gEnetic rEseaRch

Quian Hu is working with the Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory of Singapore to perform the first genetic research on Arowana and their breeding habits. This has huge potential for our understanding of one of the most ancient species of tropical fish and also how we produce them commercially.
Mr Alex Chang is the primary research fellow working on the project and I had the pleasure of discussing his most recent findings with him relating to breeding.
Now with the ability to sex fish using DNA they are for the first time able to track and understand the breeding process that occurs with Arowana. Incredibly Arowana are both monogamous and promiscuous, some fish will partner for life whereas others will form lasting relationships but with four females or four males. Interesting it is also not always the same male who parents the eggs that collects them in their mouth for development. They have found often an unrelated male will collect the eggs and brood with them. There is no genetic reason for this and currently it is thought it may be a preparation for future mating or to impress females.
They are also attempting to explain the reason for Arowana breeding only being able to occur within a few degrees of the equator. It is believed that magnetic variations strongly effect the breeding of Arowana, as outside of this area they have no interest, but the same fish transported directly to the equator will breed rapidly.
This research marks a monumental occasion for Arowana breeding, allowing for specific strains or characteristics to be bred into the fish and also giving us the opportunity to learn some amazing facts about a species we truly know little about.