The Arapaima fish is also known as the Pirarucu, and is one of the biggest freshwater fish species in the world. Its scientific name is Arapaima gigas. This fish can only be found wild in the Amazon River Basin in South America. It can reach a length of 450 centimeters (177.17 inches) and weigh up to 200 kilograms (440 lbs). The Arapaima is grey and decorated with an orange speckling at the posterior end. The scales can grow up to six centimeters long on the largest Arapaima specimens. You will find two symmetrical fins on the body, located at the posterior end.
Arapaima gigas which is locally known as Pirarucu.
The Arapaima can be kept in aquariums, but you must of course be prepared to provide your Arapaima with larger and larger aquariums as it grows. A 450 centimeter long Arapaima is of course very impractical to keep for most aquarists. Since the Arapaima is near extinct in some parts of South America, you should choose your specimen carefully. Purchase a captive breed Arapaima or make sure that is has been caught in an area where it is not endangered.
The Arapaima is a very popular food fish in South America and it is also admired among sport fishers. More than 50 percent of the total body weight of this fish is made up by meat, and the meat is boneless, a fact which makes it even more popular as food. The bony tongue is used to prepare cylinders of dried guarana, while the scales are sold as nail files. (Guarana is an ingredient used in a South American beverage.) A majority of the caught Arapaima fishes are sold and consumed in Brazil. Arapaima harvesting is today forbidden in many regions, e.g. Guyana, but the illegal fishing still continues.
Over fishing has made it hard to find large Arapaima specimens. Once upon a time, there were a lot of Arapaima fishes weighing over 150 kilograms and measuring more than 3 meters in length. More than 30 years of over fishing have now drastically reduced the amount of large Arapaima fishes in South America, and has had a severe effect on the entire Arapaima population as well. The Arapaima fish is usually netted or harpooned.
The Arapaima is a predatory fish that eats fish, birds and any other animal that it can catch. The major part of its diet consists of fish, but since it is a large opportunistic hunter it will happily gulp down other animals as well. Arapaimas prefer to hunt close to the surface since they need to breathe oxygen from the air. This does however not prevent the Arapaima from occasionally diving very far down. The fact that this fish needs to breathe air from the atmosphere every 10-20 minutes must of course be taken into consideration if you intend to keep an Arapaima in captivity. The aquarium must be arranged in a way that makes access to fresh air possible.
Arapaima is found in various habitats in the Amazon River Basin which means that you can have some freedom when you decorate its aquarium. You will find Arapaima in the Amazon River, in the tributaries and in the floodplain lakes. It lives in white water as well as clear water, and the fact that it breaths oxygen from the atmosphere makes it possible for this fish to live in oxygen depleted swampy waters as well.
The Arapaima is an egg-laying mouth-brooding species that tend to its eggs as well as its larvae. Since Arapaima fish sometimes inhabit oxygen depleted waters, they will aerate the water to make sure that the eggs get enough oxygen. Adult fish can communicate with their offspring by exuding a special pheromone from the head. The pheromone makes the larvae stay close to their parents where they can be protected from predators.
The reproductive cycle of Arapaima fish depend on the seasons, and the female will lay eggs in February, March or April. During this period, the water levels in the Amazon River Basin are very low. The eggs are placed in a nest that has been built by the parents at the bottom. This nest is usually around 50 centimeters in diameter and 15 centimeters deep. When the eggs hatch, the flooding season is well on its way in the Amazon River Basin and the offspring can feast on an abundance of small aquatic organisms.
Arapaima Arowana Fish : $200.00 – $900.00
Buy Arapaima Arowana Fish is also one of the kinds that have a popularity. The Arapaima, handful of Arowana species and Featherback Knifefishes are definitely not for everyone. It is good but for the advanced freshwater enthusiast who has the time, money and tank space. The reality of Arowana fish is that you must, first of all, learn how to care for them. We have Arapaima Arowana for sale in different sizes in a healthy condition.
Buy Arapaima Arowana Fish For sale
Arapaima Arowana Fish are one of the very attractive and beautiful fishes which have got a shining black color making it outstanding among the other lot of fishes. Arapaima Arowanas are very smooth and active species of fishes which frequently keeps turning and swimming in all the directions and hence keeps the aquarium the focus of attention. These arapaima Arowanas are available for our clients at a very competitive prices.
Buy Arapaima Arowana Fish is also one of the kinds that have a popularity. The Arapaima, handful of Arowana species and Featherback Knifefishes are definitely not for everyone.
