Southern saratoga (Scleropages leichardti) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Spotted saratoga, Spotted barramundi, Spotted Australian arowana
Family
Osteoglossidae (bonytongues)
Origin
Australia: the Fitzroy River system of central-eastern Queensland. Introduced to a few other systems in south-east Queensland.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
90 cm
Temperature
24–30°C
pH
6.8–7.5
Hardness
Medium, 8–15 dGH
Minimum tank
1000 litres
Care level
expert
Temperament
territorial
Lifespan
10–20 years years

Care

The southern (spotted) saratoga is rare in the hobby and usually expensive. It can reach 90–100 cm, though around 55 cm is more usual. An absolute minimum for an adult is a 180 × 60 × 60 cm tank (about 650 litres); plan for 1,000 litres or more. Water: 24–30 °C, pH 6.8–7.5, 8–15 dGH. In the wild it lives in still and slow-flowing water, near the surface or close to the shore among plants, and copes with water up to 40 °C in summer. Keep the water clean and stable with good filtration. Cover: a heavy, tight-fitting lid is essential, as saratogas are powerful jumpers. Identification: smaller scales than the Asian arowana and duller colouring, with spots on its body. Not listed by CITES. Listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN (assessed 2019). Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Scleropages-leichardti.html); Seriously Fish (seriouslyfish.com/species/scleropages-leichardti/). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Surface predator: in the wild it eats aquatic and land insects, fish, frogs and crayfish. In aquariums: earthworms, gut-loaded mealworms, waxworms, crickets, prawn, mussel, bloodworm and floating pellets. Feed young fish (under 30 cm) small amounts several times a day; larger fish need one feed a day. No mammal or poultry meat.

Breeding

A maternal mouthbrooder: the female carries the brood, developing a white chin while incubating, and briefly releases and recalls the larvae as they grow. In the wild it breeds before the wet season at 20–23 °C. Breeding in aquariums is uncommon.

Compatibility and tank mates

Predatory: it eats smaller fish. Can live with some larger species, such as big catfish, characins, knifefish and cichlids, though some individuals will not tolerate any tankmates. Most are territorial towards other arowanas, so keep one.

Last updated 2 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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