Arapaima

	;
	Image gallery
Real-world info
	Name: Arapaima gigas; (arapaima); Family: Arapaimidae (bonytongues)
Main appearances
	DnM DnM+ AC DnMe+ iQue; WW CF NL NH
Other appearances
	Film HHD aF PC
	Names in other languages ピラルク; 피라루쿠; Pirarucù; Arapaima 巨骨舌鱼; Arapaïma; Pirarucú; Arapaima 巨骨舌魚; Arapaïma; Pirarucú; Арапаима

←

(43) Gar

New Horizons fish

Saddled bichir (45)

→

New Horizons fish
← (43) Gar	→ Saddled bichir (45)

The arapaima (ピラルク, Piraruku) is a river fish that appears in the summer. It appears between 4 PM and 9 AM. It is a very rare fish, making it the third most expensive river fish (10,000 Bells), after the Stringfish and Dorado and tied with the Arowana (which it is related to). Its shadow size is huge; similar to the Tuna and Stringfish, and likewise, it is the largest river fish. In the 'Bugs and Fish' window in City Folk, it is the last river fish. The fish is the second largest fish in the game, after the Shark at about 550 centimeters and it is tied for length with the Ocean Sunfish.

Catch details

In Animal Crossing

#40

"WOW!!! I caught an arapaima! This thing is huge!"

DnM / iQue

DnM+

AC

DnMe+

Time of year^{[nb 1]}	Jul – Sep
Time of day	4 PM – 9 AM
Location	River
Shadow size	Huge
Selling price	10,000 Bells
Feng shui	None
Furniture size

In Wild World

#35

"I caught an arapaima! It's big... and kinda gross!"

Description	The largest freshwater fish in the world, they poke their heads above water to breathe.
Time of year	Jul – Sep
Time of day	4 PM – 9 AM
Peak times	N/A
Location	River
Shadow size	Huge
Fish size	300 cm
Rarity	Rare
Selling price	10,000 Bells
Furniture size

In City Folk

#37

"I caught an arapaima! It's about time-a!"

Description	The largest freshwater fish breathe by poking their heads above water.
Time of year	Jul – Sep
Time of day	4 PM – 9 AM
Peak times	N/A
Location	River
Shadow size	Huge
Fish size	About 120 in.
Rarity	Rare
Selling price	10,000 Bells
Furniture size

In New Leaf

#41

"I caught an arapaima! And it looks like it's in its prime-a!"

Time of year	Jul – Sep
Time of day	4 PM – 9 AM
Peak times	N/A
Location	River
Shadow size	Huge
Fish size	300 cm
Rarity	Rare
Selling price	10,000 Bells
Furniture size

In New Horizons

#44

"I caught an arapaima! How did it get here? Arapaiknow!"

Time of year	North: Jun – Sep South: Dec – Mar
Time of day	4 PM – 9 AM
Location	River
Shadow size	Huge
Rarity	Rare
Spawn requirement	Catch 50 total fish
Selling prices	Nook's Cranny: 10,000 Bells C.J.: 15,000 Bells
Furniture size

Donating to the museum

In Animal Crossing

Blathers will say this when an arapaima is donated:

"My word! I've never seen such a tremendous specimen! A fish such as this is found only once in a great while. A true rarity among rarities! Extraordinary! Top notch! This, we will treasure, I assure you. Cross my heart and hope to molt. Hoo!"

In Wild World

Blathers' speech is as follows when the Arapaima is donated to the museum:

"You might think a fish this big might not be appetizing, but it's simply delicious! The arapaima used to be abundant, but overfishing has sadly made them rare. One has to wonder how many species must suffer to satiate the world..."

When donated, it is in the second tank in the first room.

Blathers will give this speech upon donation dialogue.

In City Folk

"My, it is massive, isn't it? Not just large, but the largest river-dwelling fish in the world, it's said. Records indicate a specimen some 200 inches (5 meters) in length has been sighted before... Looking at it now, the theory that this fish hasn't changed in 100 million years seems believable!"

This fish, when donated, will appear in the middle right tank.

In New Leaf

An information board in the aquarium will display this description about the arapaima after donation:

"Arapaima, at over two yards long, are one of the largest freshwater-fish breeds in the world. They've been around for over 100 million years, making them rather ancient fish as well. They breathe through gills but also with an air bladder used by poking their mouths above water. They have hard,coarse tongues that are used to break down the smaller fish they eat."

In New Horizons

When donating to Blathers or selecting "Tell me about this!" in New Horizons, he will provide the following information about the fish:

"The stately arapaima is quite large. Indeed, it is among the largest freshwater fish there are. Furthermore, these fascinating fish make quite the family unit. That is to say, male arapaimas protect their young by holding them gently in their mouths. Meanwhile, female arapaimas swim circles around these full-mouthed fathers fending off predators. It simply goes to show that cold-blooded creatures can be heartwarming too."

Once donated to the museum, the arapaima can be found in the jungle tank in the first exhibit room sharing it with the saddled bichir and arowana.

Fishing Tourney

During a Fishing Tourney, when given a arapaima, Chip will say the following dialogue.

In City Folk

"I wonder how many people a whole arapaima would feed? Gotta be a lot! Nyuuuk nyuk nyuk nyuk!"

In New Leaf

"I wonder... How many people does a whole arapaima feed, anyway? Just look at the size of it! Heck, even I can't down this in one go, even if I wanted to! Which I DO!"

Gallery

For more images, view this subject's gallery.

Animal Crossing
Animal Crossing: Wild World
Animal Crossing: City Folk
Animal Crossing: New Leaf
Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Real-world information

A real-life arapaima

The arapaima is the largest freshwater fish in the world and it can be found in the Amazon River which is in South America. It is sometimes called the pirarucu or paiche. This fish can grow to about 3.2 metres, but normally about 2 to 2.5. The supposed maximum length is 4.5 metres, although this comes from an early 19th century second-hand report, and it has not been confirmed.The arapaima male is supposed to be a mouthbrooder, meaning the young are protected in its mouth until they are older. The female arapaima helps to protect the male and the young by circling them and fending off potential predators. Arapaimas breathe air and get their red coloring from their diet of red crusteceans.

Names in other languages

	ピラルク piraruku	From Brazilian local name "pirarucu", derived from Tupi words meaning "red fish"

	피라루쿠 piraruku	From Brazilian local name

	巨骨舌鱼 jùgǔshéyú	Lit. "large bony-tongued fish"

	巨骨舌魚 Unknown

	Арапаима Arapaima

	Arapaima

	Arapaima

	Pirarucú	From Brazilian local name

	Arapaïma

	Pirarucù	From Brazilian local name