If you have ever walked into a Malaysian shop, restaurant or terrace house and seen a long, silver-gold fish gliding slowly in a big tank near the entrance, you have met the arowana. In feng shui, the arowana 龙鱼 (lóngyú, “dragon fish”) is the fish most closely tied to wealth and protection in Chinese business culture. Traditionally it is placed in a large tank in the wealth sector or facing the entrance diagonally, kept quiet and well cared for, and bought only through legal channels.
As a feng shui 風水 (fēngshuǐ) practitioner I am asked about the arowana almost as often as about the wealth corner. My honest answer is that the arowana is a rich piece of folk symbolism and a demanding pet, and the symbolism is a tradition, not a guarantee. Below I explain where the belief comes from, the types and colours, the legal and ethical side, how to place a tank, single fish versus groups, basic care, the myths, and a light note on 2027.
Why the Arowana Is Tied to Wealth
The arowana’s reputation rests on its appearance more than on any classical text. I should be upfront here: you will not find the arowana in the old Bagua and Luopan manuals. Keeping one as a wealth fish is a folk practice that became popular in Southeast Asian and Greater China business circles, and its exact origins are not documented well enough for me to give you a tidy history. What I can give you is the reasoning that families and shop owners themselves offer.
- It looks like a small dragon. The dragon 龙 (lóng) is the supreme auspicious creature in Chinese culture, linked to authority, water and success. The arowana’s long body, large armoured scales and the two small barbels at its chin, which resemble a dragon’s whiskers, make the comparison easy. This is also why the fish is sold under names like “dragon fish”.
- The scales resemble coins. Large, overlapping, metallic scales catch the light like gold pieces. Wealth symbolism in Chinese culture often works through resemblance, and this is a clear case.
- It leaps. The arowana is known for jumping out of the water to take prey. Many people read this as a picture of rising, of climbing up, much like the carp leaping the Dragon Gate in a well-known Chinese story.
- It is seen as a guardian. Owners often describe the fish as a quiet protector of the premises, patrolling near the entrance and “watching” over those who come and go. This is imagery, not a mechanism, but it is a comforting one for a shop owner who opens the door each morning.
If you would like the wider logic of why a Water feature is linked to money at all, my feng shui wealth corner guide explains the Bagua position of wealth and how Water, Wood and movement are read in classical practice.
Types and Colours of Arowana
At a general level, people speak of two families. Details of species and grading are the business of aquarists and licensed dealers, so I will stay with the symbolism.
Asian arowana. These are the fish in the wealth tradition. They are sold in several colour forms, most commonly red, gold and green. Many owners treat the colour as a clue to what they hope for:
| Colour | What it is traditionally said to represent |
|---|---|
| Red | Vitality, good fortune and festive energy; red is the classic lucky colour, so this form is the most associated with wealth and celebration |
| Gold | Prosperity and status, the colour of gold itself; popular among business owners |
| Green | Growth, steady progress and longevity; the quieter, more natural-looking form |
Treat the table as cultural association rather than a classical rule. Some families simply choose the fish they find most beautiful, which is a perfectly good reason.
Silver and black arowana. These come from South America and belong to a different group. Silver arowana in particular are more widely available and are kept by many people as an easier alternative. In wealth feng shui, the silver colour is read as Metal, linked to money and clarity, and some owners keep a silver or black arowana alongside the main fish. The black arowana is often described as a guard against negative influence, though I would call that a modern folk idea.
A Legal and Ethical Note
This part matters, and I would rather say it plainly than leave it out. The Asian arowana is a protected species and is listed under CITES, the international agreement that regulates trade in endangered wildlife. In practice, a legally traded Asian arowana should come with proper documentation, and in many places it is also identified individually, for example with a microchip and a certificate.
My advice, in plain terms:
- Buy only from licensed, reputable sources who can show you the paperwork for the specific fish.
- Check the rules that apply to you with the relevant wildlife authority in Malaysia, as requirements for keeping, registering and moving protected fish can change.
- If a deal sounds too easy, walk away. A fish with no papers is a legal risk for you.
- Be honest with yourself about commitment. An arowana can live for many years and grow large, so this is a long responsibility, not a decoration.
