The flash flood that occurred in Garut a few weeks ago left a surprise in the form of three giant fish. It turned out to be a local resident's pet arapaima fish that was released.
In Indonesia, this exotic fish is usually only found in zoos. But lately many also keep arapaima fish in their private ponds.
So what is arapaima fish and where did it come from? Here are the scientific facts of arapaima fish that we have compiled from various sources:
Amazonian native fish
Arapaima fish, or whose scientific name is Arapaima gigas, is a freshwater fish that is commonly found in South America, specifically the waters of the Amazon and surrounding lakes and swamps.
Brazilians call this fish pirarucu, which roughly translates to red fish. While Peruvians know this fish by the name paiche.
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Arapaima fish are one of the mainstay sources of protein for people around the Amazon for centuries. The meat of this fish is usually dried and preserved by residents so that it can be stored for a long time without rotting.
The length can be up to 4 meters
The main physical characteristic of arapaima fish is its large size and length. In the wild, arapaima fish can reach 4 meters in length and weigh up to 200 kg. No wonder the arapaima fish is labeled as the largest freshwater fish in the world.
The arapaima fish has a broad, bony head. Its body looks slender with fins that run along its back. The head of the arapaima fish has a copper green color, the body is black with a white center, and the tail is red.
Because of their small gills, arapaima fish breathe air and can survive in rivers with low oxygen levels. These fish usually swim near the surface of the water in order to breathe, and can only stay underwater for 10-20 minutes.
So far, Arapaima gigas is believed to be the only species of arapaima fish that exists in the wild. But the results of recent studies show there are at least five or more species of arapaima fish.
The population is threatened
Because they often swim near the surface of the water, arapaima fish are often hunted by humans. The population in the Amazon waters was drastically reduced due to overfishing or overfishing.
But in recent years, fishing communities in Brazil have begun to introduce new management practices to prevent overfishing and increase arapaima populations.
The reproduction of the arapaima follows the flood season in the Amazon. When the dry season conditions and the water recedes, the female arapaima fish will make a nest at the bottom of the river to lay eggs.
Once laid eggs, arapaima fish can lay thousands of eggs. These eggs will only hatch when the rainy season begins, or around November and December.
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ferocious predator
This giant fish uses a 'gulper' strategy when looking for food. By opening its large mouth, this fish can suck up any food that is nearby.
The arapaima's main diet is other fish, but they can also eat fruit, seeds and insects. This fish is known as a fierce predator because it can swim quickly to help it jump from the water and prey on birds or lizards in trees.
Because of their enormous size, arapaima fish are the highest predators in the waters where they swim. The skin and scales are also very thick, even difficult for piranha fish to penetrate.
This fish is often found in other countries that are not their habitat, so it is feared to be an invasive species or a dangerous pest. Moreover, arapaima fish are also known as one of the fish species that can grow and develop very quickly.
As the main predator, arapaima fish introduced in new waters can threaten native fish populations because of their large appetite. As a result, native fish can be replaced by dangerous foreign fish.