It is good but for the advanced freshwater enthusiast who has the time, money and tank space. The reality of Arowana fish is that you must, first of all, learn how to care for them. We have Arapaima Arowana for sale in different sizes in a healthy condition.
- Arapaima vs arowana
How we ship Arapaima Arowana Fish
Arapaima Arowanas are also very special type, we make sure they have enough food in their tank. They are carefully placed in their tank and we make sure they are safe on delivery.
These arapaima Arowanas are one of the alluring and lovely fishes which have a sparkling dark shading. Buy Arapaima Arowana Fish are smooth and dynamic types of fishes which oftentimes continues turning and swimming.
In every one of the bearings and subsequently keeps the aquarium the focal point of consideration.
The reason we make this site is for you to be able to read and know a few things about us or the fishes. We are always here to give you the best.
For many, the Silver arowana is the definitive big fish. Related to mighty Arapaima, this fish is not only coveted but in some cases culturally revered — or at least its Asiatic cousins are.
Visually, there’s little mistaking an American arowana for anything else. Having gigantic scales, stylish wispy beards and powerful, sleek body, they look unlike anything else that roams the waters.
South America is home to two species; the Silver arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) and the lesser-seen Black arowana (Osteoglossum ferreirai).
In juveniles, the differences are quite apparent; one silvery sheened, the other with clearly blackened flanks. In adult form, though there are noted differences in body colour, the most prominent contrasts being in the fins — the Black arowana having considerably darker dorsal, anal and caudal fins, with red and yellow outlines to them on show.
Silver arowana are endemic to South America, in the Amazon basin through French Guiana, Peru and Brazil, and it’s speculated that they haven’t become more widespread only because they can’t navigate rapids and torrential flows.
In the wild, these are spectacular hunters, though at the top of their game above the waterline rather than under it. Their ability to launch from the water has the locals calling them ‘water monkeys’ — and leaping is something at which they excel.
Reaching for insects
This behaviour is a response to life in the flooded forests where they are common. Here, limited food resources are dispersed over vast areas and niches must be found to exploit what there is.
They are also found hunting along shorelines, inhabiting blackwater lagoons, as well as the littoral zones of rivers and lakes. They are always in shallower areas of water too where the depths offer no benefits.
They launch to snatch at terrestrial insects, but they’re not particularly fussy. Spiders form a large part of the diet, as do beetles, which may be their preference if gut analyses are indicative. Small birds have been eaten, even snakes hanging from overhangs. Other less usual snacks can include crabs, snails and even monkey droppings.
When they leap they often get a side salad of the vegetation the prey had sat on, though it’s not considered essential to offer them green food supplements.
In the aquarium, this propensity to feed from above the waterline is not catered for by all that many aquarists. Instead it’s expected that the fish will take a variety of dried, fresh and frozen foods below the water surface.
Unfortunately this damages the fish and results in a condition called ‘drop eye’ whereby one or both eyes permanently look down, eventually refusing to return to normal. It’s a direct result of adapting to feed from meals on the base of aquaria.
Foreign keepers who use live fish to feed their arowana report the same symptom.
Always try to offer a floating food or train your fish to take from the surface alone. That means interacting and getting involved at every mealtime to get your fish accustomed to feeding from specific points in the tank — and offering a little at a time so food does not sink past.
‘Drop eye’ also seems more prevalent when these fish are kept alongside other species that swim beneath them.
Poor vision
Some speculate that arowana have superb eyesight and can make compensating calculations for refraction prior to leaping. However, it seems likelier that the reason for the monstrous maw is a morphological offset to compensate for rubbish vision!
Arowana in the wild often take surprisingly small meals per leap, and mouth size may compensate for terrible aim, or at least increase chances of snatching food.
Just because they have an almighty opening they do not necessarily need gigantic meals. Even for adults, crickets and locusts, earthworms, prawns, mussels, cockles and chunks of fish are more than ample.
Striking above or below water affects posture. When priming for an airborne launch they form a spectacular, anguine ‘S’ shape before take-off, though if underwater will often opt for a ‘C’ shaped curve.
Wild fish have been noted to hide behind fallen trees when in hunting mode, curled and waiting…
That gigantic mouth is also used for spawning. American arowana are mouthbrooders, with the male carrying the young a good two months until their yolk sacs are depleted. Often both wild and farmed fish are harvested at this stage, with adult males being frightened or coerced into dropping their young into the nets of collectors and then traded.
Don’t buy an arowana while it still has its yolk sac, as at this stage it will not yet be feeding. Moving yolked juveniles is irresponsible as, if ruptured in transit, the fish is almost certainly doomed.
Are the arowana and Arapaima related?
