Many of us are familiar with the Asian Arowana – perhaps better known to some of us as the dragonfish. Considered an auspicious symbol of luck and fortune in many areas of Southeast Asia, the Arowana is highly valued and, depending on the quality and pattern of its scales, just one fish can easily be worth a few thousand dollars.
Gold Arowana variety.
However, what most of us may not know is that the Arowana is considered an endangered species. This beautiful fish, if not carefully managed and protected, could become another victim of both habitat destruction and the international aquarium trade, as with the red-tailed black shark.
The red-tailed black shark is one example of fish that has been pushed to extinction or near extinction (at least in the wild) partly due to high demand in the aquarium trade.
This blog will hopefully provide more information on the Asian Arowana, the threats it faces, some future challenges and what measures are being taken to ensure this marvel of nature continues to exist in both our tanks and in its natural habitats.