Arapaima – a freshwater giant from the Jurassic period

Imagine coming across a fish that looks as though it could have come from the prehistoric era. One of the world’s largest fish and a real-life Jurassic relic, the Arapaima is a massive freshwater giant. This amazing creature, which can be found in the Amazon Basin’s rivers and lakes, has captivated the interest of both researchers and aquarists.

The Arapaima is an apex predator that lives for survival in the wild. Its sleek body is covered in hard, metallic scales. Its amazing adaptation that has allowed it to survive for millions of years is its ability to breathe air, which enables it to flourish in waters with low oxygen levels.

We’ll delve into the world of the Arapaima in this piece, examining its historic beginnings, distinctive qualities, and current struggles. You will learn why the Arapaima is still a source of wonder and amazement, regardless of whether you are an aquarium enthusiast or just inquisitive about this amazing species.

What kind of fish is this?

One of the biggest freshwater fish in the Amazon is the giant arapaima, also known by the names paiche, pirarucu, purarucu, giant arapaima, and Brazilian arapaima. Its habitats include marshes, the backwaters of rivers and lakes, areas heavily covered in aquatic flora, and other bodies of water. South America is home to a lot of fish. According to locals, arapaima can reach lengths of up to 4 m and weights of up to 400 kg. Because of the massive catch, it is very challenging to encounter this giant in the wild. Individuals are typically 2–2.5 m long.

Note: There is no official documentation to support the statements made by locals regarding 4-meter fish. Specimens are typically 150–200 kg in weight and 2-3 m in length.

The arapaima is regarded as a living fossil for a reason—it resembles a monstrous creature from the prehistoric era that is partially reptilian and partially fish. However, this doesn’t stop the Amazonian natives from catching and consuming it.

Appearance of Arapaima gigas

The arapaima’s body is covered in brown or red scales and is compressed and elongated from the sides. The belly, like most fish, is rounded. The medium-sized, elongated, thickened upper part of the head is covered in bony plates that create a distinctive pattern (see photo). The head has an olive-brown hue, and the gill covers exhibit reddish spots.

Large, protruding eyes are situated at the base of the head on both sides. At the top is the large mouth. The jaw contains two different kinds of teeth:

  • one part – on the palate, like most fish;
  • the other part – these are hard growths on the tongue.

One of the characteristics of the arapaima is its unique coloring: the body is brown-gray with a hint of green in the front, smoothly transitioning to red in the rear, and turning burgundy in the tail region. One broad, dark stripe completes the "composition."

Kindly take note! The fish’s fins are strong and large. The dorsal fin, which is situated directly above the anal, is located at the back of the body. It forms an impressive paddle with the caudal peduncle and fin, enabling the fish to swim swiftly and jump out of the water when hunting or in danger. The pectoral fins are located at the bottom, close to the belly.

Males that are sexually mature in Arapaima have a more vibrant color and larger stature than females due to their highly developed sexual dimorphism. Young males and females have similar, nearly identical body colors.

About the features of scales

The image shows how the arapaima’s body is covered in massive, striking relief scales. It has been demonstrated that scales are many times more durable than bones, which explains why fish that frequently have to coexist with piranhas feel comfortable in their presence.

See also: The 20 most exquisite fish in aquariums. You should read this article on keeping and breeding snakeheads as well.

Video – Facts about arapaima

Main types of arapaima

The piraruku is a rare species that has endured since prehistoric times. Since it belongs to the Aravaniformes family’s monospecies Arapaima, it is not closely related to any other animals in the zoological classification. This giant belongs to a unique species. It should be noted that the arapaima’s appearance has not altered in 135 million years; this is precisely how it appeared during the time of the dinosaurs.

Lifestyle, habitat in nature

The ancient behemoth was recently transported from the Amazon to artificial and natural reservoirs in Malaysia and Thailand, where it is bred commercially by experts. Arapaima is a bottom fish found in warm, algal-filled river and lake backwaters (between 26 and 29 degrees). Less frequently observed in sizable mud-covered ponds and swamps. It may relocate to flooded floodplain forests during rainy seasons, but once the water recedes, it returns to the river backwater.

The arapaima is a predator that seeks out and pursues prey while always being mobile, as opposed to tracking it from a shelter. The fish’s ability to float to the surface and occasionally even leap out of the water when it’s looking for food allows it to catch not only fish and mollusks of the right size but also snakes, ducks, passing birds, and even animals that come to drink.

Kindly take note! It’s thought that the arowana, a distant relative with a smaller stature, is the arapaima’s favorite "delicacy." The pirarucu lives in difficult-to-reach places, making it difficult to describe, which is why this hasn’t been scientifically confirmed.

The fish has an extra respiratory organ, a unique tissue that resembles the lung and is heavily covered in capillaries, which allows it to float to the surface and breathe atmospheric air. This tissue, so to speak, lines the pharynx’s and swim bladder’s cavities. This physiological trait, in addition to everything else, enables the fish to live in the Amazon, where the water has relatively little oxygen.

