Asian Arowana - (Scleropages formosus) ILLEGAL IN USA!

Fish Details, Description and Information Below:

🐉 Asian Arowana – (Scleropages formosus) – Federally Endangered Dragon Fish – NOT FOR SALE IN THE USA

The Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus), also known as the Asian Bonytongue, Dragon Fish, Golden Arowana, Red Arowana, or Green Arowana, is one of the most famous and highly valued freshwater fish in the world.

Known for its:

Enormous metallic scales
Long streamlined body
Upturned mouth
Two prominent lower-jaw barbels
Powerful surface-swimming behavior
Red, gold, green, or metallic coloration

the Asian Arowana has become an iconic aquarium fish throughout much of Asia.

However, this species is subject to extremely strict conservation laws.

🚨 NOT FOR SALE IN THE UNITED STATES

ASIAN AROWANAS CANNOT BE LEGALLY IMPORTED OR SOLD THROUGH THE NORMAL U.S. PET TRADE

The Asian Arowana is federally listed as:

ENDANGERED – WHEREVER FOUND

under the:

UNITED STATES ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

These federal protections apply throughout:

ALL 50 STATES

Ordinary members of the U.S. public cannot legally import or purchase Asian Arowanas through the normal aquarium trade.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service permits or registrations for otherwise prohibited activities are limited to qualifying purposes such as:

Scientific research
Conservation
Enhancement of propagation
Enhancement of species survival
Approved captive-breeding programs

Qualifying:

Zoos
Public aquariums
Research institutions
Conservation organizations
Approved captive-breeding programs
Other federally authorized entities

may sometimes possess or work with Asian Arowanas under the appropriate federal authorization.

USFWS DOES NOT ISSUE ENDANGERED-SPECIES CAPTIVE-BREEDING REGISTRATIONS FOR KEEPING THESE FISH AS PETS.

This page is therefore provided for:

EDUCATIONAL AND SPECIES-INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY

and does:

NOT REPRESENT AN OFFER TO SELL ASIAN AROWANAS IN THE UNITED STATES.

🔎 Quick Facts – Asian Arowana

📛 Common Name: Asian Arowana
📛 Other Names: Asian Bonytongue, Dragon Fish, Golden Arowana, Red Arowana, Green Arowana
🔬 Scientific Name: Scleropages formosus
📚 Older Scientific Combination: Osteoglossum formosum
🐟 Family: Osteoglossidae
🌎 Origin: Southeast Asia
🌊 Natural Habitat: Forest streams, blackwater rivers, peat-associated wetlands and slow-moving freshwater
📏 Maximum Documented Size: Approximately 90 cm / 35.4 inches total length
📏 Adult Planning Size: Approximately 30–36 inches
🏠 Adult Aquarium: Approximately 250–300+ gallons where legally maintained
📐 Preferred Aquarium Dimensions: Approximately 8 feet long with substantial front-to-back width
🔒 Lid: Extremely secure lid absolutely required
🌡️ Temperature: Approximately 75–86°F
💧 pH: Approximately 6.0–7.5
💦 Water: Soft to moderately mineralized
🍽️ Diet: Carnivorous
🦗 Natural Foods: Insects, fish and other small aquatic or terrestrial prey
🐠 Swimming Level: Primarily upper water / surface
😠 Temperament: Territorial / Predatory
⚠️ Tankmates: Only large compatible species where legally maintained
🥚 Reproduction: Mouthbrooder
♂️ Parental Care: Male mouthbroods eggs and young
🌎 IUCN Status: Endangered
🚨 CITES: Appendix I
🇺🇸 U.S. ESA Status: Endangered – Wherever Found
🚫 Normal U.S. Pet Trade: Prohibited
🚫 U.S. Import for Ordinary Hobbyists: Prohibited
🚫 Normal Interstate Sale: Prohibited
🚫 Jason's Plecos & Cichlids U.S. Sales: NOT AVAILABLE
🏛️ Exceptions: Only qualifying federally authorized activities/entities
⭐ Care Level: Advanced / Institutional-level planning in the United States

🚨 U.S. LEGAL STATUS – READ BEFORE CONTINUING

The Asian Arowana is:

FEDERALLY PROTECTED THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES

The species has been listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act since:

1976

and remains listed as:

ENDANGERED – WHEREVER FOUND

This means the federal protection applies regardless of whether the fish originated from:

Indonesia
Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
Another foreign country
A captive-breeding facility

🚫 What Is Prohibited Without Federal Authorization?

