Origin
Native to the Amazon and Orinoco river basins of South America. Found in deep, slow-moving freshwater rivers and floodplains.

Visual & Behavioral Appeal
Broad, dark body with a bold white lateral stripe and vibrant red-orange tail. Whiskered mouth and powerful swimming style. Territorial, food-aggressive, and capable of gulping large tankmates whole.

Purpose
A showpiece fish for massive tanks, valued for its unique look, bold behavior, and role as a megafauna species. It provides scale and movement in public exhibits.

Importance
Often misrepresented in pet stores as a manageable species—its true value is as a public aquarium or advanced hobbyist specimen. Helps educate hobbyists on long-term responsibility and ethical fishkeeping.

Included Resources
Requires 1,000+ gallons, double sump filtration, strong aeration, soft sandy substrate, and rounded corners to reduce injury. A tight-fitting lid is essential due to breaching behavior.

Best Use Cases
Public aquariums, tropical biotope showcases, and custom-built ponds or reinforced tanks with advanced plumbing setups.

Conservation Context
Not endangered but often irresponsibly sold. Invasive risk if released into non-native habitats (notably Florida, Southeast Asia). Keeping them responsibly supports ethical aquatic education.

Ideal Aquatic Species
• None (best kept alone or with similarly large and robust tankmates)
• Silver arowanas
• Giant gouramis
• Large pacu (if tank is exceptionally massive)

Region (A)
• Latitude: -3.1326° S
• Longitude: -60.0170° W
(Near Manaus, Brazil — Amazon River Basin)

Region (B)
• Latitude: 7.8986° N
• Longitude: -67.4729° W
(Orinoco River, Venezuela — flooded lowland habitat)