to eat anything apart from staying fed. Try to keep away from this in case you can.

Keep in mind that any stay fish or invertebrates getting into the aquarium must be quarantined previous to being fed. If your Platinum Arowana decides they aren’t within the stay feed at the moment, you might need to contemplate long time period care of these additions.

Platinum Arowana Diet and Feeding

Platinum Arowana is on the carnivorous fish feeding spectrum. Their wild counterparts are identified for grabbing prey off the floor of the water, a tough way of life to copy in an artificial setting.

If possible, enable your fish to hunt their meals on the floor. See the above part for creating a security or entry zone above your aquarium.

It is greatest to feed your Platinum Arowana a pelleted diet with meaty dietary supplements, equivalent to krill and shrimp. Do not introduce stay feeds in case your fish is keen to eat a pelleted diet.

Many hobbyists have made this error and the fish will refuse to go back to the pelleted diet. It could also be “fun” or “natural” on your fish to hunt wild prey, but it might doubtlessly be bringing in illness and is actually not a fun experience for the supposed prey.

Platinum Arowana Care

Platinum Arowana can develop exceptionally massive, though they start deceptively small. You would require not less than 300 gallons per fish. It is advisable to go greater in case you can and be sure you have a strong lid.

In the wild, Platinum Arowana are used to leaping for their meals, so they might attempt to unwillingly escape in the event that they see a shiny light or a mirrored image on the top of their tank.

A wider, shallower tank will forestall your fish from getting an excessive amount of momentum in direction of the floor.

Some house owners can have a collar of plexiglass or netting across the top of their tank with an aspect door with a view to entering the water floor. This will enable your fish to hunt naturally whereas not flying out of the aquarium!

Keep your Platinum Arowana tank freed from obstructions. They are fast to cost their meals and could also be hindered by plenty of decor objects.

Do not anticipate vegetation to do properly in Platinum Arowana tanks without supplementation since there is just one fish in a big quantity of water, unable to provide enough ranges of nitrate.

A typical criticism in Platinum Arowana is a “droopy eye.” This happens when a Platinum Arowana has to do all their looking from above, quite than under, like their wild counterparts.

Platinum Arowana is floor sight hunters, so without something to hunt on the floor, their eyes start to float downwards.

Many hobbyists try and surgically appropriate this by eradicating the retrobulbar fats pad across the dorsal side of the attention. First: by no means try the surgical procedure in your fish without the right coaching.

Only use a trained veterinary professional. Often, these surgical procedures are solely a short-lived repair, since your fish will proceed to hunt under them, how much less efficiently. Instead, give your fish one thing on the floor that catches their curiosity.

Frozen meals objects or pellets coated in oil to offer them a more reflective floor are some good concepts. Remember, they may attempt to leap no matter what is on the floor!

Gender Differences

There aren’t any exterior variations between female and male Platinum Arowana. This is among the greatest challenges when trying to breed these fish. It is believed that the male mouth may be barely bigger with fish of the same age and size, however, this has not been verified.

Platinum Arowana Breeding

Platinum Arowana is mouthbrooding fish, whereby the male will carry the unhatched eggs in his mouth. During this time, the males won’t eat. They will carry the eggs for 50-60 days till the eggs hatch into fry.

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