The silver arowana is a much-loved large freshwater ornamental fish

The silver arowana, scientific name Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, is a large tropical freshwater ornamental fish native to the Amazon River basin in South America. Its body is long and ribbon-shaped, with silvery, gleaming scales, and it swims with a relaxed, elegant posture, looking like a flowing silver ribbon under the light. As a common species in the arowana family, the silver arowana is well loved by ornamental fish enthusiasts because it is moderately difficult to keep.

Adult silver arowanas can grow to a fairly large size, so enough growing space must be reserved before keeping one. Its lower jaw protrudes noticeably, and its mouth bears a pair of short barbels, commonly known as dragon whiskers, giving it an overall rather dignified look. The large, neatly arranged scales give off a metallic sheen when struck by light, which is also the origin of its name.

In daily care, the silver arowana needs a spacious body of water and stable water quality; the water temperature should be kept on the warm side, and when changing the water, take care to avoid too great a temperature difference that would stress the fish. It is a strong jumper, so the aquarium is best fitted with a top cover to prevent it from leaping out and getting hurt. For feeding, you can choose small fish, shrimp, insect-based foods and special artificial feed; pay attention to variety and regular, moderate amounts, and clean up leftover food promptly to avoid polluting the water.

As for tank mates, the silver arowana can be kept in the same tank with fish of comparable size such as tiger fish, but the space must be spacious enough, and you should watch for chasing and fighting between them; fish that are too small should not be kept with it, lest they be treated as prey. Overall, the silver arowana is highly ornamental and interactive, and once it adapts to its environment it will even swim along with its owner, making it the entry-level choice for many arowana enthusiasts.