For endangered wildlife such as Scleropages formosus, federal law restricts activities including:

Importing the fish into the United States
Exporting it from the United States
Selling or offering it for sale in interstate or foreign commerce
Commercially delivering it through interstate or foreign commerce
Commercially receiving it through interstate or foreign commerce
Commercially transporting or shipping it through interstate or foreign commerce
Other prohibited activities involving endangered wildlife

Therefore:

A U.S. AQUARIUM STORE CANNOT LEGALLY IMPORT ASIAN AROWANAS AND SELL THEM TO ORDINARY HOBBYISTS.

🇺🇸 All 50 States Are Covered by Federal Law

The Endangered Species Act is:

FEDERAL LAW

It is not limited to one individual state.

Therefore, ordinary hobbyists cannot simply travel to another state where Asian Arowanas are supposedly “legal” and legally purchase or import one through the normal pet trade.

The federal restrictions apply:

NATIONWIDE

⚠️ Important Legal Accuracy – Possession vs. Acquisition

There is an important legal distinction.

It would be inaccurate to state:

“MERE POSSESSION IS AUTOMATICALLY ILLEGAL IN EVERY STATE UNDER FEDERAL LAW.”

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service explains that possession itself is not necessarily an Endangered Species Act violation when a specimen was lawfully acquired and no otherwise-prohibited activity occurred.

However:

THAT DOES NOT CREATE A NORMAL PET-OWNERSHIP PATHWAY.

For an ordinary U.S. hobbyist, legally obtaining an Asian Arowana through:

Import
Interstate commercial sale
Normal aquarium-store purchase

is prohibited without the required federal authorization.

Individual states may impose additional possession restrictions.

🚨 Practical Rule for U.S. Customers

For customers reading this page:

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PURCHASE, IMPORT, ORDER, SHIP, OR SMUGGLE AN ASIAN AROWANA INTO THE UNITED STATES.

Do not assume that:

A foreign seller offering one online
A fish having a microchip
A fish having a CITES certificate
A fish being captive bred
A seller claiming it is “legal”
A seller agreeing to ship it

makes the transaction legal in the United States.

🏛️ Who Can Receive Federal Authorization?

Federal authorization for activities involving endangered wildlife may be issued for qualifying purposes such as:

Scientific purposes
Enhancement of propagation
Enhancement of survival
Conservation breeding

This may involve qualifying:

Zoos
Public aquariums
Universities
Research institutions
Conservation organizations
Specialized breeding programs
Other properly authorized entities

However:

A ZOO OR INSTITUTION IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY EXEMPT JUST BECAUSE IT IS A ZOO.

The appropriate federal authorization must still apply to the activity.

🚫 Pet Permits Are Not the Purpose of the Program

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service makes an especially important point:

CAPTIVE-BRED WILDLIFE REGISTRATIONS ARE NOT ISSUED TO KEEP OR BREED ENDANGERED ANIMALS AS PETS.

The federal program exists to support:

CONSERVATION AND SPECIES RECOVERY

not private pet ownership.

🌎 CITES APPENDIX I

The Asian Arowana is also listed under:

CITES APPENDIX I

CITES is the:

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

Appendix I contains species receiving the convention's highest level of international trade protection.

🚨 Wild Commercial Trade Is Not Allowed

Normal commercial international trade involving:

WILD-CAUGHT ASIAN AROWANAS

is prohibited.

Wild Asian Arowanas should never be represented as ordinary legal export aquarium fish.

🧬 Captive-Bred CITES Asian Arowanas

There is an important distinction outside the United States.

