How Much Does an Arowana Cost? Prices by Variety
In the US, an arowana is one of the more expensive freshwater fish you can buy, and the variety decides how expensive. On FishyHub, the Black and Jardini arowana sit in the collector / premium price tier, while the Silver arowana is the most affordable option, in the upper mid-range. The famous red and gold Asian arowana are not part of the US market at all, because federal law bars their import.
Key Findings
- FishyHub marketplace data shows arowana as a category sit in the collector / premium price tier in the US.
- FishyHub data shows the Silver arowana is the most affordable arowana listed in the US, in the upper mid-range tier with a wide price spread.
- On FishyHub, Black and Jardini arowana sit in the collector / premium price tier in the US, with limited supply.
- FishyHub data shows the Silver arowana has moderate supply in the US, making it the easiest arowana to find on the marketplace.
- FishyHub data shows new listings for Black, Jardini and Silver arowana in the US are all rising.
- FishyHub's US arowana listings include only South American and Australian species; Asian arowana do not appear, reflecting US import restrictions.
- FishyHub search data shows "arowana" is among the most searched terms on the marketplace.
Arowana Price Tiers in the US
FishyHub tracks arowana by species. Here is how the varieties with enough US listings compare, in alphabetical order.
| Variety | Origin | Price tier | Supply | Price spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arowana (category as a whole) | Mixed | Collector / premium | Limited | Not enough data |
| Black Arowana | South America | Collector / premium | Limited | Not enough data |
| Jardini Arowana | Australia and New Guinea | Collector / premium | Limited | Not enough data |
| Silver Arowana | South America | Upper mid-range | Moderate | Wide |
Why You Won't Find a Super Red in the US
Many people searching for arowana prices have seen photos of red, gold or crossback arowana. Those are colour forms of the Asian arowana, which is listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act. Even though captive-bred Asian arowana are traded legally in parts of Asia, they cannot be imported into the United States for the pet trade. That is why FishyHub's US listings are made up of the Silver, Black and Jardini arowana, and why prices quoted in Asian sources do not apply to US buyers.
What Drives Arowana Prices in the US
The Silver arowana: farmed and collected in volume
The Silver arowana is the arowana most US keepers start with. It is a mouthbrooder from the Amazon basin, and young fish reach the trade in good numbers each season. On FishyHub, that shows up as moderate supply and an upper mid-range price, below the other arowana. Its price spread is wide because a small juvenile and a large, well-finned adult are very different purchases.
The Black arowana: seasonal and delicate
The Black arowana comes from the Rio Negro and is mostly available as wild-collected juveniles during a short season. Young fish are fragile and need careful handling and shipping, so supply is limited and prices sit in the collector tier.
The Jardini arowana: the Australian alternative
The Jardini, sometimes called the pearl or northern barramundi arowana, is native to northern Australia and New Guinea. It is related to the Asian arowana, which makes it the closest legal relative for US keepers, and it has a reputation as a tough, sometimes aggressive fish. Limited supply keeps it in the collector tier.
Size, condition and shipping
Arowana grow long and are sold at every size from juvenile to adult. Larger fish need bigger boxes, more water and more careful packing, so shipping weighs on the total cost. Missing scales, drooping eyes and damaged barbels lower a fish's value, so condition counts as much as species.
Supply and Momentum
Arowana are a small, specialist corner of FishyHub's US marketplace. Supply is limited for the category and for the Black and Jardini varieties, and moderate for the Silver. The US market on FishyHub is new, so it does not yet have order history to compare demand with supply.
What it does show is direction. New listings for all three US varieties are rising, which suggests more merchants are bringing arowana to the marketplace. Interest in the fish is clearly there: "arowana" is among the most searched terms on FishyHub, and the misspelling "arrowana" appears too.
The Real Cost of Keeping an Arowana in the US
The purchase price is the smaller part of the bill. Before you buy, budget for:
- A very large tank. Arowana are surface-swimming predators that need long, wide tanks. Most keepers end up with a custom or very large aquarium, far beyond a typical home setup.
- A heavy, sealed lid. Arowana jump, and a gap in the lid can be fatal.
- Heating. Arowana are tropical fish. Outside the warmest parts of the South & Southeast zone, most US homes need a heater for much of the year, and a big tank needs more heating power.
- Filtration and water changes. A large predator produces a lot of waste.
- Food. Adults eat substantial meals of insects, prepared foods and other proteins.
Buying online versus a local fish store
Many local fish stores carry the occasional Silver arowana, but Black and Jardini arowana are harder to find in person. Buying online widens the choice, with fish shipped overnight by courier in insulated boxes. Shipping costs rise with distance and box size, and remote areas such as the Alaska, Hawaii & territories zone generally cost more to reach. Check a seller's live-arrival terms before ordering a fish of this value.
Methodology
This page is based on FishyHub marketplace activity in the US over the period from October 2024 to October 2026. We looked at active arowana listings, listed prices, price spread between varieties, new listings over time and search terms. Findings are reported as tiers and directions (for example "collector / premium", "rising"), never as figures or prices.
The US marketplace is new and has no order history in this data, so we do not report purchases or demand for US arowana. Varieties with too few listings, and all Asian arowana, are not tiered. Search terms combine the US and Singapore markets. Notes on legal status, species biology and shipping are general hobby knowledge, not FishyHub data, and the data does not cover local fish stores or private sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an arowana cost in the US?
On FishyHub, arowana as a whole sit in the collector / premium tier. The Silver arowana is the exception, in the upper mid-range.
What is the cheapest arowana?
The Silver arowana. It has the most supply of any arowana on FishyHub in the US and the lowest price tier.
Can you buy a red arowana in the US?
No. Red, gold and crossback arowana are Asian arowana, which are protected under the US Endangered Species Act and cannot be imported for the pet trade.
Is a Jardini arowana a good alternative to an Asian arowana?
For many US keepers it is. It is a close relative, it is legal to keep, and it is hardy, though it can be aggressive and sits in the collector tier.
Do arowana need a heater?
In most US homes, yes. They are tropical fish and need stable warm water year-round.
How to Cite This Page
Source: FishyHub, "How Much Does an Arowana Cost? Prices by Variety" (2026), https://fishyhub.com/us/blogs/blog-detail/how-much-does-an-arowana-cost-prices-by-variety
