All fish / Arapaimidae

Arapaima

Arapaima gigas

Also known as pirarucu, paiche, arapaima, giant arapaima, red arapaima, pirarucú, arapaima gigas, ปลาช่อนอเมซอน, ปลาอะราไพม่า, ピラルクー, ピラルク, 巨骨舌鱼

The arapaima is among the largest freshwater fish in the world, a long, heavily scaled fish with an olive-grey front and red-edged scales towards the tail. It breathes air at the surface and is kept mainly by public aquaria and a few dedicated keepers with indoor ponds, drawn by its sheer size and prehistoric look.

Care at a glance

Care level

Hard

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

200 cm

Temperature

24 to 30 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

20000 litres

Keep as

Singly, or with large robust tankmates in very large systems

Diet

Carnivore: whole fish, prawns, large pellets and sticks

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

15 to 20 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon basin: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador; Essequibo basin, Guyana

Breeding

Pairs dig a nest in sandy bottoms and the male guards the eggs and young, which shelter around his head. Breeding happens on fish farms and in large ponds in South America and Asia but is practically impossible in a home aquarium.

Good to know

Grows to 2 m or more and needs a huge, securely covered pond-sized system as it jumps powerfully; unsuitable for almost all hobbyists. Listed on CITES Appendix II, and import or keeping is restricted or banned in some places.