Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, or also known as the Silver Arowana. This fish can grow to 36 inches or more in captivity. In the wild, this fish can also grow to 48 inches and longer! Their color change depends on the color when they are born. This fish has large scales, a long body, and a tapered tail.

 

Silver Arowana like soft water with a pH level between 6.0 and neutral. The water temperature should range from 24C (75F) to 28C (82F). They are also found in the Amazon River basin and in the Rupununi and Oyapock Rivers in South America as well as in still waters in Guyana. They do well in that ecosystem because the water temperature is just right, it has enough room for it to swim in, and it has the food for it to eat. It is said the decline numbers of Arowanas had caused Brazilian authorities to prohibit fishing of them, in other words, there are not many of them, so they had to stop fishing for those kinds of fish.

 

Brazilians are using the fish for aquariums, and Columbians are using them for food. They are in the middle of the food chain. Their size allows them to compete for food. Whatever they could fit in their mouth they will eat. Arowanas also eat meaty foods such as insects, shrimp, fish, beef, heart, and frogs. These fish get eaten by fish that are bigger than them. They also avoid being eaten because, their size, and their shiny armor-like scales, and double barbels.

 

Author: Michael C

Published: 02/2009

 

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_arowana http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_Silver_Arowana_Osteoglossum_bicirrhosum.php http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Osteoglossum_bicirrhosum.html

 

Photo Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Osteoglossum-bicirrhosum-02.jpg