Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (Silver Arowana)

15 July 2026

570

The Silver Arowana, occasionally referred to as the Gabelbart, is a majestic and ancient fish native to the Amazon Basin. Renowned for its metallic scales and unique surface-hunting behavior, it is highly prized among experienced aquarists who can accommodate its massive size and specialized care requirements.

Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (Silver Arowana)

Overview

Image of gabelbart osteoglossum bicirrhosum raritaet

The Silver Arowana, often referred to in German as "Gabelbart" (fork-beard), is an iconic, prehistoric-looking freshwater fish. Known for its massive size and surface-dwelling habits, it is a highly sought-after centerpiece for monster fish keepers. Due to its specific needs, it requires a dedicated and experienced aquarist.

Distribution and Habitat

Native to the Amazon River basin in South America, this species thrives in slow-moving waters, flooded forests, and swamps. They are specifically adapted to hunting near the water's surface, where they leap to catch insects and small prey from overhanging branches.

Description of Silver Arowana

Body shape:

They possess an elongated, laterally compressed, and ribbon-like body that allows them to glide effortlessly just below the water's surface.

Color:

Juveniles often have a bluish tint, but adults develop a brilliant, uniform metallic silver coloration with large, distinct, armor-like scales.

Barbels:

They have two distinct, fleshy barbels protruding from the tip of their lower jaw, which act as sensory organs to detect vibrations on the water surface.

Snout:

The snout features a steep, upward-pointing (superior) mouth with a pronounced lower jaw, perfectly designed for surface feeding.

Eyes:

Their large eyes are positioned to look upward, though they are prone to a condition called "drop eye" in captivity if their diet or environment is suboptimal.

Fins:

The dorsal and anal fins are exceptionally long, starting near the middle of the body and extending almost all the way to the caudal peduncle.

The Tail:

The tail (caudal fin) is relatively small and rounded, seamlessly blending with the overall streamlined profile of the fish.

Temper

While inherently predatory, they are generally peaceful toward tank mates that are too large to be considered food. However, they can be highly territorial towards other Arowanas.

Sociality

They are best kept as solitary centerpieces or in a massive community tank with other large, robust species like large catfish, pacus, or large cichlids. Any fish small enough to fit in their mouth will be eaten.

Activity

Silver Arowanas are active, constant swimmers that patrol the upper levels of the aquarium. They are also notorious and powerful jumpers, often leaping to catch prey or when startled.

Keeping and Caring for Silver Arowana

Tank size:

A massive aquarium is required. A minimum of 250 gallons (approx. 1000 liters) is needed for an adult, with a footprint of at least 8 feet long and 3 feet wide to allow them to turn comfortably.

Water Parameters:

Temperature

Keep the water warm, ideally between 24-28°C (75-82°F).

pH

They prefer slightly acidic to neutral water, with a pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.

Hardness

Soft to moderately hard water is best, ranging from 1 to 8 dGH.

Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate

Ammonia and Nitrite must be strictly at 0 ppm. Nitrates should be kept below 20 ppm through large, regular water changes, as they are highly sensitive to poor water quality.

Lighting

Moderate to dim lighting is preferred. Sudden bright lights can startle them, causing them to jump and potentially injure themselves.

Water flow

A moderate water flow mimics their natural riverine environment and helps keep the tank well-oxygenated without pushing them around.

Decorations and Plants

The upper half of the tank must remain completely open for swimming. Bottom decorations like smooth rocks and driftwood are fine. A heavy, tightly secured lid is the most critical piece of equipment to prevent jumping.

Diet

They are carnivorous surface feeders. In captivity, they should be fed a varied diet of high-quality floating pellets, insects (crickets, mealworms), earthworms, and occasional thawed frozen fish or shrimp.

Some Feeding Tips

Avoid feeding them mammalian or avian meats (like beef heart or chicken), as they cannot digest the fats properly. Feed juveniles once or twice a day, and adults every other day to prevent obesity and water fouling.

Breeding

Silver Arowanas are paternal mouthbrooders. The male carries the eggs and fry in his mouth for several weeks. Breeding in home aquaria is exceedingly rare due to the monumental tank size required for a compatible pair to spawn.

Conclusion

The Silver Arowana is a breathtaking "monster fish" that offers a rewarding experience for expert aquarists. If you have the space, budget, and dedication to meet their enormous housing requirements, they make a truly majestic and lifelong aquatic pet.

