Feed an arowana a varied, protein-rich diet built around floating pellets formulated for arowanas or other large carnivorous fish. Supplement the staple with appropriately sized shrimp, krill, worms, insects, or small fish. Young arowanas generally eat two to three times daily, while adults are commonly fed once daily; each meal should be finished within one to two minutes. Thaw frozen foods first and remove leftovers promptly to protect water quality.
Make a floating pellet the practical staple
Arowanas feed at the surface, so floating pellets or sticks are easier to observe and remove than sinking food. Singapore’s Animal and Veterinary Service recommends protein-rich carnivorous-fish pellets supplemented with animal-based foods, while the Merck Veterinary Manual recommends floating feed for surface-feeding fish and varying prepared and live foods.
Choose a product labeled for arowanas or large carnivorous fish, and select pieces the fish can swallow comfortably. A species-specific product is a reasonable convenience, not proof that it outperforms every alternative. For example, the manufacturer’s label for sera Arowana Pellets lists 38.0% minimum crude protein, 8.0% minimum crude fat, 4.3% maximum crude fiber, 7.0% maximum moisture, and 0.8% minimum phosphorus. Those are that product’s guaranteed-analysis figures, not established requirements for every arowana.
Use prey foods for variety, not as an unbalanced default
Suitable supplemental foods include shrimp, krill, worms, insects, and small fish. PetMD includes live, frozen, and freeze-dried fish, insects, worms, and shrimp among possible foods. Offer prey that matches the individual fish’s mouth size and remove anything it does not eat.
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#1 Best Overall
- Floating Pellet Design: These fish pellets float on the water surface, making feeding easier and allowing you to monitor your fish's eating habits
- Enhanced Color Vibrancy: Contains Astaxanthin to promote vibrant colors of the fish within a short time, bringing out their natural beauty
- Natural and Safe Formula: No artificial hormones added to protect the health of your fish and ensure their long-term wellbeing
- High Digestibility: Easy to digest formulation that reduces water pollution effectively, maintaining cleaner and healthier aquarium conditions
- Cichlid Family Specialized: Designed especially for aquarium fish that belong to the Cichlid family including Arowana, Oscars, Flower Horns, and Red Parrots
| Food type | Best role | Important handling or safety point |
|---|---|---|
| Floating arowana or large-carnivore pellets | Formulated staple | Choose a size the fish can swallow and observe whether it floats and is eaten promptly. |
| Shrimp or krill | Supplemental variety | Thaw frozen portions completely; remove leftovers. |
| Worms | Supplemental variety | Use appropriately sized items from a reliable aquatic-food source. |
| Insects | Supplemental variety | Do not give young fish insects with sharp or hard shells. |
| Small fish | Supplemental variety | Do not assume feeder or “trash” fish are nutritionally complete or risk-free when used as the sole diet. |
The Smithsonian’s silver arowana diet in managed care includes aquatic gelatin diet, smelt, shrimp, insects, and worms. That supports variety but is not a home-aquarium feeding protocol, and a silver arowana is only one species.
How often and how much to feed
Young arowanas
PetMD’s arowana care sheet recommends feeding young fish two to three times per day. Give a small portion at each meal and stop when the food is consumed within one to two minutes.
Rank #2
- High Palatability : A blend of wild sword prawns, akiami paste shrimp, vegetables and seaweed. A perfect 9:1 meat/vegetable protein ratio and well balance nutrients for carnivore cichlids, oscar fish, peacock, bass, arowana, Pufferfish, and all other large picky tropical fish
- Superior Quality Ingredient : All natural protein from fresh meat, vegetables and seaweed. No additives, no artificial flavors or coloring, no byproducts and other harmful ingredients. Made from carefully selected ingredients
- Natural Coloration: The Ultra-enhanced formulation of natural seaweed, Australian spirulina, and premium fresh sword prawns enhances the natural coloration of your monster fish, presenting them in their most natural and vibrant colors
- Healthy Growth Formula : Rich in calcium and vitamin D. It's not only tasty but also keeps cichlids healthy! Jam-packed with a variety of vitamins (A, C, D3, E, B1, B2, B6, B12) great for growth, keeping color vibrance and boost immunity
- 3 Million CFUs/g Probiotics : 3 million CFUs/g probiotics are within the food to help dissolve fish excrements, residuals and keeps water clean. Probiotics also increase the feed conversion rate, improve immune system and gut health
Adult arowanas
The same care sheet recommends feeding adults once daily. Adjust the amount to the fish’s appetite, body condition, activity, and the quantity actually consumed rather than treating a fixed scoop or pellet count as universal.
These schedules are practical care guidance, not controlled feeding formulas proven for every arowana species, size, or aquarium. Merck notes that some carnivorous fish capable of large meals may be fed once or twice weekly, but that broad advice does not replace the arowana-specific schedule above.
