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Scleropages jardinii

Australian Bonytongue (Scleropages jardinii)

Territorial
£442.99
Live arrival guaranteed. If they don’t arrive healthy, email us a short unboxing video the same day for a replacement or refund. Packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed.
£19.95 tracked delivery — half price (£9.98) from £100.00, free from £200.00. One delivery charge however many fish you add — everything travels together with a licensed live-animal courier.
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Australian Bonytongue (Scleropages jardinii), also sold as Jardini Arowana, for advanced keepers with very large covered aquariums and predator-fish experience.

Advanced CareArowanaFreshwater FishLarge Growing SpeciesPredatory FishRare SpeciesSurface Dweller

Care at a Glance

Scientific Name
Scleropages jardinii
Care Level
Advanced
Temperament
Large territorial surface predator
Temperature
24–30°C
Diet
Floating carnivore pellets, prawns, mussel, earthworms, crickets and suitable frozen foods

Water Parameters

Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors

Temperature
24–30°C
24°CIdeal30°C

Australian Bonytongue (Scleropages jardinii), often sold as the Jardini Arowana, is a powerful surface predator for very large covered aquariums. It has a deep metallic body, strong jaws and confident feeding behaviour, so it suits advanced keepers planning a long-term display around one large fish rather than a casual community setup.

Quick care snapshot

Scientific name Scleropages jardinii
Common names Australian Bonytongue, Jardini Arowana, Northern Saratoga
Adult planning size Often around 60 cm in aquariums, with a heavy predatory build
Long-term aquarium 1000 litres or larger, with length, depth and a heavy secure lid
Temperature 24-30°C
pH 6.5-7.5
Care level Advanced
Temperament Large, territorial surface predator

Who this fish is for

This is not a beginner centrepiece and it is not a fish to buy for a short-term grow-out tank without a real upgrade plan. Australian Bonytongues become strong, valuable predators that need stable water, protected tank lids and calm handling. They are best for keepers who already understand large-fish filtration, safe feeding, heavy water changes and how to plan tank mates around a dominant surface fish.

Good fit Poor fit
Advanced keepers with a very large covered aquarium Small community aquariums or uncovered tanks
Single-specimen predator displays Nano fish, shrimp or delicate slow feeders
Robust filtration and mature water New tanks with unstable ammonia or nitrite

Aquarium setup for Jardini Arowana care

Plan the aquarium around length, swimming room and safety. This fish can hit the lid hard, so the cover must be heavy, tight-fitting and checked after maintenance. Keep the layout open through the upper water, with robust decor that cannot scrape the fish if it turns quickly. Strong biological filtration is essential because large carnivores produce heavy waste, especially when eating rich frozen or meaty foods.

Setup point Practical target
Lid Heavy, secure and gap-free; jumping risk is high
Filtration Oversized biological filtration with steady oxygenation
Decor Robust roots or smooth hardscape, leaving open surface room
Maintenance Regular large water changes and nitrate control

Feeding Australian Bonytongue naturally

Use a quality floating carnivore pellet as the staple, then rotate in prawns, mussel, earthworms, crickets and suitable frozen foods. Avoid feeder fish; they can introduce disease, encourage poor feeding habits and are rarely a balanced diet. Young fish may need smaller floating foods at first, while larger specimens can be conditioned onto prepared foods with patience.

Food type Use Notes
Floating predator pellets Staple Best daily base once accepted
Prawn, mussel, earthworm Rotation food Feed controlled portions only
Crickets or safe insects Behavioural enrichment Useful for surface-feeding response
Feeder fish Avoid Disease and nutrition risk

Tank mates and temperament

Many Australian Bonytongues are best kept as the main specimen. If tank mates are attempted, choose robust fish too large to swallow and avoid anything that nips fins or damages barbels. Large plecos, large catfish and some robust cichlids may work in carefully planned systems, but individual temperament matters. Do not mix this fish with small tetras, livebearers, shrimp, delicate gouramis or nervous community fish.

Important large-fish warning

Do not judge long-term suitability by the size shipped today. A small Jardini Arowana still needs a credible adult plan, a secure lid and enough budget for large-fish filtration, food and water changes.

Size options, arrival and guarantee

This listing can include more than one size option when stock allows, so check the selected variant before checkout. Livestock is packed carefully and sent by licensed live-animal courier where live-animal shipping applies. Follow the receiving and acclimation instructions to keep the Live Arrival Guarantee valid. New customers can use WELCOME10 when the order is eligible, but the main decision here should be whether your aquarium is already suitable for a large predator.

Before ordering Check
Tank lid No gaps around cables, corners or feeding holes
Tank size Long-term adult housing planned, not only a temporary grow-out
Food Floating predator pellets and varied meaty foods ready
Tank mates No small fish or delicate species in the same aquarium

Related large predator fish and foods

Compare other surface and predator species such as Silver Arowana, Silver Albino Arowana, Blue Arowana, Saddled Bichir, Reedfish / Ropefish and Freshwater Butterflyfish. For feeding support, see Tropical Cichlid & Arowana Large Sticks.

Australian Bonytongue FAQ

Is Australian Bonytongue the same fish as the Jardini trade name? Yes. Scleropages jardinii is widely sold as Australian Bonytongue, Jardini Arowana or Northern Saratoga.
Is this fish suitable for beginners? No. It is an advanced large predator for keepers with a secure, mature, very large aquarium.
Can it live with small community fish? No. Small fish are likely to be eaten, and delicate tank mates can be stressed or injured.
Why is a lid so important? Arowana-type fish are powerful jumpers. A loose or gappy lid is one of the biggest husbandry risks.

Customer Reviews

No reviews for this item yet. Bought one? Honest reviews only, good or bad.

What customers say about ordering from us

  • 4 out of 5Verified buyer

    I have a small group of long finned mountain minnows. So was delighted to be able to order ten of this variety to increase the genetics in my tank . The ones I recieved are healthy but it’s to early to give a verdict on wether they are of a long finned type since they are small currently.

    Gordon Walker · 23 Sept 2026

  • 5 out of 5Verified buyer

    100% success travel and "installation". Pleased with quality of purchase. The Siamese fighter a bit "shy" so have not yet seen him at his best yet but looking good. Happy customer. GG

    George E Garratt · 21 Sept 2026

Reviews of our shop, collected by Judge.me, an independent third-party review collector. Newest first.

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