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: Golden phenotype/market designation. Research grade: Literature-mentioned geographic trade designation. This is not an independent species.
Geographic and historical origin
Sumatra in Indonesia is the geographic association for the golden category, not certification that a sold fish was collected there.
Appearance and diagnostic issues
Golden body and contrasting reddish/orange tail are typical market descriptions; avoid extrapolating exact parentage.
Genetics and lineage evidence
RTG is not Malaysian Crossback and the two categories should not be connected by an invented direct parent-child arrow.
Sampling and scientific support
Listed in cytogenomics introduction as Red Tail Golden/Indonesian Golden; not a separately karyotyped subtype. 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.