Dragonfish

Scientific name: Scleropages formosus

Country: Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia.

Continent: Asia

Diet: Invertebrates, fish and other small vertebrates.

Food & feeding: Carnivore

Habitats: Freshwater

Conservation status: Endangered

Relatives: Spotted saratoga (Scleropages leichardti)

Description: Dragonfish are characterised by their large, vertically-positioned mouth and their pair of forward pointing sensory barbles on their bottom lip.. They have long bodies, up to 90 cm in length, with elongated fins and large, thick scales. Dragonfish have many teeth; on their jaws, tongues and even on the roof of their mouths.

Lifestyle: Dragonfish inhabit Asia’s slow-flowing rivers, forested swamps and wetlands. They are predominantly surface feeders, with the fry (young) feeding on insects and the adults feeding on small fish. Males are mouth brooders; they protect the eggs and fry by holding them in their own mouths.

Family & friends: This predatory species is aggressive towards others of its own species, although relatively indifferent toward other large fish.

Growing up: Breeding can occur throughout the year, but peaks between July and December. Mating is preceded by a long period of courtship and bonding that can last two or three months. The females (which have a single ovary) will lay about 30 eggs which, once fertilized, are picked up by the male in its mouth. The female then plays no further part in the rearing of her young. The male, however, will incubate the eggs in its mouth for between five and six weeks, by which time the young fry can attain a length of nearly 9 cm.

Conservation news: The dragonfish is held in high esteem in Asia, where it is believed to bring health, wealth, and luck to its owners. It is also much sought after by aquarists all over the world. The demand from the pet trade has led this fish to be currently classified as endangered by the IUCN.