Silver Arowana are found naturally in white and black water floodplains of South America in the freshwaters of the Amazon River Basin and River, maybe in the Rupununi and Oyapock Rivers, and in some still waters of Guyana as well. There is indication that they don’t go through rapids, as they haven’t promulgated further upstream. Most of the Silver Arowana are found in the swamp and flooded areas in the shallower water.
Silver Arowana are primitive, prehistoric fish. They actually have teeth on their tongue that comprise the bite they have for their food. Other relatives of Arowana in general include the Butterfly fish and Elephant fish.
Silver Arowana are among the cheapest Arowana available, and the least restricted to import/export. They come small, but look out, they grow rapidly. It is wise to get them at 4-8 inches/ 10-20cm when they are hardier and easier to handle. This will give you a better chance of success keeping them.
The natural environment of the Silver Arowana is from about 75 to 82 degrees F (24-28 C) warm in the water. In the wild, Silver Arowana may reach upwards of 4 feet /120 cm in length, and a little over ten pounds in weight.
They require good water condition to flourish. You must keep Ammonia and Nitrites close to zero. Silver Arowana create a lot of waste, so the filtration system needs to be strong and efficient. Changing at least 25% of the water per week is advisable. Some even recommend as much as 50-75%. The pH of the water (soft and acidic) is best kept between 6.0 and 6.9. Water hardness level for an ideal environment is about 1-8dH.
Their body are covered in very big, strong, and bony scales, and at the lower jaw, 2 barbels. Silver Arowana have a large, bony tongue. The dorsal and anal fins are nearly connected to the caudal fin. Adult Silver Arowana is silvery usually whereas the juveniles often have a yellow-orange bar on the side. They have longer fins than the other Arowana species from Australia, Asia, and Africa.
The growth rate in the Silver Arowana is about two inches (5cm) a month during their first year.
