Arwana Perak/Indonesian Silver Arowana (Scleropages macrocephalus Pouyad,

Sudarto & Teugels, 2003)

Arwana Perak termasuk ikan endemik pulau Kalimantan. Para hobiis dan
penangkar Arwana mengenal spesies ini dengan sebutan Red Banjar. Tubuh
Arwana Perak umumnya memanjang dengan warna hijau gelap pada bagian
punggung. Sisik hampir seluruhnya berwarna perak agak gelap dengan cincin sisik
berwarna hijau zaitun yang samar.
Daerah hulu sungai besar yang berair tenang dan jernih dengan derajat keasaman
air (pH) lebih dari 6 merupakan habitat favorit bagi Arwana Perak. Kadangkadang, Arwana Perak juga ditemukan di sungai yang mengalir deras. Jenis ini
juga termasuk tipe mouth brooder yang melindungi telur dan juvenil-nya di dalam
mulut. Telur Arwana perak tergolong besar dibandingkan jenis Arwana lainnya.
Saat ini dikenal 3 varian Arwana Perak berdasarkan warna sirip punggung, sirip
anal dan sirip ekornya, yaitu: varian Pino/Pinoh (Greytail silver), Banjar Kuning
(yellowtail silver/Yellow Banjar) dan Banjar Merah (Redtail silver/Red Banjar).

Varian sirip hijau/abu-abu memiliki daerah sebaran di Sungai Melawi dan Pinoh
(anak Sungai Kapuas) sehingga kadang-kadang varian ini disebut juga
sebagai Arwana Pino. Sedangkan 2 varian lainnya, yaitu sirip kuning dan sirip
merah, diketahui hanya memiliki sebaran yang terbatas di Sungai Barito
Kalimantan Tengah dan Kalimantan Selatan.
Harga Arwana Pino sedikit lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan Arwana hijau, varian
yellowtail sedikit di atas Arwana Pino. Sedangkan harga Banjar Red tergolong
paling mahal di antara semua varian Arwana Perak
Studi genetik menunjukkan bahwa Arwana Perak memiliki hubungan kekerabatan
yang paling dekat dengan Arwana hijau dibandingkan dengan jenis arwana lainnya
(Pouyaud et al. 2003).

The silver arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum), sometimes spelled arawana, is

a freshwater bony fish of the familyOsteoglossidae, commonly kept in aquaria. The
generic name Osteoglossum means "bone-tongued" and the specific
namebicirrhosum means "two barbels" (from the Greek language).
This South American species is found in the Amazon Basin and in
the Rupununi and Oyapock Rivers, as well as in still waters in the Guianas.
This fish has relatively large scales, a long body, and a tapered tail, with the dorsal and
anal fins extending all the way to the small caudal fin, with which they are nearly fused. It
can grow to a maximum size of 90 cm (35 in).[1] Unlike the black arowana, the silver
arowana has the same coloring throughout its lifespan.
The species is also called 'monkey fish' because of its ability to jump out of the water
and capture its prey. It usually swims near the water surface waiting for potential prey.
Although specimens have been found with the remains of birds, bats,[2] and snakes in
their stomachs, its main diet consists of crustaceans, insects, smaller fish, and other
animals that float on the water surface, for which its drawbridge-like mouth is exclusively
adapted for feeding.
Arowanas are sometimes called 'dragon fish' by aquarists because their shiny, armorlike scales and double barbels are reminiscent of descriptions of dragons in Asian
folklore.
The silver arowana is currently not listed on any CITES appendix [3] nor on the
2004 IUCN Red List.[4] It is one of the most popular ornamental fish from South America,
however, and therefore its conservation status merits attention.[5]
As reported by Environment News Service in August 2005, shared use of the silver
arowana population was a cause for a dispute
between Brazilian and Colombian authorities. Juvenile silver arowanas are caught in
Colombia for sale as aquarium fish, while the people of Brazilian Amazonia catch adult
fish for food. A sharp drop in the number of arowanas had caused Brazilian authorities to
prohibit fishing of them between September 1 and November 15; the Colombians would
prohibit capturing them between November 1 and March 15.

[6]

The silver arowana is often kept as a pet by experienced aquarists, being considered an
accessible substitute for the Asian arowana, which is listed on CITES Appendix I and is
therefore difficult and expensive to obtain legally.