Is Arapaima good to eat?
A favorite food amongst the Amazonian natives, the arapaima is harpooned not only to be eaten but also for its scales, which can reach 4 inches (10 centimeters) in length and are used for jewelry. Their bony tongues can also be used as a scraper.
The arapaima fish is a large, freshwater fish that lives in South America. It can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh more than 400 pounds! These predators are a key part of the food chain for many aquatic organisms. They have a few natural enemies, but they are not bothered by humans or other animals when they live in their natural habitat.
The arapaima is a fish that inhabits the Amazon River and its tributaries. It is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, reaching up to six feet in length and weighing up to 200 pounds. The arapaima is a predatory fish, feeding on other fish, amphibians, and small mammals.
It has a long, cylindrical body and is covered in scales that are olive-green or brown on the dorsal side and silver on the ventral side. The arapaima has two pairs of barbels near its mouth that it uses to sense prey underwater.
It is an important fish in South American culture. It is the subject of several legends and is considered a delicacy in Brazil.
Origin and description
Arapaima fish are a native species to South America and a formidable predator in their natural habitat. They can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh as much as 440 pounds! Arapaima Fish have a very interesting life cycle, which is why they are such a popular topic of study among biologists.
The Arapaima Fish lives off the coast of South America where it is one of the most important predators. It can grow up to six feet long and weigh more than 400 pounds! These predators are a key part of the ecosystem, helping to keep other fish populations in check.
Arapaima Fish have a unique life cycle that begins with them living in small schools near the surface of the water. When they reach about two years old, they will move into deeper waters where they will live for the rest of their lives. They reproduce by laying several thousand eggs at a time.
The Arapaima Fish can grow up to ten feet long and weigh as much as 440 pounds! They are one of the most important predators in their natural environment, where they help control fish populations by eating them.
Species profile
The arapaima fish (Arapaima gigas) is a large, predatory fish found in the Amazon River basin. It is the largest freshwater fish in the world and can reach up to six feet in length, and weigh more than 200 pounds. The arapaima has a long, slender body with olive green scales and large, red fins. The head is particularly large and features a pair of fleshy barbels on the underside near its mouth.
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It’s closely related to the Asian fish known as air-breathing catfish or walking fish (Clarias batrachus), which has more than 400 species in total. It can breathe air through a modified swim bladder that allows it to “walk” across the surface of the water and can survive for up to four days out of the water by breathing air.
Scientific name
The scientific name of the arapaima fish, Arapaima gigas, is derived from the indigenous Tupi language and means “big fish of the water.”
Color and appearance
According to the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), it is one of the heaviest bony fish in the world. It has a bulbous forehead and large, crescent-shaped mouth containing rows of thick, conical teeth; these are used for catching prey such as other fish or birds that venture too close to its territory.
The arapaima’s body is a deep olive green dorsally and silvery-white ventrally. There are three dark, wide bands that run the length of its body; the first extends from the gills to the tail, while the second and third start just behind the dorsal and anal fins, respectively. Juveniles have less well-defined bands.
Range and habitat
The arapaima fish is found in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins of South America. It inhabits slow-moving, murky waters where it can conceal itself among submerged tree roots and vegetation.
Arapaima is a freshwater fish and has no tolerance for high salt concentrations. It can be found in parts of the Amazon River with soft, acidic water; it inhabits muddy shallows or deep pools where submerged tree roots form natural retreats.
They prefer slow-moving to almost stagnant waters such as swamps, backwaters, and oxbows. Arapaima fish are generally found in shallow waters with a depth from 0 to 20 m (0–66 ft), but may sometimes be found up to 40 m deep (130 feet).
Arapaima fish size
An arapaima weighing 200 kg (440 lb) is common, with the larger specimens reaching 300 to 400 kilograms or more.
The adult fish can reach lengths of up to 15 feet and weigh over 440 pounds. A sexually mature female caught in 2011 near the mouth of the Xingu River weighed 86 kilograms (190 lbs). More commonly, specimens weighing 50 to 100 kilograms (110–220 lbs) are caught.
The arapaima is the largest living species of bony fish, reaching lengths up to 15 feet and weighing over 440 pounds. The IGFA has a world record for an arapaima at 298 pounds.
A mature female caught in 2011 near the mouth of the Xingu River weighed 86 kilograms (190 lbs). More commonly, specimens weighing 50 to 100 kilograms (110–220 lbs) are caught.
Tank size
An arapaima fish needs a large tank with plenty of swimming space. The minimum size for an aquarium is 400 gallons, but it’s recommended to have at least 1000 gallons to house an adult fish.
