Australian bonytongue (Scleropages jardinii)

Scientific name: Scleropages jardinii Saville-Kent, 1892

The Australian bonytongue (Scleropages jardinii) is a freshwater fish of the family Osteoglossidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 15°C (59°F). Native range: Asia and Oceania, northern Australia and central-southern New Guinea.

Australian bonytongue care at a glance

Temperature: 15°C (59°F)

Biology

Adults occur in still waters of streams and swamps where it is usually seen near the surface or close to shore among aquatic vegetation. Solitary, territorial and spawn prior to the wet season when surface water temperatures approach 30?C. Young feed primarily on microcrustaceans. Primarily a surface feeder, feeding on a variety of terrestrial and aquatic insects, small fishes, frogs, crustaceans, and some plant material. Mouthbrooders. Maximum weight reported in may be 12.27 kg. Important food fish and a valuable aquarium fish.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Scleropages jardinii
Family: Osteoglossidae (Arowanas)
Order: Osteoglossiformes (Bony tongues)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 100.0
Common length: 55.0
Environment: Freshwater; pelagic
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Asia and Oceania: northern Australia and central-southern New Guinea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: of no interest; aquaculture: commercial; gamefish: yes; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (tm=4-5; Fec=30-130)