All fish / Osteoglossidae

Spotted Barramundi

Scleropages leichardti

Also known as southern saratoga, saratoga, spotted saratoga, leichardti arowana, australian arowana, spotted arowana, pearl arowana, leichhardti, อะโรวาน่าออสเตรเลีย, arowana australia, スポッテッド・バラムンディ, ノーザンバラムンディ

A long, upturned-mouthed bonytongue with a silvery olive body, each scale marked with a small red or orange spot. Keepers prize it as a hardier, cheaper alternative to the Asian arowana, with plenty of character and a habit of patrolling just below the surface.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Aggressive

Adult size

50 cm

Temperature

22 to 30 °C

pH

6.5 to 8

Smallest tank

800 litres

Keep as

Keep singly; adults are intolerant of their own kind

Diet

Carnivore: insects, prawns, earthworms, fish fillet and quality carnivore pellets

Swims

Top of the tank

Lifespan

15 to 20 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Australia: Fitzroy River system, Queensland

Breeding

Females brood eggs and young in the mouth for several weeks, spawning once a year in spring. Captive breeding is rarely achieved in home tanks and needs very large ponds or tanks, since pairs are hard to establish.

Good to know

Strong jumper that needs a tightly fitted lid and a very large tank as adults reach 50 to 90 cm. Not CITES listed, but Australia bans live export of native fish and some states regulate keeping it, so check local rules.