Black Arowana Breeding Guide

Osteoglossum ferreirai is a paternal mouthbrooder of the Rio Negro; the male broods up to 210 eggs but home breeding is impractical for so large a fish.

Overview

The black arowana is a sedentary, non-migratory fish of blackwater habitats restricted to the Rio Negro basin, including the Branco River. According to Wikipedia its maximum total length is typically considered about 0.9 m, with reports up to 1.2 m. During the dry season it inhabits backwaters, marginal lagoons and small tributaries, moving into flooded forest during high water, when spawning occurs.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Females spawn during the high-water season in the native range. Wikipedia reports that up to 210 eggs are produced. Spawning is tied to the seasonal flooding of the Rio Negro, a trigger that is difficult to reproduce in captivity.

Egg & Fry Care

The black arowana is a paternal mouthbrooder: the up to 210 eggs are mouthbrooded by the male, and the young are only fully released when about 7 cm long. This extended paternal care produces a small number of large, well-developed juveniles.