Life cycle
Arapaima fish are long-lived fish, with a lifespan of up to 20 years in the wild. They reach sexual maturity at around four or five years old. Spawning takes place from April to May, when males and females congregate in shallow water and release their eggs and sperm into the current. The eggs hatch within two days after fertilization, and the larvae drift with the current until they reach a suitable habitat.
The arapaima is an air-breathing fish and can stay submerged for up to five minutes at a time. It has a well-developed swim bladder, which it uses to control its buoyancy; in shallower water, the bladder is expanded to make it heavier. They can also use their swim bladder for sound production and makes grunting sounds when out of water.
This is believed to be part of the courtship process; in captivity, males will produce mating calls similar to those heard in the wild if they are introduced into an aquarium containing a female that has not yet been mated.
Are they aggressive or peaceful?
Arapaima fish are usually considered to be quite docile, but they can become aggressive if they feel threatened. They have been known to attack humans who get too close, and have even been known to break through aquarium glass.
Arapaima fish care
Arapaima are easy to care for in captivity and can be kept in a large aquarium with other fish. They require a tank that is at least 120 gallons (454 liters) and should be provided with plenty of hiding places.
They will eat most types of food but should have a diet that is high in protein.
What does arapaima eat?
Arapaima fish is carnivorous and will eat a variety of food. In the wild, they feed mostly on smaller fish by ambushing them from beneath, but in captivity, they can be fed anything suitable for large tropical fish.
They have been documented as being able to eat small mammals that enter their habitats, such as rodents or even chicks, and may eat smaller fish in the aquarium.
In a home aquarium, it is not advised to keep them with other large predators such as Oscars or cichlids, because they will probably end up eating each other if there isn’t enough room for both.
They can be fed live food when young, but should later receive high-protein food such as pellets, frozen food, or fish.
Tank mates
Arapaima fish are best kept alone in a large tank. They can be aggressive towards smaller fish and sometimes even predators such as cichlids, so they don’t make good tank mates for other species of large fish.
They will often eat any small animals that enter their habitat, which makes them unsuitable to be housed.
They can also be aggressive to other large predatory fish, and may even eat their tank mates if they are smaller than them or not fast enough to escape when threatened.
Water conditions for arapaima
Arapaimas can live in fresh, brackish water or saltwater conditions. They need large tanks and the temperature should be between 73-82°F (23-28°C). The pH balance of the water needs to be acidic rather than alkaline.
They prefer slow-moving waters with floating plants, and will not do well in tanks with strong currents.
Arapaimas can be difficult to find in the wild and they are considered an endangered species, so it is important to research how to care for them before purchasing one.
Breeding
Arapaima fish are bred in large, man-made ponds. They can be difficult to breed because the male and female fish must be in close proximity for spawning to occur. Once a pair of fish have spawned, the parents will often eat their offspring. As a result, many eggs and fry do not survive.
The eggs of an arapaima are large and buoyant. They are released into the water and will hatch in about 36 hours. The newly hatched fry are very small, and they must eat quickly to survive.
Arapaima juveniles can be difficult to keep in captivity because they require a lot of food and space. Some aquarists have had success keeping young arapaima in home aquariums.
Lifespan
Arapaima fish can live for up to 20 years in the wild. In captivity, they have been known to live for more than 30 years.
The oldest arapaima ever recorded was 43 years old.
Parasites and diseases
Arapaima fish are susceptible to a variety of parasites and diseases. These include nematodes, tapeworms, flukes, bacteria, and fungi.
Many of these parasites and diseases can be deadly to the fish. As a result, it is important to maintain good water quality and to provide the fish with a healthy diet.
Predators
Arapaima are predators in their ecosystem. They eat other fish, frogs, reptiles, birds, and even small land mammals called capybara. The giant arapaima is the top predator of its habitat.
Do they make good pets?
Arapaima fish are not good pets for most people. They are large, solitary fish that require a lot of special care to survive in captivity.
They will eat almost any type of food you give them, but they may also eat other aquarium inhabitants if given the opportunity.
Arapaima teeth
Adult arapaima fish has sharp teeth that can be used to defend against predators. They also use their teeth during feeding and when tearing apart large prey items such as other fish, and capybara.
As young arapaima grows into adults, they lose the numerous tiny teeth found in juvenile fish.
Conclusion
Arapaima are giant fish that can grow to more than 12 feet long and weigh as much as 300 pounds.
They use their sharp teeth for hunting, feeding, and defense against predators. Adult arapaima can compete with other large animals such as crocodiles for food sources.
