The Red Arowana (Scleropages formosus) is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia. It is a member of the Osteoglossidae family; Red Arowana is also known as the Dragon Fish and bony tongue, a popular fish to keep in aquariums. In this article, you will learn about Red Arowana complete care.
Table of Contents
Species Summary
| Scientific Name | Scleropages formosus |
| Common Name | Red Arowana, DragonFish, Bony tongue |
| Temperament | Semi-aggressive |
| Color Form | Red |
| Lifespan | 10-15 years |
| Size | 35 inches |
| Diet | Carnivore |
| Family | Osteoglossidae |
| Minimum Tank Size | 250 gallons |
| Tank Set-Up | Freshwater, plenty of open swimming space |
| pH range: | 5.5-6.5 |
| Water Temperature | 75°-86°F. |
The Red Arowana is a large and beautiful fish that makes a great addition to any freshwater aquarium. It is a semi-aggressive fish, so it is essential to choose tank mates carefully. This fish is native to Southeast Asia and requires a warm water temperature.
Providing open swimming space and hiding places in the aquarium is also essential.
This is a carnivore and requires a diet high in protein. This can be achieved by feeding them live, frozen, or freeze-dried foods. Providing a vitamin and mineral supplement to their diet is also essential.
When choosing a Red Arowana for your aquarium, selecting one that is healthy and has bright coloration is essential. This fish is a slow grower and can live for over 20 years, so it is a long-term commitment.
The Red Arowana sheds its skin every few weeks. This process is known as molting, and it helps the fish eliminate any parasites on their skin. The molting process also helps the fish to regenerate damaged tissue and to grow new scales.
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Red Arowana Appearance
The Red Arowana is a large and beautiful fish growing up to 35 inches long. They have long and slender bodies with large scales. Their coloration is usually red but can also be green, blue, or silver.
They have giant mouths with sharp teeth perfect for catching their prey. The color of the fish can range from red to orange, and it has two barbels on its lower jaw.
Red Arowana Liifespan
The Red Arowana can live for over 20 years in captivity. In the wild, their lifespan is unknown, but it is believed to be shorter.
Red Arowana Size And Growth Rate
The Red Arowana can grow up to 35 inches in length. They are slow-growing fish, so they do not reach their full size for several years. Their Growth rate is about 1 to 2 inches per year.
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Red Arowana Breeding And Reproduction
The Red Arowana is a mouth-brooding fish. The female will incubate the eggs in her mouth until they hatch. After the fry has hatched, the female spits them into the water. The fry is tiny and requires special care. They should be fed live foods such as brine shrimp or bloodworms.
The Red Arowana is compatible with other similar fish in size and temperament. They should not be kept with smaller fish as they may view them as prey.
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Red Arowana Gestation Period And Pregnancy Symptoms
The gestation period for the Red Arowana is about 28 days. During this time, the female will stop eating, and her belly will swell up as the eggs develop. The pregnancy symptoms are similar to those of other fish, including a decreased appetite and a swollen belly.
The Red Arowana typically lays eggs in the evening. The female will lay anywhere from 20 to 100 eggs at a time. The hatching process for the Red Arowana takes about 48 hours. After the fry has hatched, they are tiny and require special care.
The best time to breed the Red Arowana is during the rainy season.
You can do a few things to promote breeding in the Red Arowana. First, you should make sure that the water conditions are ideal. The pH should be between 5.5 to 6.5, and the temperature should be 75° to 86° Fahrenheit.
You should also provide plenty of hiding places for the fish, as they like to feel secure. Another thing you can do is to feed them live foods such as brine shrimp or bloodworms. This will help to stimulate their appetite and encourage them to breed.
The eggs of the Red Arowana are small and round. They are usually orange or red. Each egg is about 1/4 inch in diameter.
Red Arowana Behavior & Temperament
The Red Arowana is a semi-aggressive fish. They should not be kept with smaller fish as they may view them as prey. They are also known to jump out of the water, so having a secure lid on their tank is essential.
The Red Arowana is a solitary fish that does not like sharing its space with other fish. Providing them plenty of hiding places to feel secure is an excellent idea.
Red Arowana Care Guide
Here, we will share all steps to care for red Arowana.
Red Arowana Tank Size
The minimum tank size for the Red Arowana is 250 gallons. This is because they are large fish and need plenty of swimming space. They also like to jump out of the water, so having a secure lid on their tank is essential.
Red Arowana Tank Mates
The Red Arowana is compatible with other similar fish in size and temperament. They should not be kept with smaller fish as they may view them as prey. The suitable tank mates are other large fish such as the Arowana, African Cichlid, and Oscar.
Tank Region
The Red Arowana should be kept in the middle or bottom of the tank. This is because they are large fish and need plenty of swimming space.
