{"product_id":"southern-saratoga-scleropages-leichardti","title":"Southern Saratoga | Scleropages leichardti","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA living fossil and one of Australia's most spectacular natives, the Southern Saratoga is a surface-cruising \"bonytongue\" predator that patrols the top of the water and leaps to snatch prey. This is a serious showpiece fish that commonly reaches 50 cm and can grow to around 90 cm, so it demands a very large, securely lidded aquarium and a long-term commitment.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eScleropages leichardti is native to the Fitzroy River system of Queensland, Australia, and has been widely stocked into impoundments. It inhabits still and slow-flowing pools, favouring the surface and mid-water among timber and overhanging cover, where it hunts by watching the surface film for movement.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA long, laterally compressed body clad in large, iridescent scales that glint pink, gold and green, each often marked with a reddish spot. The upturned mouth and paired barbel-like tips of the lower jaw sit at the very front of the head, built for surface feeding, while the long dorsal and anal fins sweep back toward a rounded tail.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA territorial predator that will eat any fish small enough to swallow and often bullies its own kind. Juveniles are sometimes grown in groups but usually must be separated as they mature. Best kept alone or with large, robust tank mates in a very spacious tank; it is not a community fish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA surface-oriented carnivore. Offer meaty foods such as prawn, fish fillet, earthworms, crickets and large floating carnivore pellets. Vary the diet and avoid a monotony of feeder fish, which risk disease and poor nutrition. It naturally takes food from the surface, so floating foods work well.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis fish needs a very large aquarium — a minimum of around 750 L for a growing fish and 1500 L or more for an adult, with a strongly braced, tight-fitting lid, as saratoga are powerful jumpers. Keep the temperature at 22–28 °C, pH 6.5–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water, with strong filtration, good oxygenation and gentle flow.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSouthern Saratoga are mouthbrooders: after spawning, one parent carries the large eggs and then the fry in its mouth for several weeks until they are free-swimming. Breeding in home aquaria is rare and requires enormous space and mature, well-matched fish; most are produced on specialist farms.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScleropages leichardti\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSouthern Saratoga, Spotted Bonytongue, Australian Arowana\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAustralia (Fitzroy River system, Queensland)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommonly ~50 cm; can reach around 90 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15–20 years or more with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePredatory, territorial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdvanced\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e750 L (juvenile to sub-adult)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1500 L or larger for an adult\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCarnivore (surface): prawn, fish fillet, earthworms, insects, floating pellets\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.5–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderately hard, around 5–15 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVery large native and monster-fish aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMostly (a surface predator, but large and disruptive)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates (in a very large tank) include other large robust species such as bigger native cod, larger catfish and sizeable cichlids too big to be eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with any small or slender fish that can be swallowed, and with other surface predators or conspecifics in cramped quarters.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232771457315,"sku":null,"price":175.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232771490083,"sku":"AA3569","price":199.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232771522851,"sku":null,"price":230.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-90cm)","offer_id":55351957389603,"sku":null,"price":265.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Southern_Saratoga.jpg?v=1781482311","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/southern-saratoga-scleropages-leichardti","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}