Spotted Saratoga (Scleropages leichardti) Care Guide
Scleropages leichardti is a southern Australian bonytongue from the Fitzroy River system, distinguished by a red or pink spot on each scale.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Scleropages leichardti is a bonytongue fish of the family Osteoglossidae, native to Australia. Known as the southern saratoga or spotted bonytongue, it is distinguished from the related S. jardinii by a red or pink spot on each scale. It is a large, surface-oriented predator that is sometimes called the Australian arowana by non-Australian aquarists.
Taxonomy
- Family: Osteoglossidae
- Genus: Scleropages
- Scientific name: Scleropages leichardti
- Describer: Günther, 1864
Habitat
The species is native to the Fitzroy River system of central-eastern Queensland, and also occurs in the Mary, Dawson and Burnett rivers. It has been introduced to a few other southeastern Queensland systems, including the Brisbane, North Pine and Noosa rivers. It favours still waters and slow-flowing sections of rivers, sheltering among lily pads and fallen timber.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 2000 L (528 gal)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 6.5-7.5
- GH: 5-15 °dGH
- Adult size: 60-90 cm (24-35 in)
- Lifespan: 15-25 years
- A tightly secured lid is essential, as the species jumps
Diet
Scleropages leichardti is carnivorous, feeding on aquatic and terrestrial insects, fishes, frogs and crayfish in the wild. Its FishBase trophic level is estimated at 3.9. In captivity it takes large meaty foods.
Compatibility
The species is described as very aggressive and territorial. It is best kept alone or only with large, robust tankmates, and small fish should be avoided as they are treated as prey.
Breeding
Scleropages leichardti is a mouthbrooder. It reaches sexual maturity at around 48-49 cm, after which a parent carries the eggs and developing young in the mouth.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Near Threatened (assessed 14 February 2019). It is not listed on CITES appendices.
Spotted Saratoga Breeding Guide
Overview
The spotted, or southern, saratoga is an Australian arowana native to the Fitzroy River system and commonly found in freshwater impoundments on the Mary, Dawson and Burnett rivers. Wikipedia reports it grows to about 90 cm and 4 kg, and that individuals usually reach 48-49 cm in length at sexual maturity. It is described as a carnivorous mouthbrooder, like all arowanas.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Wikipedia confirms that, like all arowanas, this species is a carnivorous mouthbrooder, but does not state whether the male or female carries the brood, nor the egg count or incubation timing. For that reason no detailed spawning protocol can be given, and the related mouthbrooding arowanas are the best general reference for expected behaviour.
Egg & Fry Care
The reviewed source records mouthbrooding but no specific egg, incubation or fry-rearing data for this species. The general pattern across mouthbrooding arowanas is a small number of large eggs and an extended brooding period producing well-developed juveniles.