Tank Decorations
The Red Arowana should have plenty of hiding places as they are solitary fish. They also like to jump out of the water, so having a secure lid on their tank is essential.
The ideal decorations for the Red Arowana are live plants and Driftwood. The plants will provide them with hiding places, and the Driftwood will help to keep the water conditions ideal.
Tank Accessories
Heater: The Red Arowana is a tropical fish and requires a heater to maintain the water temperature between 75° to 86° Fahrenheit.
The suggested heaters are:
- Aqueon Submersible Aquarium Heater
- Tetra HT Submersible Aquarium Heater
- Zoo Med Nano Heater
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Filter: The Red Arowana is a large fish producing much waste. It is essential to have a powerful filter to keep the water clean.
The suggested filters are:
- Fluval FX4 External Canister Filter
- AquaClear Powerhead Filter
- Eheim Classic External Canister Filter
Lighting: The Red Arowana does not require special lighting. The standard aquarium lighting will be fine.
Important Things To Note
You must follow all steps noted below for the best care of your fish.
- Placement: The Red Arowana should be placed in the middle or bottom of the tank. This is because they are large fish and need plenty of swimming space. They also like to jump out of the water, so having a secure lid on their tank is essential.
- Water changes: The Red Arowana is a large fish producing much waste. It is important to do weekly water changes to keep the water clean. The suggested amount to change is 20%.
- Gravel Vacuuming: The Red Arowana is a large fish producing much waste. Vacuuming the gravel every week is important to keep the water clean.
- Algae: The Red Arowana does not usually eat algae. If there are algae in the tank, it is probably due to too much light or too many nutrients in the water.
- Substrate:The ideal substrate for the Red Arowana is gravel. The gravel will help keep the water clean and provide a place for the plants to root.
- Water pH level: The ideal pH level is 6.0.
- Water hardness: The ideal water hardness is between 4 and 10 dGH.
- Water Temperature: The ideal water temperature is between 75 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cleaning The Tank: The Red Arowana is a large fish producing much waste. It is important to clean the tank every week to keep the water clean.
- Oxygen Levels: The Red Arowana is a large fish and needs plenty of oxygen. Having an airstone in the tank is important to provide adequate oxygen levels. The suggested oxygen levels are between 6 and 8 ppm.
- Fertilizer: They does not require fertilizer. If you fertilize the tank, use a liquid fertilizer safe for aquarium plants.
- Nitrates And Nitrites Level: The ideal levels of nitrates and nitrites 0 ppm.
- Ammonia Level: The ideal ammonia level is 0 ppm.
- Protein Skimmer: They do not require a protein skimmer.
Monitoring Water Conditions
It is important to monitor the water conditions in the tank. The ammonia, nitrites, and nitrate levels should be checked every week.
There are several ways to test the water quality in the aquarium. The most common way is to use test strips. Test strips are easy to use and give an accurate water quality reading.
The other way to test the water quality is to use a liquid test kit. Liquid test kits are more expensive than test strips but more accurate.
The most important thing to remember when testing the water quality is to follow the directions on the package.
If the levels of ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates are too high, it is important to do a water change and vacuum the gravel.
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Maintenance
The Red Arowana is a large fish and produces a lot of waste. It is important to do regular maintenance on the tank to keep the water clean.
Water changes and vacuuming the gravel should be done every week.
The tank should be cleaned with a sponge or soft cloth. Do not use soap or detergent, as these can harm the fish.
It is also important to check the ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates levels in the water every week. Changing water and vacuuming the gravel is important if these levels are too high.
Red Arowana Food & Diet
The Red Arowana is a carnivore and needs a diet that is high in protein. They will eat live, frozen, or freeze-dried foods. It is important to offer a variety of foods to ensure that the Red Arowana gets all the nutrients they need.
Some of the best foods include bloodworms, brine shrimp, and krill. It is also important to offer vegetables such as zucchini, cucumber, and spinach. They will also eat pellets and flakes, which should not be the main diet.
Feeding
The Red Arowana should be fed 2-3 times a day. They should be given as much food as they can eat in 2 minutes. It is important to remove any uneaten food from the tank.
Diet Foods To Avoid
Some foods should be avoided when feeding the Red Arowana. These foods can be harmful to the fish and can cause problems with their health.
Some of the foods that should be avoided include, but are not limited to:
- Pellets and flakes that contain fillers such as corn or wheat.
- Live foods that are infected with diseases.
- Raw meat
- Canned tuna or salmon
- Processed foods
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Substrate
The Red Arowana is a semi-aggressive fish and may eat small freshwater aquarium plants. It is best to avoid plants that are delicate or have small leaves.