Fish info

Care level: Difficult
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Adult size: 90-120 cm
Life expectancy: 10-20 years
Fish type: Arowana
Temperature : 24-28°C
pH: 6.0-7.0
Color Form: Grey, Platinum, Silver, White

Related on Fishs

Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (Golden Arowana)

Leave your comments

Latest on Fishs

Dwarf Gourami Red (Trichogaster lalius)

Easy - Moderate

Asian labyrinth fish

The red dwarf gourami is a selectively bred color form of the dwarf gourami, a small labyrinth fish formerly widely known as Colisa lalia. It is suited to mature, planted community aquariums with gentle water movement and calm tank mates. Males can be territorial, especially when kept with females in confined conditions, so cover, visual barriers, and careful observation are important for a pair.
Cockatoo Cichlid Red (Apistogramma cacatuoides)

Moderate

South American dwarf cichlid

The Cockatoo Cichlid is a small South American dwarf cichlid valued for its personality, breeding behavior and colorful finnage. Apistogramma cacatuoides is generally adaptable when provided with clean, stable water, cover and a soft substrate. Males are larger and more vividly marked than females, while pairs become territorial around spawning sites. The supplied “red” designation most likely refers to a selectively bred color form; exact strain and sex confirmation cannot be established from the listing alone.
Discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) Care Guide

Difficult

South American freshwater cichlid

Symphysodon aequifasciatus is a large, laterally compressed cichlid from the Amazon Basin, valued for its calm behavior and striking disc-shaped body. It requires warm, clean, stable water and careful feeding, making it better suited to experienced aquarists. The supplied images show yellow, orange, red, white and dark color forms; cultivated strains can vary considerably, so exact variety identification from images alone is uncertain. Discus are social fish and generally thrive in groups rather than as isolated specimens.
Cape Lopez Killifish (Aphyosemion australe)

Moderate

West African non-annual killifish

The Cape Lopez killifish is a small, peaceful West African freshwater fish prized for its patterned body, flowing fins and manageable size. It inhabits slow-moving and temporary waters around coastal Gabon, including the Cape Lopez region. The supplied trade description identifies a pair as “Cape Lopez splendid carpets,” but this wording may describe a commercial strain rather than a formally recognized taxon. The image appears to show an orange form, so exact strain identification should be confirmed with the breeder or supplier.
Burton’s Mouthbrooder (Astatotilapia burtoni)

Moderate

East African haplochromine cichlid

Burton’s mouthbrooder, Astatotilapia burtoni, is a moderately aggressive East African haplochromine cichlid known for strong social hierarchies and maternal mouthbrooding. Males become more vividly patterned and defend territories, while females are generally less colorful and carry eggs and fry in the mouth. A pair requires a spacious, well-filtered aquarium with rocky cover, alkaline water and carefully selected tank mates. The supplied identification is consistent with Astatotilapia burtoni, although sex and locality form cannot be confirmed from the photographs alone.
Cyrtocara moorii (Blue Dolphin Cichlid) Care Guide

Moderate

Lake Malawi haplochromine cichlid

Cyrtocara moorii is a large, distinctive haplochromine cichlid from Lake Malawi, recognised for its blue adult coloration and rounded forehead, which becomes more pronounced with age. It is a maternal mouthbrooder and is generally less aggressive than many Malawi mbuna, but its size and territorial breeding behaviour require a spacious aquarium. The supplied images appear consistent with blue C. moorii, although photographs cannot confirm sex, locality, or whether the fish form a true bonded pair.
Blue Dwarf Gourami Pair (Trichogaster lalius)

Easy - Moderate

Peaceful labyrinth fish

The blue dwarf gourami is a selectively colored form of a small labyrinth fish native to the Indian subcontinent. It spends much of its time in the upper and middle aquarium, using its specialized labyrinth organ to breathe atmospheric air. Males can become territorial, especially when nesting, so a planted aquarium with calm tank mates, gentle flow, and surface cover is important. The supplied name uses Trichopodus lalius; Trichogaster lalius is the commonly used current combination.
Blue Acara (Aequidens pulcher)

