African Arowana Identification Guide
Recognize the African Arowana by its deep body, small toothless downturned mouth, and long dorsal fin.
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Key identification features
- Deeper-bodied and more robust than typical arowanas, with a somewhat compressed profile
- Small, toothless, downturned mouth adapted for filter and detritus feeding, unlike the large upturned predatory mouth of true arowanas
- Long dorsal fin running much of the length of the back, mirrored by a similarly long anal fin
- Uniform silvery-gray to olive coloration without ornate scale patterning
- Large, coarse scales and a fairly blunt head profile
- Grows to about 3 feet in length
Common look-alikes
- Silver arowana: has a large, distinctly upturned mouth with barbels and a more slender body, unlike the small toothless mouth of the African arowana
- Jardini/Asian arowana: shows a reticulated, pearly scale pattern and prominent jaw barbels, both absent here
Where you'll see one
African arowana live in floodplains, swamps, and slow rivers across tropical West and Central Africa. During spawning season they build distinctive floating bubble nests, a behavior not shared by the true, predatory arowana species of South America, Asia, and Australia.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell an African arowana from a silver arowana?
Check the mouth — African arowana have a small, toothless, downturned mouth for filter feeding, while silver arowana have a large upturned mouth with barbels built for ambushing prey.
What behavior helps confirm an African arowana identification?
Look for a floating bubble nest during breeding season — African arowana build these distinctive surface nests, unlike other arowana species.