CITES has registered commercial captive-breeding operations for:

Scleropages formosus

in countries including:

Indonesia
Malaysia
Singapore

Qualifying captive-bred Asian Arowanas produced through registered operations may enter regulated international trade under specific CITES provisions.

💾 Microchipped Fish

Legitimate internationally traded captive-bred Asian Arowanas commonly have:

Individual identification
CITES documentation
Coded microchips / PIT tags
Breeder or farm records

This helps verify their captive-bred origin and legal international trade status.

⚠️ CITES Documentation Does NOT Make Them Legal U.S. Pets

This distinction is extremely important:

A CITES-LEGAL ASIAN AROWANA OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY LEGAL TO IMPORT INTO THE UNITED STATES.

The U.S. Endangered Species Act provides additional federal protection.

Therefore:

CAPTIVE BRED + MICROCHIPPED + CITES CERTIFIED ≠ LEGAL U.S. PET IMPORT

🚫 Jason's Plecos & Cichlids Will Not Sell Asian Arowanas

Because of U.S. federal restrictions:

JASON'S PLECOS & CICHLIDS DOES NOT SELL ASIAN AROWANAS TO THE U.S. PUBLIC.

We will not:

Import Asian Arowanas for normal retail sale
Ship Asian Arowanas to hobbyists
Arrange interstate retail sales
Help customers bypass federal regulations
Misidentify an Asian Arowana as another legal species
Assist with unlawful importation

⚠️ Do Not Confuse Asian Arowanas With Other Arowanas

Not every fish called an:

AROWANA

is an Asian Arowana.

Other species include:

Silver Arowana

Osteoglossum bicirrhosum

Black Arowana

Osteoglossum ferreirai

Jardini / Australian Arowana

Scleropages jardinii

Southern Saratoga

Scleropages leichardti

These species have different legal classifications.

Never assume that restrictions applying to:

Scleropages formosus

automatically apply identically to every arowana species.

State and local restrictions can still apply to other species.

🧬 Valid Scientific Species

The currently accepted scientific name is:

Scleropages formosus

Older scientific literature may use:

Osteoglossum formosum

The species belongs to the ancient freshwater fish family:

OSTEOGLOSSIDAE

commonly known as the:

AROWANAS / BONYTONGUES

🐉 Why Is It Called the Dragon Fish?

The Asian Arowana is frequently called the:

DRAGON FISH

because its:

Large metallic scales
Long body
Prominent barbels
Powerful swimming style

are considered reminiscent of traditional Asian depictions of dragons.

🧧 Cultural Importance

In several Asian cultures, the Asian Arowana has become associated with:

Prosperity
Wealth
Good fortune
Power
Protection
Success

This cultural significance helped make certain color forms among the most valuable aquarium fish in the world.

🎨 Color Forms

The Asian Arowana includes several geographically and selectively developed color forms.

Common aquarium names include:

Green Arowana
Golden Arowana
Red-Tail Golden
Crossback Golden
Super Red
Chili Red
Blood Red

The exact taxonomy and geographic relationships among some historic color populations have been debated.

For general identification:

Scleropages formosus

remains the appropriate species name for the Asian Arowana forms included within this species.

🔴 Red Asian Arowana

Red forms are especially famous for developing:

Red scales
Red fins
Orange-red coloration
Deep crimson coloration

depending on:

Genetics
Age
Line
Diet
Lighting
Development

🟡 Golden Asian Arowana

Golden forms can develop:

Metallic gold scales
Golden scale rims
Yellow-gold fins
Deep metallic coloration

Some selectively bred lines are especially prized in Asian markets.

🟢 Green Asian Arowana

Green forms generally show:

Olive-green
Silver-green
Bronze-green
Gray-green

scales and are often less intensely colored than highly selected red or golden strains.

