Arowana Identification Guide
Recognize an Arowana by its elongated body, upturned mouth with two chin barbels, and long trailing fins.
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Key identification features
- Elongated, laterally compressed, torpedo-shaped body
- Large, strongly upturned mouth adapted for surface feeding
- Two prominent barbels on the tip of the lower jaw
- Long dorsal and anal fins set far back, both nearly reaching the tail fin
- Large, coin-sized metallic scales arranged in a distinct lattice pattern
- Coloration varies by species and region: silvery-white, greenish, golden, or deep red
Common look-alikes
- Knifefish: share an elongated body and long anal fin, but knifefish lack chin barbels and their anal fin merges continuously into the tail rather than staying separate.
- Different Arowana species/varieties: Silver Arowana have longer barbels and a more streamlined silver body, while Asian Arowana show larger, brighter scales and bolder red, gold, or green coloration.
- Featherfin catfish: some have a similarly elongated silhouette but have a flattened head, whisker-like barbels around the whole mouth, and lack the Arowana's large lattice scales.
Where you'll see one
Silver Arowana inhabit slow-moving, blackwater rivers and seasonally flooded forests of the Amazon basin in South America, while Asian Arowana species are native to slow rivers, swamps, and peat wetlands of Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. Both types cruise near the surface, often lurking under overhanging vegetation to ambush prey.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell an Arowana from a knifefish?
Check the chin and tail region: Arowanas have two barbels on the lower jaw and a separate tail fin, while knifefish lack barbels and have an anal fin that blends directly into a tapering tail.
How do I tell a Silver Arowana from an Asian Arowana?
Look at scale size and color: Asian Arowana typically show larger, brighter scales in gold, red, or green tones, while Silver Arowana have smaller, more uniformly silver scales and a sleeker body.