Arapaima

Synonyms: Sudis gigas, Vastres agassizii

Common Names: arapaima, piraracu

Family: Arapaimidae

Species type: Bony-tongues

Size: Known to reach 9' plus and 300 plus pounds. In the wild specimens of 15’ plus and 500 pounds have been reported! In the home aquarium 5’+. This is a very large fish requiring a large tank beyond the capabilities of the average aquarist.

Life span: If kept healthy 20+ years

Originates From: The floodplain pools of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers of South America.

Minimum tank size: 10,000+ gallons

Water region: Middle

Temperature: 75°-84° F

pH: 6-7

Diet: Carnivore. The arapaima in the wild will eat fish, small birds, and crustaceans. In the home aquarium the arapaima will eat feeder fish, pellets, crustaceans, Frogs.

Tank mates: Any large species of fish.

Temperament: Aggressive. The arapaima is a highly predatory fish that will eat anything that will fit into its mouth.

Description: The arapaima's body is large and elongated with two small pectoral fins on the sides of the body close to the front. There body is covered with thick scales which are gray with iridescent golden greens that start in the front and extend back into blue greens with orange specks along the rest of the body, the fins are sometimes trimmed with red, and the belly is white. Something that is unique about the Arapaima Gigas is its tongue, which is either bony or toothed.

Sexing: During the breeding season, males tend to be more colorful than females.

Breeding: Never bred in the home aquarium. Not possible in the average set-up due to size.