What Does a Silver Arowana Look Like After Coloring Up?

When a silver arowana colors up, its large scales become more lustrous, displaying an overall silvery-white hue that shines under lighting, creating a majestic appearance. However, the development of color in silver arowanas depends on two primary factors: its inherent genetic predisposition and the care provided by the owner to facilitate the coloring process.

The silver arowana has an elongated, ribbon-like body that is flat on the sides, with a fan-shaped tail. The dorsal and anal fins are also ribbon-like, extending towards the base of the caudal peduncle. The lower jaw of the arowana protrudes past the upper jaw, and it features a pair of short, thick barbels. Its body is predominantly silver-white, with blue-black fins. Juvenile silver arowanas display a bluish coloration, with red and blue edges on their dorsal and anal fins, deep red spots on their mouths and gill covers, and deep red fins. The large scales arranged in five neat rows on the body are the canvas for the fish’s magnificent color. Once fully colored, these scales shimmer with a silvery glow under the light, and the fins reflect a bright red or orange sheen. Under a routine and good care, including diet and proper lighting, the silver arowana will usually reach full color potential after it grows to about 50 cm in length. Each row of scales becomes more striking after coloring, with the back often appearing deeper in tone and the belly side becoming lighter, almost pure white. The key is the scales on the sides of the silver arowana, which develop an armor-like silver sheen when fully colored, reflecting a silvery-white light under illumination, thus appearing highly majestic.

How to Enhance Silver Arowana Coloration

To further enhance the coloration of your silver arowana, provide a diet rich in live shrimp, fresh fish fry, mealworms, roaches, and color-enhancing feed. Avoid feeding scaleless fish like loaches for extended periods, as it could cause the arowana's back to darken, detracting from its beauty. Also, remember that it takes time for a juvenile arowana to reach the full coloration of an adult. With regular feeding, a 20 cm long arowana can grow to 40 cm within three months and will also display a more vivid color. Additionally, it’s important to maintain the aquarium lights on for extended periods and avoid housing the fish under flickering lights.If you enjoyed this, try:Pet Naming