Moderate

South American freshwater cichlid

The supplied label identifies these fish as Blue Acara, Aequidens pulcher, a South American freshwater cichlid often placed in the genus Andinoacara in current aquarium literature. The photograph is consistent with a blue acara, although a definitive identification cannot be confirmed from one image alone. This pair requires a spacious aquarium, stable water quality, hiding places and careful observation during breeding, when territorial behavior becomes stronger.
Julidochromis transcriptus: Black-and-White Slender Cichlid

Moderate

Lake Tanganyika rock-dwelling cichlid

Julidochromis transcriptus is a small rock-dwelling cichlid from Lake Tanganyika, recognized by its compact, elongated body and irregular black-and-white pattern. It is a territorial cave dweller that is best kept as an established pair in a carefully structured aquarium. The supplied fish are identified as a DNZ pair, although sex, collection locality, and precise geographic form cannot be verified from the supplied material alone.
Azur Cichlid (Sciaenochromis fryeri) Care Guide

Moderate

Lake Malawi haplochromine cichlid

The Azur cichlid is commonly sold as Sciaenochromis fryeri, a predatory haplochromine cichlid from Lake Malawi. Mature males develop vivid electric-blue coloration, while females and juveniles are generally less intensely colored. This fish is moderately aggressive and needs a spacious aquarium with rocky structure, alkaline, mineral-rich water, and carefully selected tank mates. The supplied source describes a DNZ pair, but sex and exact locality cannot be confirmed from the images alone. Identification confidence is therefore good but not absolute.
Marble Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

Moderate

South American freshwater cichlid

The marble angelfish is a captive-bred color form of Pterophyllum scalare, a tall-bodied South American cichlid valued for its elegant fins and distinctive irregular black patterning. It needs a mature, spacious aquarium with excellent water quality, warm water and suitable tank mates. Although generally manageable, adults establish territories and may become assertive when pairing or spawning. The supplied source identifies two marble angelfish; exact lineage and strain details cannot be confirmed from the available information.
Gold Angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare

Moderate

Freshwater South American cichlid

The Gold Angelfish is an ornamental colour form of Pterophyllum scalare, a tall-bodied South American cichlid valued for its graceful movement and parental care. It needs a mature, spacious aquarium with substantial vertical clearance, stable warm water and carefully chosen tank mates. The supplied source identifies two fish as Gold Angelfish, although the accompanying images show several angelfish colour and fin forms, so the exact appearance of the supplied specimens cannot be confirmed from the images alone.
Zebra Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

Moderate

South American freshwater cichlid

The Zebra Angelfish is a selectively bred form of Pterophyllum scalare, recognised by a silvery body with several dark vertical bars and the tall, laterally compressed shape typical of freshwater angelfish. The supplied images also show other angelfish colour forms, so the exact appearance of the listed pair cannot be confirmed from the image set alone. This South American cichlid is generally manageable for experienced community keepers, but its size, territorial breeding behaviour and need for a tall aquarium should be planned for carefully.
Black Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

Moderate

South American freshwater cichlid

The supplied record identifies two black angelfish, most likely a domestic color form of Pterophyllum scalare. The photographs show several angelfish color patterns, so they should not be treated as proof that every pictured fish is black or that all belong to the same strain. Black angelfish retain the tall, laterally compressed body and extended fins typical of freshwater angelfish. They need a tall, mature aquarium, stable warm water, a varied diet, and carefully selected tank mates.
White Marble Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare)

Moderate

Freshwater cichlid

The white marble angelfish is a selectively bred aquarium color form of Pterophyllum scalare, a tall-bodied South American cichlid valued for its elegant fins and distinctive irregular dark marbling. It is generally peaceful when young but can become territorial, especially when paired for spawning. Successful care depends on a tall aquarium, excellent water quality, suitable tank mates, and a varied carnivorous-omnivorous diet. The exact genetic strain shown cannot be confirmed from photographs alone.
Freshwater Angelfish Mix (Pterophyllum scalare)

Moderate

Freshwater cichlid

Freshwater angelfish are tall-bodied South American cichlids valued for their graceful movement and wide range of captive color forms. The supplied source identifies a mixed group as Pterophyllum scalare; the photographs show several forms, including striped, black, orange, white, silver and blue-toned fish. They are manageable for experienced beginners, but their adult height, territorial breeding behavior and tendency to eat small tank mates require thoughtful aquarium planning.