Mouth-Brooding Behavior
Female lays 30-90 large eggs. Male picks them up in his mouth immediately. He holds them for 8-10 weeks without eating.
During brooding, males lose weight and appear hollow. After release, fry are 5-7cm and independent.
Pond Setup (Farm Scale)
Commercial breeders use 10m x 10m x 2m ponds. One male + 3-5 females per pond. Plant cover for spawning sites.
Water circulation, temperature 27-29°C, and daily feeding for females (not males during brooding).
Genetic Selection
Breeders pair chili red with chili red to stabilize color, or super red with high-back for marketable mixes.
Each generation adds traits: thicker scales, brighter base, bolder cross-stripe. 5+ generations to fix a new line.
Identifying Fry Sources
CITES-certified Asian arowana come with microchip, breeder certificate, and lineage documents. Buy from named farms only.
Wild-caught fry (illegal CITES Appendix I) are cheaper but ethically problematic and often unhealthy.