XL Jardini Arowana (14-15”)

Scientific Name:

Scleropages jardinii

Maximum Size:

• Up to 24–30 inches (60–75 cm) in captivity

• May reach slightly larger sizes in the wild

Recommended Aquarium Size and Care:

• Minimum Tank Size: 180 gallons (681 liters) for single adult; ideally 250+ gallons (946+ liters) if keeping with other tank mates.

• Tank Setup:

  • Length and surface area are crucial due to their swimming patterns

  • Secure tight-fitting lid—Jardinis are powerful jumpers

  • Provide ample open swimming space with some driftwood or hardy plants for aesthetics

  • Use low to moderate flow and strong filtration to handle bio-load

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 75–82°F (24–28°C)

  • pH: 6.5–7.5

  • Hardness: Soft to moderately hard (2–15 dGH)

• Tank Mates:

  • Semi-aggressive to aggressive—best kept alone or with large, robust tank mates like large catfish, bichirs, datnoids, Large Cichlids with caution

  • Avoid small fish—they’ll be eaten

  • Territorial with other arowanas or similar-shaped fish

Diet:

• Carnivorous

• In the wild: feeds on insects, crustaceans, small fish, and amphibians

• In captivity:

  • Feed a varied diet for optimal health:

    • Frozen  shrimp, fish fillets, krill

    • Pellets: high-protein floating carnivore pellets Hikari Food/Carnisticks, NorthFin Arowana formula etc.

  • Avoid fatty feeder fish or goldfish—they may introduce parasites and cause nutritional issues

Overview:

The Jardini Arowana, is a bonytongue fish from Australia. It’s admired for its metallic sheen, pink-to-bronze scales, and distinctive spots on the gill covers and fins.  This is the fish closest to the Asian Arowana that is legal to keep.

It is intelligent, alert, and often develops awareness of its keeper—making it popular among experienced aquarists. However, due to its size, aggression, and tank requirements, it is not ideal for beginners.

Natural Habitat:

• Geographic Range: Northern Australia and parts of New Guinea

• Habitat:

  • Freshwater rivers, billabongs, floodplains, and swamps

  • Often found in slow-moving or still waters with submerged wood and vegetation

  • Adapts to seasonal changes in water clarity, temperature, and level

Breeding:

• Mouthbrooder (paternal)

  • Males incubate fertilized eggs in their mouths for several weeks

• Rare in captivity, mainly due to aggression, large tank requirements, and difficulty in obtaining a compatible pair

• Requires very large tanks or ponds, dim lighting, stable water conditions, and minimal disturbance

• Most aquarium specimens are wild-caught or farm-raised in Asia or Australia