⚠️ Color Does Not Change U.S. Legal Status

Whether an Asian Arowana is:

Red
Green
Gold
Crossback
Super Red
Red-Tail Golden
Platinum
Albino
Leucistic

does not remove the federal protection applying to:

Scleropages formosus

🌎 Native Distribution

The Asian Arowana is native to:

SOUTHEAST ASIA

Its historic distribution includes portions of:

Myanmar
Thailand
Cambodia
Vietnam
Malaysia
Indonesia

with different populations occurring in geographically separated river systems.

🌿 Natural Habitat

Asian Arowanas occur in tropical freshwater environments including:

Forest streams
Slow-moving rivers
Blackwater habitats
Peat-associated waters
Flooded forests
Swamps
Wetland systems

Many habitats contain:

Tannins
Submerged roots
Overhanging vegetation
Dark water
Surface insects

🐟 Surface-Oriented Predator

The Asian Arowana spends considerable time near the:

WATER SURFACE

Its:

Upturned mouth
Long body
Surface patrol behavior

are adaptations for capturing food from above and near the surface.

📏 Adult Size

FishBase documents Scleropages formosus reaching approximately:

90 CM / 35.4 INCHES TOTAL LENGTH

For practical planning where the species is legally maintained:

EXPECT APPROXIMATELY 30–36 INCHES

🏠 Aquarium Size

Where legally maintained outside ordinary U.S. pet ownership:

250 GALLONS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A MINIMUM STARTING POINT FOR AN ADULT

and:

300+ GALLONS IS PREFERRED

especially for a full-sized specimen.

📐 Aquarium Dimensions Matter More Than Gallons Alone

An adult Arowana needs enough room to:

Swim continuously
Turn comfortably
Accelerate
Surface-feed

A good adult enclosure should ideally be approximately:

8 FEET LONG

with substantial:

FRONT-TO-BACK WIDTH

↔️ Width Is Extremely Important

An aquarium can contain many gallons and still be:

TOO NARROW

for a three-foot surface predator.

Approximately:

30–36+ INCHES OF FRONT-TO-BACK WIDTH

is much more appropriate for a large adult.

🚀 Extremely Powerful Jumper

Asian Arowanas are:

POWERFUL JUMPERS

An adult can launch from the water with tremendous force.

A secure top is:

ABSOLUTELY REQUIRED

🔒 Secure Heavy Lid

The aquarium should have a:

Strong lid
Securely fastened cover
Minimal escape gaps

Openings around:

Filters
Plumbing
Electrical cables

must be carefully secured.

⚠️ Jumping Can Cause Serious Injury

A startled Arowana can strike:

Glass
Lighting
Covers
Hard décor

causing:

Scale loss
Mouth injuries
Spinal injuries
Death

Keep the upper swimming area open and safe.

💧 Water Parameters

Where legally maintained, practical conditions include:

🌡️ Temperature: Approximately 75–86°F
💧 pH: Approximately 6.0–7.5
💦 Hardness: Soft to moderately mineralized
💨 Oxygenation: Good to High
🌊 Water Movement: Moderate
☠️ Ammonia: 0 ppm
☠️ Nitrite: 0 ppm
🔄 Nitrate: Keep low

🌡️ Temperature

FishBase gives a tropical temperature range around:

24–30°C / 75–86°F

A common maintenance target is approximately:

78–82°F

💩 Heavy Bioload

A three-foot predatory fish creates:

SUBSTANTIAL WASTE

Use powerful:

Mechanical filtration
Biological filtration
Sump filtration where practical
Strong water turnover

🔄 Water Quality

Maintain:

AMMONIA = 0

and:

NITRITE = 0

at all times.

Regular partial water changes are essential.

🍽️ Diet – Carnivore

The Asian Arowana is a:

CARNIVORE

Young fish naturally consume substantial numbers of:

Insects
Surface prey
Small aquatic organisms

Adults consume:

Fish
Crustaceans
Insects
Other appropriately sized prey
Small vertebrates in the wild

🦐 Appropriate Captive Foods

Where legally maintained, suitable foods can include:

Quality floating Arowana pellets
Shrimp
Prawn
Krill
Insects
Earthworms
Appropriate fish flesh

A varied prepared and frozen diet is preferable.

