Arowana Fish a Symbol of Wealth

Arowana Fish is the most majestic, most beautiful, most elegant, most exotic, most expensive, most demanded, most admired and a symbol of wealth for many aquarium fish lover in the world. The most beautiful and colorful Arowana in the world originated from the South East Asia mainly from Malaysia and Indonesia. Asian Arowana fossil record dated 140 million years ago during the Early Cretaceous, Amazon Silver Arowana fossil dated 170 million years ago during Middle Jurassic, and African Arowana fossil dated 220 million years ago during the Late Triassic period. Arowana Fish can be considered the most perfected species and can leave until today where most of the dinosaur that leave during the same period already extinct.

South East Asian Arowana as an Ornament Fish

Basically there are five main types of Arowana that originated from the South East Asia Region. The types are Malaysian Golden Arowana from West Malaysia; Red Tail Golden Arowana from Pekan Baru Riau Sumatra Indonesia or known as Indonesian Golden Arowana; Red Arowana from West Kalimantan Indonesia; Silver Arowana from Borneo Indonesia & Cambodia and; Green Arowana from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. Arowana is the most expensive and consider the most beautiful aquarium fish in the world and has a life as long as human being. In the wild Arowana can leave 30-90 years of age. Arowana can be considered a long life pets for many people. The most expensive and the most colorful Arowana is the Malaysian Golden Arowana originated from West Malaysia and the most expensive and the most beautiful Red Arowana originated from West Kalimantan Indonesia. Since the population of wild Arowana has decline and near extinction many farms are breading Arowana in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. Due to the great demand world wide the Arowana are currently classified as an endangered species threatened with extinction in the Convention on the International Trade in Endanger Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The Green Arowana still available in abundance in the wild and also considers as an endanger species. There is Green Arowana with purple based color and unique pattern also highly demanded and fetch very high prices. The Arowana fry size is about 2 inches when it starts swimming freely. Usually Arowana achieved a size of about 14 inches after one year old and 18 inches after two years and achieve maximum size of 36 inches after ten years old. Two years Arowana selling prices usually 2-5 times of Arowana size 4-5 inches. Growing Arowana therefore is an excellent investment and a worthwhile hobby that can be enjoyed by many people. Since Arowana grow very fast in the first two years the minimum size of aquarium recommended is 48X18X18. Larger size of aquarium will reduce water replacement frequency and provide more space for Arowana to swim. Arowana is an acidic fish and love clean flowing water with PH 6 to PH 7. PH above 7 will make the color less attractive and induce slower growth rate, for fish age below 12 months the grow rate is about one inch a month. PH below 6 on the other hand will make the Arowana become more aggressive and uncomfortable. PH below 3 or above 10 endangers the Arowana life and must be avoided. Red Arowana needs more acidic water PH 5 to PH 6.

In the aquarium due to the limited water quantity the PH reduce from 7 to the lower PH due to Arowana waste and by product. To improve the PH regular change of water is required. Regular changes of water also improve the water quality in improving the minerals level. For 48X18x18 aquarium it is recommended that 30 % of the water to be change every one week or whenever the PH goes below 6. The change of 30 % of the water is recommended so that no drastic change in PH, water temperature and chlorine content will affect the Arowana drastically. The used of good PH measurement equipment is highly recommended. Excellent water quality free from unwanted virus, bacteria and parasites is the key elements for healthy and long life Arowana. Almost 90 % of Arowana in Aquarium die due to poor water quality, careless during water changing process i.e. adding chlorine tap water to aquarium without applying correct amount of anti chlorine and feeding too much food. Too much food reduces water quality and will encourage bacteria and parasites growth and develop potential disease. Arowana need minerals, vitamins, good quality water and sufficient balance diet to be healthy. The used of dried sea almond leaf to provide natural organic acids, minerals, vitamins and hormone is highly recommended.

Malaysian Arowana
The most expensive and most colorful Arowana in the world originated from Malaysia is the Malaysian Golden Arowana. There are many verities of the Malaysian Golden Arowana, 1st the Golden Arowana can be identified by observing the scale metallic based color and 2nd its can be identified by the level of goldenness around the scale, fully golden or all round golden is know as cross back, half golden is know as high back and golden quality between the cross back and the high back is known as super high back. Beside size, the brightness of the metallic base color and the level of goldenness of the scale will determine the quality and price of the Arowana. Malaysia Golden Arowana, fin and dossal usually red in color.

Malaysian Golden Arowana

Malaysia is the origin of most varieties of Arowana. The Malaysian Golden Arowana further classified to 4 types of Arowana with different base color; High Back Arowana Malaysian Golden High Back Blue Base Arowana Malaysian Golden High Back Rainbow Base Arowana Malaysian Golden High Back Golden Base Arowana Malaysian Golden High Back Green Base Arowana Malaysian Golden High Back Silver Base Arowana Super High Back Arowana Malaysian Golden Super High Back Blue Base Arowana Malaysian Golden Super High Back Rainbow Base Arowana Malaysian Golden Super High Back Golden Base Arowana Malaysian Golden Super High Back Green Base Arowana Malaysian Golden Super High Back Silver Base Arowana Cross Back Arowana Malaysian Golden Cross Back Blue Base Arowana

Malaysian Golden Cross Back Rainbow Base Arowana Malaysian Gold Cross Back Golden Base Arowana Malaysian Golden Cross Back Green Base Arowana Malaysian Golden Cross Back Silver Base Arowana Golden Head Malaysian Golden Head Cross Back Blue Base Arowana Malaysian Golden Head Cross Back Golden Base Arowana The less expensive Malaysian Golden Arowana is the Malaysian Golden High Arowana; Malaysian Super High Back is an Arowana which quality less to the Cross Back and higher than the High Back and today the most marketable Arowana in Malaysia as the price is affordable. The Malaysian Golden Arowana has a very distinct golden color around the scale and the verities metallic base color in the scale. The Super High back, Cross Back and Golden Head Arowana has golden color ring almost all the scale and usually fully develop after 9 months age. The High Back Arowana can be identified after 2-3 months age. All of these Golden Arowana verities currently commercially culture at the breading farm in Malaysia mostly in State of Johore and Perak.

