Blood Red

Evidence rule: Trade and color designations are not separate species or proven parent–offspring pedigrees. Exact claims must be checked against cited studies and tagged farm records.

Identity and classification

Species: Scleropages formosus. Record kind: Red phenotype/market designation. Research grade: Literature-mentioned trade designation. This is not an independent species.

Geographic and historical origin

An Indonesian-associated commercial red label that may overlap with Chili Red and Super Red descriptions.

Appearance and diagnostic issues

Describes a highly saturated red presentation; dealer claims about first founders require dated provenance.

Genetics and lineage evidence

Blood Red is not a separate species and has no experimentally demonstrated unique inheritance path within this evidence set.

Sampling and scientific support

Named in research discussion, not independently chromosome-sampled as its own class. The 2023 direct comparison of five phenotypes found all sampled forms had 2n=50 chromosomes; it did not prove a unique strain-specific gene for any trade name.

Breeding and authentication

For a particular fish, require a PIT/microchip, lawful source documents, claimed breeder/farm, birth cohort, individual parent IDs or documented cross records where available. No advertised grade or photograph alone proves pedigree or genotype.

Care and conservation

As a large surface-oriented male mouthbrooder, Asian arowana needs species-appropriate secure housing and stable water; protected-wildlife trade and import requirements depend on jurisdiction. Do not solicit precise threatened wild collection sites.