Some of the best plants for the Red Arowana include:
- Anubias
- Java Fern
- Amazon Sword
- Cryptocoryne
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Red Arowana Potential Fish Diseases
The Red Arowana is a hardy fish, but some diseases can affect them. Some of the most common diseases include:
- Ich: Ich is a parasitic disease that can be fatal to fish. The most common symptom is white spots on the body of the fish.
- Fin Rot: Fin rot is a bacterial infection that affects the fins of the fish. The most common symptom is red or black spots on the fins.
- Mouth Fungus: Mouth fungus is a fungal infection that affects the mouth of the fish. The most common symptom is a white growth in the mouth.
- Swim Bladder Disease: Swim bladder disease is a condition that affects the fish's swim bladder. The most common symptom is buoyancy problems.
- Gastrointestinal parasites: Gastrointestinal parasites are worms that live in the gastrointestinal tract of the fish. The most common symptom is weight loss.
- Virus infections: Virus infections are caused by viruses that infect the fish. The most common symptom is lethargy.
- Bacterial infections: Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria that infect the fish. The most common symptom is red or black spots on the body.
- Columnaris: Columnaris is a bacterial infection that affects the skin and fins of the fish. The most common symptom is white spots on the body.
- Velvet: Velvet is a parasitic disease that can be fatal to fish. Gold or brown dust on the fish's body is the most common symptom.
- Hole in the Head: Hole in the head is a condition that affects the head of the fish. The most common symptom is holes in the head.
To help prevent disease, it is important to quarantine new fish before adding them to the tank. Maintaining good water quality and providing a healthy diet is also important.
Treatment And Medications For Diseases
Many medications can be used to treat the diseases affecting Red Arowana.
Some of the most common medications include:
- Tetracycline: Tetracycline is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
- Nitrofurazone: Nitrofurazone is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial and fungal infections.
- Metronidazole: Metronidazole is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
- Furan:Furan is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial and fungal infections.
- Kanamycin:Kanamycin is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
- Chloramphenicol: Chloramphenicol is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
- Trimethoprim-sulfa: Trimethoprim-sulfa is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections.
- Quinaldine: Quinaldine is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial and viral infections.
- Levamisole: Levamisole is an antiparasitic medication used to treat parasitic infections.
- Praziquantel: Praziquantel is an antiparasitic medication used to treat parasitic infections.
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Advantages Of Having Them In Your Tank
- Beautiful:This beautiful fish will add color and interest to your tank.
- Active: The Red Arowana is an active fish that will entertain you and your family.
- Long-lived: The Red Arowana is a long-lived fish that can live for 20 years or more.
- The Red Arowana is a hardy fish that can tolerate various water conditions.
- Easy to care for: The Red Arowana is easy to care for fish that does not require special care or attention.
- Peaceful: This is a peaceful fish that will not bother other tankmates.
- Great addition to a community tank: The Red Arowana is a great addition to a community tank because it is peaceful and easy to care for.
- Good beginner fish: The Red Arowana is a good beginner fish because it is hardy and easy to care for.
- Good jumper: They are good jumper, so having a tight-fitting lid on your tank is important.
- Excellent fighter: An excellent fighter and can defend itself against other fish.
- Can be trained: They can be trained to do tricks and to eat from your hand.
- Can live in a wide range of water conditions: They can live in a wide range of water conditions, from fresh to brackish to saltwater.
- Can be kept singly or in a group: They can be kept singly or in a group.
- Can eat a wide variety of foods: They can eat a wide variety of foods, including live, frozen, and flake foods.
Disadvantages Of Having Them In Your Tank
- Expensive: The Red Arowana is an expensive fish, so it is not a good choice for everyone.
- Requires a large tank: They requires a large tank, so it is not a good choice for everyone.
- Can be aggressive: The Red Arowana can be aggressive, so it is important to choose tankmates carefully.
- Requires good water quality: They requires good water quality, so it is important to maintain a clean tank.
- Can be difficult to find: They can be difficult to find, so it is important to do your research before buying one.
- Can jump out of the tank: They can jump out of the tank, so it is important to have a tight-fitting lid.
- Can be difficult to breed: It can be difficult to breed, so it is important to do your research before you decide to breed them.
Conclusion
The Red Arowana is a beautiful, active, and long-lived fish that can be a great addition to your tank. They are easy to care for and can tolerate many water conditions. However, they are expensive and require a large tank, so they are not a good choice for everyone.
If you decide to get a Red Arowana, research and choose tankmates carefully.
This is a beautiful fish that is a great addition to any tank. They are large fish and need plenty of space to swim. They also like to jump out of the water, so having a secure lid on their tank is important.
They should be kept in a freshwater tank with plenty of open swimming space. They are semi-aggressive fish and should be kept singly or with other tough fish in a community tank. The Red Arowana is a carnivore and should be fed a diet of meaty foods.
They are large fish and produce a lot of waste, so it is important to do weekly water changes.
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