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Others
/ Osteoglossidae / Black Arowana
Black Arowana
Osteoglossum ferreirai | Pictures
Synonyms: None
Physical description: Very similar to
0. bicirrhosum except for coloration.
Young
fish have a brownish gray to dark brown back and black-brown flanks.
A wide stripe runs from the gill cover
to the tip of the caudal fin.
The head is silver-brown and a black-brown stripe runs from the snout, through the eye
and to the first gill opening.
The gill area is marked with a black-brown vertical stripe followed by a similar white
one. The
pelvic fins are silver while the others fins are brown-black.
The anal and dorsal fins are edged with white
to orange.
Size/Length: To 40" (102 cm) in nature, although not usually larger than 31" (80 cm) in captivity.
Similar species: 0.
bicirrhosum
Habitat:
South America; in the Rio Branca, a tributary of the Rio Negro
S: top
Aquarium: Young fish (under 6") should not be kept in tank measuring less than 36" (91 cm)
or 35 gallons (132 L).
Fish measuring up to 12" (30 cm) can tolerate a 48" (122 cm) or 55-70 gallon (209-266 L)
tank.
Eventually a considerably larger tank will be needed.
Follow set-up suggestions for
0. bicirrhosum
except peat filtration is preferred.
Water chemistry: 5-7 pH (6.4); 1-10 dH (4); 75-86°F (24-30°C)
Social behavior: As for 0.
bicirrhosum.
Suggested companions:
Astronotus, Anostomus
, Cichlasomines, Loricarids,
Colossoma, Leporinus, Mylossoma, Pseudoplatystoma, Serrasalmus, Sorubim
FOOD: Live; fish, spiders, large flying insects,
Tubifex; may accept pellets and flakes
Sexual differences: Perhaps similar to
0. bicirrhosum.
Breeding techniques: Similar to 0.
bicirrhosum;
Breeding is only successful in large tanks with soft, peat-filtered
water.
The fry are sensitive to water quality and the water values should be checked regularly.
Breeding potential: 10.
Breeding is not possible in most tanks.
Remarks: The black Arowana is a skittish, delicate fish that is best kept in a species tank while
young.
However, once reaching 12" (30 cm), it becomes a much hardier fish.
Only the young individuals have the
beautiful color pattern which gave them their name, the adults resemble the Silver Arowana in coloration.
Sadly
young fish are caught in a similar manner to that of
0. bicirrhosum.
Please see "Remarks:" under
0. bicirrhosum.
Difficulty of care: 8.
This large, predatory fish requires a diet of live foods.
The Black Arowana must be kept in a
large tank.
A species that is sensitive while young.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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