On this episode of Trash Talkin’ N Learnin’ we meet Anthony and learn about the Asian Arowana. Join Trash Talkin’ Tammy and Learnin’ Leslie while we venture out into the Intracoastal of South Florida and clean up as much trash as we can.
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Asian Arowana Facts
What is it?
The Asian Arowana is a prehistoric, freshwater fish that has a long, narrow body covered with large, thick scales.
Where do they come from?
You can find the Asian Arowana throughout Southeast Asia in slow moving, blackwaters in swamps and wetlands.
What do they eat?
As juveniles the Asian Arowana eat small fish and small insects. As adults their diet consists of a variety of other fish, snails, snakes, frogs, large insects and they are even known to eat small rabbits.
How long do they live?
They have been recorded to live up to 60 years and even longer in captivity. Their wild lifespan is not currently known.
Are they endangered?
As of June of 2019, the Asia Arowana is listed by the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered with the species wild populations in decline. There is good news though.
What is being done in order to preserve them?
In 1981, the first success in captive breeding was achieved. Then, in 1989 aquaculture efforts began and is now a 200 million dollar global industry. Poaching of this species was made illegal as well as owning this species in other countries – which has helped out a lot. This takes the pressure off of the wild populations and gives them a chance to recover with Cambodia and Indonesia being the likely places for this to occur. The reason being is that at the time of this recording, they seem to be the only countries that have protected arowana habitats.
Can you have them as pets?
Yes but they need to be legal in your country and you need to have a very large, dedicated aquarium for just this species. You will also need to have a very secure lid to your aquarium as this species is known to be a jumper.
And that’s our species spotlight on theAsian Arowana.