Info

The most popular Asian Arowana (Gold, Red, Red Tail Gold, Green & Yellow Tail)
The less popular Australian Arowana (Pearl, spotted Pearl, Red or Gold Pearl)
The even lesser popular South American Arowana (Silver and Black)
The least popular African Arowana

Asian Arowana

Cross Back Golden Arowana
There are several names for it, some calls it Cross Back Golden, Malayan Bonytongue, Taiping Golden, Electric Blue Golden and the Malaysian Gold. These are basically referring to the same type of fish - the Golden Arowana. It will have golden color completely crossing its back when the fish is matures. The main reason for so many terminologies is because Cross Back Golden Arowanas can be found in various parts of Malaysia such as Perak, Trengganu, Bukit Merah Lake and Johor.

Due to its relatively low supply and great demand in the market, it is currently one of the most expensive Asian Arowanas. The main reason for it high price is due to its scarcity as well as lesser number of successful spawn. Currently, only Malaysia and Singapore farms are breeding the Malaysian Golden.

Cross Back Golden is further classified into Blue-Based, Purple-Based, Gold-Based, Green-Based and the Silver-Based types, implying the core color of the scales. The terms Blue-Based and Purple-Based are being used interchangeably by some breeders since this Cross Backs Purple Core when viewed at an angle but appears totally blue at another. Gold-Based is one of the Cross Back with a flourish golden color at its scales right to the core of the scales instead of one that is blue or purplish in colors. The Golden-Based variety seems to have color crossing its back earlier than the rest. This is one type of Arowanas that is most stunning to look at since a mature fish is able to achieve the much dreamed about 24K gold color which other golden varieties are incapable of! Just imagine 2 footer Arowana, fully wrapped with golden scales swimming majestically, making occasional turns with ease and confidence to show that is it indeed the King of Aquarium. Of course, there are also the exotic Green-based and Silver-Based types which have green and silvery cores on its scales respectively.

Super Red (Red Arowana)
This is the red colored type of Asian Arowana. It originated from various parts of Western Kalimantan province in Indonesia. The most famous waters are the River Kapuas and LakeSentarum where the Super Reds (Chili and Blood Red) are from. It is also one of the more popular fish among Asian Arowanas, largely because of their auspicious color and more affordable prices as compared to Cross Back Golden. Furthermore, with its full red fins even when young and red lips and barbells, no hobbyists will be able to resist the temptation to own one of them. When approaching adult size, these red colors will also start to appear on the other part of the body like the gill plates and edges of the scales, making the whole fish red in color.

There are basically four different varieties of Red Arowanas, namely Blood Red, Chili Red, Orange Red and the Golden Red. In recent years, these Reds are grouped together and termed Super Red or '1st Grade Red'. It has made the term 'Super Red' inferior since Orange Red and the Golden Red do not bear the qualities of the former two and they have only comparatively colors appear either in orange or golden orange. The usage of terms has indeed changed over the years and the term Super Red is now becoming more commonly used among breeders when naming their Red Arowanas.


Red Tail Golden Arowana
Commonly known as Red Tail Golden (RTG) or Indonesia Golden Arowana, they are classified under the Golden varieties as with the Malaysian Golden or Cross Back Golden. It is found in Pekan Baru of Indonesia. The prices for the RTG are more affordable as compared to the Cross Back Golden. The reasons for this is that this fish seldom attain 24K gold as the Cross Back Golden would and the golden color of the RTG Arowanas will never cross over its back even when the fish is matured or fully grown. It is thus not as great looking as compared to one that is "whole piece gold".

Most RTG Arowanas will have its golden color reaching the fourth row of the scales and the better ones will have its golden color reaching the fifth row. And, just like the Cross Back Golden varieties, Red Tail Golden also have different scales base color in either blue, green and gold. Young RTGs will have a duller overall color as compare to Cross Back Golden which is neatly defined, shiny and glittering with scales reaches the fifth row. Generally, the RTG is the tougher of the two Golden types and can grow bigger in size but is the more aggressive of the two. Thus, it is more difficult to raise them together in one single huge tank (preferably 8 - 9 fishes) as compared to the Malaysia Gold. It is also protected by CITES, even thought it is in more abundance in the wild. Apart from these, its tail, finagle and lip color are very identical between these two types of golden varieties.

Green Arowana
The Green Arowana is another type of Asian Arowana. It is commonly found in Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia and Cambodia etc. Due to its wide dispersion in the region, there can be differences in its appearance and color. Most of the Green Arowana found here has a grayish green body with a dark striped grayed green tail. Shape of this variety is a big difference as compared to other varieties with its head or mouth portion being larger and rounder. It is one of the cheapest types of Asian Arowana, apart from Yellow Tail. However, one particular type of Greens (those with a dark purplish core) are as exotic as any other varieties. The Green Arowana, together with 1.5 or 2 Grade Reds, is popular among countries like Thailand and Philippines because of its low price. Beside this, many Japanese students also find it more affordable to own them for the purpose of admiring the beauty and for experimental breeding of these exotic fish.

Australian Arowana
There are commonly 3 varieties of Australia Arowanas: Pearl, Spotted and Red. Australia Pearl Arowana is Quite a beautiful Arowana and it is quite similar to the Asian Arowana. Except that the Australia Pearl Arowana have a smaller and more scales with red spots. Asian Arowana has 5 rows (horizontially) of scales whereas the Australis Pearl has 7 rows or scales. The color range from coppery-gold to gold color. The Pearl Arowana have cresent-shape colored scales and the tail are usually black color with small gold spots. It is normal to see the Arowana gulping at the surface. The Australia Arowana are known to be very aggressive than any other Arowana. It is not a protected species.

Australia Spotted Arowana is nearly the same as the Pearl Arowana except that the fins and tail are darker in color. The scales have a small rounded spot instead of crescent-shape colored spot. Noticed the small red spot on the scales. It is also not a protected species. Australia Red Arowana is a very rare (at least in Singapore) and most beautiful Australia Arowana. Its scales and fins are reddish-brown with very beautiful gold color spot. Another rare Arowana is the Gold pearl Arowana which are more yellowish and gold than the normal Australian Arowana.

Silver Arowana
Silver Arowana come from the South America's Amazon River. It is quite similar to the Black Arowana having the same tapered tail. Its scales and fins are silver. It is not a protected species. There are extremely rare Red-tail Silver Arowana and Snow Silver Arowana. It is not a protected species. Silver Arowana can grow to about 47 inches which is the longest Arowana of all. The silver Arowana is said to have a very large appetite and also known to be the most gentle of all Arowanas.

Black Arowana
Black Arowana comes from the South America. When the Black Arowana is young, its scales and fins are black with whitish to yellow strips. But as it matures, the Black Arowana will slowly lose its color and turn to grayish color. A Black Arowana can grow up to 40 inches if possible. It is not a protected species.

African Arowana
African Arowana originated from Africa and it is the most common Arowana available. The African Arowana has a rounded head with smoother and rounded jaws. The scales and its caudal fin (tail) are smaller, similar to that of the Silver or Black Arowana. it is a filter fish which eat mainly plankton, algae and even small fishes. When keep in aquarium, the African Arowana will eat shrimps, fish pellets, bloodworms and other tiny feeder fish. However, when fully grown, it look more like a Catfish than an Arowana. It is not a protected species.

Last edited by Haji on Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:13 am, edited 1 time in total.