Rank #3
- High Palatability : A blend of wild sword prawns, akiami paste shrimp, vegetables and seaweed. A perfect 9:1 meat/vegetable protein ratio and well balance nutrients for carnivore cichlids, oscar fish, peacock, bass, arowana, Pufferfish, and all other large picky tropical fish
- Superior Quality Ingredient : All natural protein from fresh meat, vegetables and seaweed. No additives, no artificial flavors or coloring, no byproducts and other harmful ingredients. Made from carefully selected ingredients
- Natural Coloration: The Ultra-enhanced formulation of natural seaweed, Australian spirulina, and premium fresh sword prawns enhances the natural coloration of your monster fish, presenting them in their most natural and vibrant colors
- Healthy Growth Formula : Rich in calcium and vitamin D. It's not only tasty but also keeps cichlids healthy! Jam-packed with a variety of vitamins (A, C, D3, E, B1, B2, B6, B12) great for growth, keeping color vibrance and boost immunity
- 3 Million CFUs/g Probiotics : 3 million CFUs/g probiotics are within the food to help dissolve fish excrements, residuals and keeps water clean. Probiotics also increase the feed conversion rate, improve immune system and gut health
Prepare food so the fish can eat it safely
- Size the portion. Offer pieces that the individual fish can ingest without struggling.
- Thaw frozen food first. Do not drop a frozen block into the aquarium.
- Feed at the surface. Floating food lets you see what is eaten and makes removal easier.
- Watch the meal. The target is complete consumption within one to two minutes.
- Remove leftovers. Net out uneaten food instead of allowing it to decay.
For young arowanas, avoid insects or invertebrates with sharp or hard shells, as advised by PetMD. Never refreeze food that has thawed.
Protect water quality after feeding
Uneaten food and fish waste can drive ammonia upward. The Animal and Veterinary Service warns that ammonia spikes can harm fish health and welfare, so a short feeding window and prompt cleanup are part of the diet—not an optional aquarium chore.
Rank #4
- High-Protein Nutrition for Carnivorous Fish - Formulated with 55% protein to provide balanced daily nutrition for carnivorous tropical fish. Supports normal growth, body condition, and overall vitality for Arowana, Oscar, Catfish, Pleco, and other large aquarium fish.
- Color-Enhancing Formula - Made with Astaxanthin and Spirulina to help maintain vibrant natural coloration. Enriched with essential vitamins and nutrients to support healthy skin, scales, and overall appearance.
- Floating Pellets for Easy Feeding - Floating pellets (1.5–2.5 mm) remain on the water surface, making feeding easy while encouraging natural feeding behavior. Suitable for fish that prefer surface feeding.
- Supports Healthy Digestion - Contains a blend of vitamins, minerals, and digestive-support ingredients that promote efficient nutrient absorption and help maintain overall fish health.
- Clean Water Floating Formula - Designed to float without quickly dissolving, helping reduce excess waste in the aquarium when fed as directed. Suitable for daily feeding 1–2 times per day. Net Weight: 100 g.
Store dry feed in a pest-proof container in a cool, low-humidity place. Merck’s broad storage guidance says to discard opened commercial dry feed kept at room temperature after two months, opened commercial feed kept in a freezer after six months, and commercial frozen feeds after one year. Follow the food’s own label if it specifies a shorter period.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should feeder fish be the main diet?
Feeder fish can be one component of a varied diet, but the available evidence does not establish them as an ideal sole food for home aquariums. A 2025 Aquaculture International study of juvenile silver arowanas examined commercial feeds and frozen trash fish; its introduction notes that trash fish can have variable nutritional composition and may carry disease or water-quality risks in aquaculture settings. Farming conditions and juvenile silver arowanas do not translate into a universal household feeding rule.
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- Higher levels of carotenoids promote brilliant colors
- Perfectly balanced to offer a daily diet most top-feeding carnivores love
- Free of unwanted parasites and bacteria which are common with live foods
- Stabilized vitamin C to support immune system health
A formulated pellet provides a more consistent nutrient source, while prey foods add variety. If you offer fish, use appropriately sized, sound food and continue monitoring appetite, waste, and water parameters.
Do not treat one protein percentage as an arowana law
Merck cautions that nutritional requirements are known for only a limited number of aquarium-fish species. A paper cited in the 2025 aquaculture article reports good growth and metabolism in early juvenile silver arowanas on a diet containing 45% protein and 8% lipids, but that study-context result is not a target for every pet arowana, species, or life stage.
Compare foods by whether they float, whether they are formulated as a staple or intended as a supplement, their size and texture, the preparation they require, and your ability to remove leftovers. No independent brand ranking or head-to-head retail-food test establishes one universally best product.
When a feeding problem may be illness
Contact an aquatic or exotic-animal veterinarian if appetite decreases for more than one day, or if the fish also shows abnormal swimming, protruding or cloudy eyes, rubbing, white spots, abnormal fins, raised scales, or other unusual behavior or appearance. Loss of appetite can be an early sign of illness rather than simple pickiness.
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- Keep a suitable floating pellet as the regular food.
- Offer appropriately sized shrimp, krill, worms, insects, or small fish as supplements.
- Feed young fish two to three times daily and adults once daily as a starting care schedule.
- Limit each meal to what disappears within one to two minutes.
- Thaw frozen food, avoid hard or sharp prey for young fish, and never refreeze thawed food.
- Remove leftovers immediately and monitor water quality.
- Change the plan with professional advice if appetite or behavior becomes abnormal.
For general fish-care and water-quality guidance, see the Animal and Veterinary Service fish-care guidance, the Merck Veterinary Manual review of fish nutrition, and PetMD’s arowana care sheet.
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