⚠️ Avoid Feeder Fish

There is no need to rely on live feeder fish.

Feeder fish can introduce:

Parasites
Bacteria
Disease
Nutritional problems

High-quality prepared and frozen foods are safer.

🚫 Avoid Mammalian Meat as a Staple

Foods such as:

Beef
Chicken
Beef heart

should not form the regular staple diet.

Arowanas are better fed aquatic prey, insects, and appropriately formulated carnivore foods.

😠 Temperament

Asian Arowanas can be:

TERRITORIAL

and:

PREDATORY

Any fish small enough to swallow may become food.

🐠 Tankmates

Where legally maintained, tankmates require careful selection.

Potential companions must be:

Large enough not to be swallowed
Compatible with warm water
Robust
Non-fin-nipping
Not excessively aggressive

⚠️ Keeping Multiple Arowanas

Conspecific aggression can be severe.

Single-specimen housing is often the safest option unless an extremely large enclosure and experienced management are available.

♂️ Male vs. Female

Asian Arowanas can be difficult to sex visually.

Mature females may become:

Fuller-bodied
Broader through the abdomen

while males may develop subtle differences in:

Head shape
Mouth dimensions

However:

VISUAL SEXING IS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE

🥚 Breeding – Male Mouthbrooder

Asian Arowanas have a fascinating reproductive strategy.

The species is a:

PATERNAL MOUTHBROODER

💕 Spawning

During reproduction:

The female releases a relatively small number of large eggs.
The male fertilizes them.
The male collects the eggs into his mouth.
The eggs develop inside his mouth.
Newly hatched young remain protected by the male.

👨‍👧 Male Parental Care

The male can carry the developing young for many weeks.

The juveniles continue to use their:

LARGE YOLK SACS

while protected within or around the male's mouth.

This unusually intensive paternal care helps explain the species' relatively low reproductive output compared with many smaller aquarium fish.

🧬 Captive Breeding

Asian Arowanas are commercially captive bred in parts of Southeast Asia.

Major production occurs in specialized:

Earthen ponds
Large breeding facilities
Controlled aquaculture operations

rather than ordinary home aquariums.

💾 CITES Breeding Operations

Certain commercial operations breeding Scleropages formosus are officially:

REGISTERED WITH CITES

Legally traded captive-bred fish in participating international markets may be individually identified using:

CODED MICROCHIPS / PIT TAGS

and accompanied by required documentation.

Again:

THIS DOES NOT CREATE A LEGAL U.S. HOBBYIST IMPORT PATH.

🚨 IUCN Conservation Status

The Asian Arowana is currently classified as:

ENDANGERED

The current global assessment dates to:

2019

with threats historically including:

Habitat loss
Habitat degradation
Overcollection
Commercial demand
Fragmentation of wild populations

🚨 CITES Appendix I

The species receives:

APPENDIX I

protection under CITES.

This is the highest standard CITES Appendix for species threatened by international trade.

🇺🇸 U.S. Endangered Species Act

The Asian Arowana is additionally protected in the United States as:

ENDANGERED – WHEREVER FOUND

This is why a fish that can be legally captive bred and sold under controlled CITES procedures in some other countries remains:

UNAVAILABLE THROUGH THE NORMAL U.S. AQUARIUM TRADE

🚔 Illegal Wildlife Trade Warning

Asian Arowanas have repeatedly been involved in U.S. wildlife-trafficking cases.

Do not:

Buy one from an underground seller
Import one without authorization
Have one falsely labeled as a legal Arowana species
Accept undocumented interstate shipment
Attempt to hide one from wildlife authorities

Wildlife violations can result in:

Seizure
Forfeiture
Civil penalties
Criminal prosecution

⚠️ Species Identification Matters

Some illegal sellers may attempt to label an Asian Arowana as:

Jardini Arowana
Silver Arowana
Australian Arowana
Another legal species

Learn the identification differences and never participate in mislabeling.

