HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOddballs & predatorsBlack arawana Black arawana (Osteoglossum ferreirai) Scientific name: Osteoglossum ferreirai Kanazawa, 1966 The Black arawana (Osteoglossum ferreirai) is a freshwater fish of the family Osteoglossidae that grows to about 100 cm (39 in). It is moderate to keep and aggressive, suits community aquariums and needs a tank of at least 475 L (125 US gal), water at 25–30°C (77–86°F) and a pH of 5.0–7.0. Native range: South America, Negro River basin. Black arawana care at a glanceCare levelModerateTemperamentAggressiveCommunity tankGoodAdult size100 cm (39 in)Minimum tank475 L (125 US gal)Temperature25–30°C (77–86°F)pH5.0–7.0Hardness2–10 dGH (36–178 ppm)DietCarnivore. Accepts pellets and live foods. Species factsScientific nameOsteoglossum ferreiraiFamilyOsteoglossidae (Arowanas)OrderOsteoglossiformes (Bony tongues)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length90.0EnvironmentFreshwater; benthopelagicClimateTropicalDistributionSouth America: Negro River basin.Conservation status (IUCN)Least Concern (LC)Threat to humansHarmlessUsesFisheries: subsistence fisheries; aquarium: public aquariums More oddballs & predatorsBarred bichirPolypterus delheziOrnate bichirPolypterus ornatipinnisBronze featherbackNotopterus notopterusSouth American freshwater stingrayPotamotrygon motoroArawanaOsteoglossum bicirrhosumIndochina featherbackChitala blanciSee all oddballs & predators SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Aquarium care parameters compiled, checked and converted to metric and imperial units by Guppies.za.net.Last updated 28 September 2026