Paternal mouthbrooder: females spawn in the high-water season and the male broods the eggs and then the young. Captive breeding is done in large outdoor ponds and is less common than for the silver arowana.
Raise a group of juveniles and wait for a natural pair.
Very large tank or pond, soft blackwater, a secure lid.
Seasonal changes in water.
Up to about 210 large eggs per season (pond spawns of 15-30 cherry-sized eggs reported); the male holds the eggs about 4 weeks and the larvae another 3-4 weeks, releasing young at about 7 cm.
Fry hatch big and are fed live foods and chopped worms.
One breeding tank for the black arowana, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 24–30 °C · pH 6–7.2 · soft water
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 90 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A row of tanks on their own stands for breeding the black arowana in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 22,500 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
From subadult size (about 40-50 cm) males show a thick, fleshy lower lip that juts over the upper lip; females may grow larger.
Typical for mouthbrooders
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
The female takes the eggs into her mouth and stops eating.
After about 3 weeks the female releases fully formed fry. Many breeders move her to a quiet tank first.
Fry eat crushed flake and baby brine shrimp straight away.
Fry are a few centimetres long after about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.