TARPON 25cm

The Australian tarpon, also known as the Indo-Pacific tarpon Megalops cyprinoides. It is one of only two true tarpon species worldwide (the other being the Atlantic tarpon, M. atlanticus).

This species is a sleek, silvery fish with a bluish-green or olive back, large silvery scales, and a deeply forked tail. It features a very large mouth with a protruding lower jaw, big eyes and has a powerful, athletic build suited for speed and jumping. They gulp air at the surface regularly.

In Australia, you can find them in tropical and subtropical extend into freshwater systems, particularly in northern and eastern regions (e.g., up to New South Wales). Freshwater, brackish, or marine all work (they thrive across the spectrum).

TANK: Provide long and unobstructed swimming space. Minimal decor or structure—tarpons are flighty and can crash into rocks, plants, or glass when startled. A tight-fitting lid is essential in a very large custom setups or ponds minimum for a sub-adult/adult approaching 1 m+.

TANK MATE: Tarpons are generally peaceful toward fish too large to eat.

Early on, they may coexist with other large, robust species. Large brackish fish like scats, archerfish, certain cichlids, gars, or Datnioides—provided they are too big to swallow and can handle similar conditions. But plan for a species-only.

FILTRATION: Pristine water quality with very low nitrates via massive filtration and frequent large water changes. Heavy biological and mechanical filtration; excellent oxygenation. They are messy eaters and produce significant waste. Feed every other day to manage water quality.