The Australian arowana, or pearl arowawa, as it is known, is found in freshwater areas of northern Australia. Although the arowana pearlfish is a relative of the Asian arowawa fish, it has had better luck, as it has not made it to the CITES endangered species list. Although it is collected by arowana enthusiasts around the world and widely fished throughout northern Australia, its numbers have remained high.
The background behind the Australian Arowana is that it is the most aggressive of the Arowana breeds. They typically grow to be 2-3 feet long, making them quite a large fish. Because the pearl arowana is more common than the Asian arowana, then it is unsurprisingly cheaper in price. Another plus point is that there are no major regulations or restrictions on the sale or ownership of this breed of arowana.
One very important factor to remember if you are going to buy an arowana pearl is that it was probably wild caught. There are very few of these types of fish that are actually raised and cared for in tanks. So if you’re going to buy one make sure you check it out at the pet store before you take it home. Watch how he’s acting in the tank to see if he looks stressed. Also talk to the store staff to see how the arowana is fed. Make sure he’s eating well and find out what kind of food he’s being given.
One last point worth noting that the arowana pearl is almost 100% carnivorous in its diet. What this means is that you will have to feed the fish live bait, so I hope you won’t be squeamish. Take care to obtain live bait from a reputable source so that you do not transmit disease to your fish. You can feed them mostly crickets, earthworms, frogs, small fish, and small mice, but again only from a trusted source. People always ask if they can feed their arowana frogs from the garden, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
Well, I hope I’ve given you another option in your search for an affordable arowana. Asian arowanas are always what people are talking about, but they are out of many people’s price range. The Australian Arowana will cost you less, and to be honest, their energy and aggressiveness make them more fun to watch.