Types of Arowana Fish in India: Silver, Golden, Red & More
A field guide to every arowana variety sold in India, from the ₹1,500 silver to the ₹12,00,000 super red, with the legal facts on Asian arowana ownership.
All arowanas share the same ancient body plan: a long, muscular surface swimmer with a drawbridge mouth, two barbels, and huge coin-like scales. But the species behind that shape differ enormously in origin, temperament, legality, and price. Here is every arowana type you will actually encounter in the Indian market, and how to tell them apart.
Arowana Types at a Glance
| Type | Origin | Adult Size | Price in India (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Arowana | South America (Amazon) | 60-90 cm | ₹1,500 - ₹12,000 |
| Black Arowana | South America (Rio Negro) | 50-80 cm | ₹3,000 - ₹15,000 |
| Jardini (Australian) Arowana | Australia, New Guinea | 45-60 cm | ₹5,000 - ₹20,000 |
| Green Arowana | Southeast Asia | 60-75 cm | ₹8,000 - ₹25,000 |
| Red Tail Golden (RTG) | Sumatra, Indonesia | 60-90 cm | ₹15,000 - ₹60,000 |
| Golden Crossback (Malaysian) | Malaysia | 60-90 cm | ₹25,000 - ₹3,00,000 |
| Super Red Arowana | Kalimantan, Borneo | 60-90 cm | ₹80,000 - ₹12,00,000 |
South American Arowanas: Silver and Black
The silver arowana is the arowana most Indians own: legal without paperwork, captive-bred in volume, and stunning as it matures into a metre-long ribbon of chrome. It grows fast (a 4-inch juvenile can hit 2 feet within a year) so plan the 6-foot adult tank before you buy the cute baby. The black arowana looks similar but juveniles carry a black band and yellow stripe; adults turn dark silver with subtle purple-blue tones. Blacks are a little more delicate as juveniles and cost slightly more.
Jardini: The Australian Arowana
The jardini (pearl arowana) is the compact, attitude-heavy member of the family: a bronze body with crescent-shaped pink-gold flecks on each scale. It stays smaller than silvers but is famously the most aggressive arowana; most keepers house a jardini strictly alone. Because it is not a CITES Appendix I species, it is a legal way to own an arowana that looks far more exotic than a silver.
Asian Arowanas: Green, RTG, Golden Crossback and Super Red
All Asian arowana varieties are one species, Scleropages formosus, split into colour strains by river of origin. The green arowana is the entry point, with a silvery-green body and darker head. The red tail golden (RTG) from Sumatra shows gold scales rising partway up the body with red-tinted fins and tail. The golden crossback from Malaysia is the premium gold: its scale shine crosses fully over the back, and high-grade 24K specimens glow like jewellery. The super red from Kalimantan deepens from orange juvenile tones into full blood-red fins and scales over 3 to 5 years, and show-grade adults are among the most expensive aquarium fish on earth.
⚠️Legal note: Asian arowana (green, RTG, golden crossback, super red) is a CITES Appendix I species. Legal specimens must come from registered captive breeding farms with a CITES certificate and an implanted microchip whose number matches the paperwork. Uncertified Asian arowana are illegal to import, own, or sell in India. Silver, black, and jardini arowanas need no such certification.
Which Arowana Should You Buy?
- First arowana on a budget: silver arowana. Hardy, legal, spectacular at ₹1,500 - ₹5,000 for a juvenile.
- Something different without paperwork: jardini, if it can be the only fish in the tank.
- Serious keeper ready for certified stock: RTG offers the best gold-per-rupee; crossback and super red are collector territory.
- Every type needs the same hardware: a 6 x 2 x 2 ft tank for adults, strong canister filtration, 24-30°C water, and a heavy, tight-fitting lid, because every arowana jumps.
Kolathur Fish Market keeps silver and jardini arowana in stock year-round and periodically sources certified Asian arowana with full CITES documentation. If you are unsure whether a deal elsewhere is legitimate, ask for the certificate and microchip number first; genuine sellers expect the question.