How Big Can Arowanas Grow? A Detailed Explanation of Adult Fish Body Length

The arowana is a large ornamental fish with a golden body all over, flat and long, and very popular among fish keepers. Some specifically buy several to keep at home, so how big can an arowana grow?

1. How big can an arowana grow?

An adult arowana can grow to about 40-50 cm, and its lifespan can reach several decades. However, because there are many varieties, the body length also differs. For example, the super red arowana generally grows to 15 cm, the orange-red arowana generally grows to 90 cm, the high-back red-tail golden arowana can grow to 80 cm, the red-tail golden arowana can grow to 80 cm, and the Malaysian golden arowana can grow to 80 cm. So exactly how big it can grow depends on which kind of fish it is.

2. What is the difference between arowanas and silver arowanas?

1. The arowana is one of the few surviving ancient fish species today. An adult arowana has a body length of 40~50 cm, and its lifespan can reach several decades. The edges of the arowana's scales are golden yellow, and all its fins are golden yellow-red. The red dragon has a golden yellow body color, with golden-red scale edges, dark red patches on the mouth and gill covers, and all its fins are dark red. The crossback golden arowana has a fiercer temperament than the red dragon fish, mainly preying on live fish and shrimp, aquatic insects, and even frogs and centipedes, and it especially likes to eat cockroaches.

2. The silver arowana is relatively common on the market. The silver arowana has a very slender and laterally thin body shape. The mouth is positioned upward, and the mouth cleft extends to the rear edge of the eye socket. The lower jaw is more prominent than the upper jaw, with several linear lateral line organs arranged in a row at the front. There is a pair of barbels at the tip of the snout. In wild individuals swimming in natural environments, the barbels of adult fish can extend to 3-4 cm, but under artificial rearing, individuals often can only grow to 1-2 cm because their growth is restricted. The dorsal fin and caudal fin of the silver arowana start from the middle of the body and are very long all the way to the tail, while other arowanas only have a section above and below the tail, forming a small triple tail with the tail, and the barbels are also different.

Overall, exactly how big an arowana can grow depends on which kind of fish it is. Generally, it can grow to about 40-50 cm, and larger ones can grow to 90 cm. Of course, some may only grow to about 15 cm. In addition, its lifespan is also long, reaching several decades.