Scleropages leichardti

Spotted Australian Arowana

Classification

Osteoglossidae

Distribution

Endemic to the Fitzroy River system of North-eastern Queensland, Australia. It has also been introduced to a few areas in Southern Queensland, mainly for sport fishing purposes.

Habitat

Usually found in slow-moving or still bodies of water, including streams, creeks, billabongs and swamps. Tends to prefer areas of turbid water, where there is some surface vegetation or overhanging branches.

Maximum Standard Length

36″ (90cm), although usually smaller in aquaria.

Aquarium SizeTop ↑

72″ x 24″ x 24″ (180cm x 60cm x 60cm) – 680 litres absolute bare minimum for an adult fish though the bigger the tank the better.

Maintenance

This species requires a lot of swimming space, and decor is not really critical. Filtration needs to be strong and efficient, as if the fish are kept in sub-standard conditions for prolonged periods they can develop problems with their eyes and gills. Regular water changes must be strictly observed for the same reason. The tank should also have a very heavy, tightly fitting cover, as the fish are powerful jumpers.

Water Conditions

Temperature: 75-86°F (24-30°C), although in some of its natural habitats water temperatures of 104°F (40°C) have been recorded during the summer months!

pH: 6.8-7.5

Hardness: 8-15°H

Diet

Many hobbyists feed their aros large quantities of live ‘feeder’ fish, but there is no real benefit to this and there is always the risk of introducing disease or parasites when feeding live fish. Better alternatives include earthworms, gut-loaded mealworms, waxworms, and frozen and dried foods such as bloodworm, prawn (leave the shells on), mussel and pellets. Try to keep the diet varied, or the fish may become addicted to a particular type of food. While the fish are below around 12″ in length, the best growth rate can be achieved by feeding small amounts several times a day. Above 12″ in length the fish only require a single feeding per day. Remove any uneaten food after each feeding in order to maintain water quality.

Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑

Will eat smaller fish but is suitable for some communities of larger species, although some individuals won’t tolerate any tankmates whatsoever. Possible choices include large catfish, characins and cyprinids, knifefish, Datnioides sp., and cichlids such as Geophagus or Uaru sp. Add the aro last and keep a watchful eye on proceedings as it grows.
Most specimens are very territorial and belligerent towards other arowana, unless you have enough space to comfortably house 6-10 individuals. Under these conditions any fighting may be dispersed amongst the group, but even then there are no guarantees. The vast majority of fishkeepers do not have these kind of resources available, and so as a general rule this species should be kept singly.

Sexual Dimorphism

No data available.

Reproduction

Infrequently bred in captivity, but is being bred on some Australian fish farms. The reasons for this are fairly obvious; a truly enormous aquarium would be needed to obtain a successful spawn, whereas the fish farmers have the luxury of spawning the fish in outdoor ponds dug directly into the earth, which they apparently prefer. Not only this, but the cost associated with captive breeding of any species of arowana is considerable.

This is a mouthbrooding species, but unlike with the asian species it is the female who cares for the brood. The fry remain with the female once they have hatched, leaving her mouth to forage. If danger approaches she will signal for the fry to return. Slowly the fry begin to spend more and more time away from the adult fish, until they are large enough to fend for themselves.

NotesTop ↑

Although S. leichardtii superficially resembles its Asian cousins, it is not considered as desirable an aquarium inhabitant, nor is it classed as being at risk in nature. It can be easily distinguished from the asian species by its much smaller scale size, greater lateral scale count (32-35 as opposed to 21-25 in the asian aros) and duller patterning. It differs from its Australian relative S. jardinii by its spotted scales, forward-pointing barbels, lack of sloping head and unpatterned gill covers. The base colour of leichardtii is also silver, as opposed to the bronze of jardinii.

It’s commonly known as the spotted or southern saratoga in Australia, and somewhat bizarrely is classed as a protected species in Indonesia, where it in fact has never been recorded! It’s thought that this has arisen from mis-identified specimens of S. jardinii.

This species is actually quite rare in the hobby, possibly because of its limited natural range and preference for murky water, and tends to be quite expensive when its is available.