🆚 Asian Arowana vs. Jardini Arowana

Asian Arowana

Scleropages formosus

Southeast Asia
Federally endangered in the United States
CITES Appendix I
Normal U.S. retail sale/import unavailable

Jardini Arowana

Scleropages jardinii

Northern Australia / New Guinea region
Different species
Different federal conservation status

The two should never be intentionally confused.

⭐ Why Is the Asian Arowana So Famous?

The Asian Arowana combines:

🐉 Dragon-like appearance
✨ Huge metallic scales
🔴 Spectacular red varieties
🟡 Brilliant golden varieties
🟢 Historic green forms
🧧 Major cultural significance
📏 Approximately three-foot adult size
🐟 Surface-predator behavior
👨‍👧 Male mouthbrooding
🧬 Ancient bonytongue ancestry
🌎 Endangered conservation status
🚨 Strict international protection

into one of the world's most recognizable freshwater fish.

⚠️ Important Considerations

Before researching or considering an Asian Arowana:

The correct scientific name is Scleropages formosus.
The species is native to Southeast Asia.
Adults can reach approximately 90 cm / 35.4 inches.
The species is carnivorous.
It is an extremely powerful jumper.
A secure lid is mandatory where legally maintained.
Adults require approximately 250–300+ gallons.
A wide aquarium approximately 8 feet long is preferable.
Maintain approximately 75–86°F.
Maintain excellent water quality.
The male is the mouthbrooding parent.
The species is Endangered.
It is CITES Appendix I.
The species is federally Endangered wherever found in the United States.
Federal protections apply throughout all 50 states.
Normal U.S. commercial import is prohibited.
Normal interstate retail sale is prohibited.
A CITES certificate from another country does not automatically make a fish legal to import into the United States.
Captive breeding outside the United States does not remove U.S. ESA restrictions.
USFWS captive-bred wildlife registrations are not issued simply to keep endangered wildlife as pets.
Qualifying zoos, research institutions, conservation programs, and other appropriately authorized entities may conduct certain otherwise-prohibited activities.
Mere possession itself is not automatically an ESA violation if a specimen was lawfully obtained and no prohibited activity occurred, so avoid claiming that every conceivable possession situation is automatically illegal in all 50 states.
For ordinary U.S. hobbyists, there is no normal legal retail pathway to import or purchase an Asian Arowana.
Jason's Plecos & Cichlids does not offer Asian Arowanas for sale to the U.S. public.

🧬 Taxonomy

The currently accepted scientific name is:

Scleropages formosus (Müller & Schlegel, 1840)

Classification:

Order: Osteoglossiformes
Family: Osteoglossidae
Genus: Scleropages
Species: formosus

Older scientific combination:

Osteoglossum formosum

For this page, use:

**Asian Arowana – (Scleropages formosus)**

🚨 U.S. LEGAL DISCLAIMER

THIS SPECIES IS NOT OFFERED FOR SALE BY JASON'S PLECOS & CICHLIDS.

Scleropages formosus is federally listed as an endangered species in the United States.

Unauthorized activities involving this species may violate the Endangered Species Act and other wildlife laws.

Normal commercial importation and interstate retail sale to U.S. aquarium hobbyists are prohibited.

Federal permits or registrations for otherwise prohibited activities are restricted to qualifying purposes such as scientific research or enhancement of propagation or survival of the species.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service does not issue captive-bred wildlife registrations simply for keeping endangered wildlife as pets.

State laws may impose additional restrictions.

Anyone dealing with an unusual legally held specimen or institutional transfer should consult the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the applicable state wildlife agency before taking any action.

🚫 U.S. SHIPPING & SALES

NO U.S. SALES

NO U.S. RETAIL SHIPPING

NO U.S. HOBBYIST IMPORTS

INFORMATIONAL PAGE ONLY

Jason's Plecos & Cichlids will not knowingly participate in any transaction involving an Asian Arowana that would violate:

The Endangered Species Act
CITES
Federal wildlife regulations
State wildlife regulations
Other applicable laws

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ORDER THIS SPECIES FOR U.S. DELIVERY.