The arapaima can withstand the drought that follows the rainy season in tropical countries without experiencing any pain because they can breathe atmospheric air. The fish rises to the surface when the water level falls, inhales, and burrows into the silt or wet river sand. Keep in mind that this process must be repeated by Arapaima every 5 to 20 minutes.

Take note: the fish breathes so loudly that a few kilometers around it can be heard the sound of air being swallowed!

The Arapaima is a massive freshwater fish that originated in the Jurassic period. It is a true living fossil that has fascinated scientists and aquarists alike with its impressive size, ancient lineage, and unique adaptations that have allowed it to thrive for millions of years in the harsh environment of the Amazon basin.

Can arapaima be kept in an aquarium?

Arapaima are frequently housed in captivity. Since its meat is fairly tasty, industrial fishing frequently uses it as a target. Although it would be stretching it to describe arapaima as decorative, its enormous size always draws attention. Because of this, piracuru is frequently found in oceanariums, both public and amateur.

Aquarium requirements

It is very challenging to keep this ferocious giant in captivity because it requires an enormous aquarium with water that is at a specific temperature. As a result, large pools or aquariums holding 1000 liters of water with a water temperature of 26 to 29 degrees are used to house and breed arapaima. Regular aeration, water changes, and filtration are crucial (learn more about aquarium filters here).

Kindly take note! Since arapaima prefer heat, a drop in temperature of more than five degrees can be lethal.

What does arapaima eat?

All kinds of live food, including rodents, birds, fish, beef, and mollusks, as well as different artificial protein feeds, are fed to fish kept in captivity. Small fish must be launched into the aquarium because predators hunt for food while they are moving. Adults only require one meal per day, while juveniles require three. Feeding should also be done precisely in accordance with the schedule. The fish may attack its relatives if it does not receive food in a timely manner.

Pirarucu and other large fish can occasionally live in harmony.

Behavior

Because arapaima breathe atmospheric air, as was already mentioned, they rise to the surface every five to fifteen minutes and make loud swallowing noises as they do so. Fish have daily behaviors and swim in small groups.

Video – Arapaima: cutting and cooking

Nuances of breeding

The fifth year of life marks the onset of sexual maturity. Fish that are preparing to spawn typically measure between 160 and 200 cm in length. The Arapaima lays its eggs in the early spring.

Sand-bottomed, shallow areas with slowly moving or stagnant water are preferred for spawning. In order to prepare for procreation, the female digs a hole in the sand that is between 60 and 80 cm wide and 20 cm deep. This is known as the "nest." She deposits up to 50,000 eggs in this hole. Everything else is handled by the male; he diligently looks after the eggs and then the fry, which are born 48 hours after spawning. However, the female does not sit around doing nothing; she patrols the area 10–15 meters around her offspring.

Be aware that the hatchlings from the eggs remain close to the male’s head for a few days, where they consume the white secretion secreted by the male with the assistance of unique glands located behind the eyes.

The babies grow quite quickly; they gain 5 cm in length and 100 g in weight every month. The fry become independent feeders and almost immediately become the same predators as adults after the yolk sac is absorbed, which takes an average of 7 days. As they get older, they start to hunt fish and other creatures from the animal kingdom, but initially they only eat plankton and tiny invertebrates.

Even though the fry grow quickly and become somewhat independent, they still stay in their parents’ line of sight for three more months. Experts explain this by saying that up until this age, young people are unaware of the existence of an extra respiratory organ and are unable to use it. Until the fry learns to breathe atmospheric air, their parents do not leave them.

It is evident that establishing an environment where the arapaima feels comfortable is a challenging task. If you choose to acquire this enormous predator, make an effort to care for it and provide it everything it needs.

Feature Description
Size Arapaimas can grow up to 10 feet long, making them one of the largest freshwater fish in the world.
Habitat They are native to the Amazon River and its surrounding waters.
Diet They are carnivorous, feeding on fish, crustaceans, and even small land animals.
Lifespan Arapaimas can live up to 20 years in the wild.
Unique Trait They can breathe air thanks to a specialized lung-like structure.

The Arapaima is a living artifact from a bygone era, not just an interesting fish. It stands out among freshwater fish due to its remarkable size and distinctive features.

The Arapaima offers a window into the past, whether you’re an aquarium enthusiast or just interested in nature. It serves as a reminder of the extraordinary diversity and adaptability of all life on Earth.

Although raising an Arapaima requires a lot of work, it can be a rewarding experience for those who are up to the task. People are still enthralled by this enormous fish because of its majestic appearance and long history.

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Olga Vishnevskaya

Biologist by education, aquarist by vocation. Specialization — breeding and care of freshwater aquarium plants. Since childhood I have been fond of aquariums, constantly experimenting with creating biotopes and selecting flora for various types of aquariums. I am sure that green aquariums can transform any interior and improve the quality of life.

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