Other Malaysian Arowana

The other types of Arowana currently culture locally in Malaysia which originally from Australia is Malaysian Pearl Arowana, Originally from Amazon is Malaysian Amazon Silver Arowana and originally from Indonesia is Malaysian Banjar Red, Malaysian Yellow Red, Malaysian Golden Red, Malaysian Orange Red, Malaysian Chili Red, Malaysian Blood Malaysian Red Tail Golden Arowana (Indonesian Golden Arowana). In Malaysia the local Yellow Tail Arowana and Green Arowana also cultured in a breeding pond and supply to the ornament fish lover at affordable price.

Home of the Malaysian Arowana

Malaysian Golden Blue Base, Rainbow and Green Base Arowana mostly come from Bukit Merah Lake and river connecting the Bukit Merah Lake in State of Perak Malaysia. The Malaysian Golden Golden Base originally from Kerian River in Kedah and Small River in Batang Berjunta Selangor. The Green Arowana comes from Bera Lake in Johor and Pahang. The Nami Green Arowana comes from Perdu Lake Kedah and Muda River in Kedah. The Malaysian Silver Arowana comes from river and lake in Terengganu. Since the wild Arowana is difficult to find, most of the Arowana currently is the product of aquaculture activities mostly in Perak and Johor.

Indonesian Arowana
Indonesia is the home of Red Arowana, Red Tail Gold (Indonesian Golden Arowana), Silver Arowana and Green Arowana. Indonesia currently the largest producer of Red Arowana in the world and actively involve the Red Arowana Breading. Red Arowana is the Indonesian Pride and has very high demand as the color Red brings luck, symbol of strength and power in many cultures.

Indonesian Red Arowana

Indonesian Red Arowana family consists of Blood Red Arowana, Chili Red Arowana, Orange Red Arowana, Golden Red Arowana, Yellow Red Arowana and Banjar Red Arowana. The Blood Red Arowana, Chili Red Arowana and Orange Red Arowana 3

are groups together and further classified as Super Red Arowana as the Metallic Red Color around the scale is very obvious and all the Super Red Arowana is consider fully Cross Back Arowana. Blood read Arowana develop its metallic red ring color around the scale very early 4-9 months age similar to the Malaysian Golden Cross Back Arowana. Blood Red Arowana has dark metallic blue base color at the top part of the scale and metallic green to yellow base at the bottom part of the scale. The infant eye is smaller and the tail is rounded similar to the Malaysian Golden Arowana. The fin is blood red color. The body shapes also the same as the Malaysian Golden Arowana. Chili Red Arowana on the other hand has a very large orange eye almost touching the head scull and an obvious diamond shape tail red in color. Young Chili Red Arowana has bluish metallic base color and after the age 5-9 months and above the metallic red ring color can be seen very conspicuously. At the age 1-2 years the red metallic ring around the scale and the base color will be fully develop. The top part is dark green in color. Orange Red Arowana is the most affordable to purchase the ring metallic color is orange and the metallic base color is orange yellow or light green. The tail is rounded less red and usually develops its full color after 1-3 years of age. Golden and Yellow Red Arowana are the lowest quality of Red Arowana more common and affordable to purchase the ring metallic color is metallic yellow and the metallic base color is golden yellow or light green. The tail is rounded less red and usually develops its full color after 3-5 years of age. This Arowana is the results of cross breed with Yellow Tail or Green Arowana. Banjar Red Arowana is similar to the Yellow Tail or Green Arowana, the tail is rounded red in color and the scale is metallic green in color. This is the most affordable Arowana as the price is affordable and the color is very much attractive.

Other Indonesian Arowana

Indonesia also the home for the Red Tail Golden, Grey Tail Silver Arowana and Green Arowana. These Arowana is more affordable and the supply is plenty. RTG or Indonesian Golden Arowana come from Pekan Baru Riau Sumatera Indonesia is very similar to Malaysian Golden Arowana available in Johore State during the old days. The Indonesian Golden Arowana (RTG) also has base color; Blue, Green and Golden. The only difference is the Rim is larger. The Rim is the Golden Color at the end if the scale. Most of the RTC is High Back or Super High Back Arowana. To date cross back RTG or the Golden Head RTG is not known.

Home of the Indonesian Arowana

The famous Blood Red and Chili Red Arowana come from the Lake Sentarum in West Kalimantan Indonesia. Lake Sentarum consists of many small lakes connected to each other and link to River Kapuas. The Red Tail Golden (Indonesian Golden Arowana) originated from Pekan Baru Riau Sumatra Indonesia, and Indonesian Silver with Grey Tail Arowana from Borneo Indonesia.

Conclusion
Making a choice to become Arowana lover is the best decision to many people. They enjoy the beauty of the Arowana, they learn to take care the Arowana. Since 4

Arowana has good prices it is a hobby that can be converted into business and contributed to our life style. Many people begin with Amazon Silver Arowana costs about USD10 a piece and move on to Yellow Tail Arowana, Green Arowana, Banjar Red Arowana, RTG, Malaysian Golden High Back, Red Arowana, Malaysian Golden Cross Back Arowana and finally Malaysian Golden Head Arowana. By Mustafa Bin Sareh, BSChE (Toledo), MBA (Ballarat) Rawang Selangor Malaysia, February 2009