Edit Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
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Name
Scientific name
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Described by
Authority Cuvier, Year 1829
Family
Osteoglossidae
Common names
Silver Arowana
Photograph credits
All 3 credited
Summary
The silver arowana, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum, is a large predator from the Amazon basin, plus river systems in Guyana and French Guiana. Re…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
800mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Not recorded
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 20–30°C, pH 5–7.5
Hardness
2–15dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Predatory
Social needs
Solitary or specimen
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Amazon, Ampiyacu, Branco, Cuieiras, Madeira, Manacapuru, Marañón, Napo, Negro, Oiapoque, Oyapock, Pastaza, Rupununi, Solimões, Tapajós, Tocantins, Ucayali, Urubu, Xingu, Yavarí
Writing
Etymology
Osteoglossum: from the Greek osteon, meaning 'bone', and glossa, meaning 'tongue'. bicirrhosum: from the Latin bi, meaning 'two', and cirrhosum, meaning 'tendr…
Distribution
Cuvier gave type locality as 'Brazil', with modern records indicating it to range throughout much of the Amazon basin in Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, pl…
Habitat
Tends to inhabit slow-moving to still tributaries, backwaters and lagoons during the dry season, and moves into areas of flooded forest during periods of inund…
Aquarium size
Suitable only for public installations or the very largest private aquaria.
Maintenance
Relatively unfussy although some surface cover in the form of floating or overhanging vegetation or branches is appreciated. It does best if there is a high pr…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
This species is a generalised predator with intestinal analyses of wild specimens revealing the natural diet to consist of other fishes, terrestrial insects, a…
Behaviour and compatibility
Peaceful with anything too large to swallow and can be maintained in a community provided tankmates are chosen with care. Aggressively territorial or very comp…
Sexual dimorphism
Not written yet
Reproduction
Unrecorded in aquaria but this species is often bred commercially in outdoor facilities. It's a paternal mouthbrooder with the male holding the eggs, and later…
Notes
Given its eventual size and natural behaviour this species is largely unsuitable for the home aquarium, and we know of only a handful of private aquarists with…
References
References
3 on this profile