I do not recommend shops or breeders, and I will not name any. Your best guide for the purchase and the paperwork is a qualified aquarist and the official rules, not a feng shui reading.
Where to Place an Arowana Tank
Once the fish is legally and sensibly in your home, the feng shui question is where the tank goes. Here is how I explain it to clients, using the ordinary principles of qi 氣 (qì) flow and the Bagua.
The wealth corner, with care. In classical Bagua practice the Southeast is the sector of wealth and abundance, and Water feeds the Wood element that governs it. This is why a tank in the Southeast of the living room is the most popular choice. If you are unsure how to find that corner in your own floor plan, read my Bagua map guide first, because a quick guess from the front door can be wrong.
Facing the entrance diagonally. Many practitioners prefer that the fish can “see” the main door but is not directly in line with it. A tank straight in front of the door sits in the path of incoming qi, while a position diagonally across the room is calmer, and calmer for a fish that is easily startled. Shops differ: some owners place the tank behind or beside the cashier, others to one side of the entrance. Both are common, and I do not think one is correct for every premises.
Living room and shop floor, not the bedroom. The living room is where the household gathers and where qi is meant to be active, which suits moving water. The bedroom is for rest, and the sound, light and humidity of a big tank work against that. See my feng shui bedroom guide for what a calm sleeping space looks like.
Away from the kitchen. Water and Fire are traditionally in conflict, and the stove is the household’s Fire. A tank right beside the cooker or in the kitchen is usually discouraged, and it is also impractical with grease and heat. My kitchen feng shui guide explains this relationship.
Not facing a toilet. Traditionally the toilet is associated with draining qi. A tank that looks directly at a toilet door, or sits on the wall behind it, is best avoided if you can help it.
Stable, quiet and well lit. Choose solid ground, ideally against a supporting wall and away from busy walkways and loud speakers. The light should be bright enough to see the fish clearly but not harsh, and the tank should not sit in direct, hot sun. These are also common-sense welfare points.
My home feng shui page gives the overview of how I assess a whole house, and my guide to living room colours covers the room around the tank.
One Arowana, a Pair, or a Group?
People ask me this constantly, and the truthful answer is that traditions differ.
Many practitioners and owners favour a single arowana, seen as a lone dragon guarding the home or shop, with no rival for the position of guardian. Others like to keep nine fish, because nine 九 (jiǔ) sounds like 久 (jiǔ), “long-lasting”, and is also the largest single digit. Some families like a pair or an even set because good things traditionally come in pairs.
I cannot point to a classical rule that settles the matter, so I will not pretend to. There is also a practical side that no tradition overrides. Arowana are known to be territorial and can be aggressive towards other fish, so what looks auspicious on paper may not be safe in a tank. Ask a specialist aquarist before combining fish of any kind.
Tank Care, Briefly
I am a feng shui practitioner, not an aquarist, so I will keep this at a high level and refer you to a specialist for any specifics. What I would say is that a healthy fish is a prerequisite for any feng shui meaning.
- Space. The arowana is a large fish that needs a large tank.
- Clean water. Good filtration and regular maintenance are essential; stagnant water is bad care and, in feng shui terms, bad qi.
- A tight lid. Arowana jump. A well-fitting cover is part of keeping the fish safe, and it also protects your home.
- Ask a specialist. For tank size, water numbers, feeding and any health concern, please consult an experienced aquarist or a vet who treats fish. I will not give figures or prices here.
Myths Versus Reality
A lot of arowana lore is repeated so confidently that it starts to sound like a rule. Let me separate a few ideas.
“The arowana takes the misfortune meant for you.” You will hear that if the fish falls sick or dies, it has absorbed a disaster on the owner’s behalf. This is a belief, and a comforting one for some families, but it is not a rule of classical feng shui. Fish become ill for ordinary reasons such as water quality, stress, injury or age. If your fish dies, look for the cause with an aquarist; do not read it as an omen about your finances or family.
“An arowana guarantees wealth.” It does not. No object, fish or placement produces income. Business results come from what you do, and feng shui is the supporting layer. If a seller or a fortune teller promises that a particular fish will bring riches, treat that as a red flag.
“If I do not have one, my wealth sector is incomplete.” Not at all. The wealth corner works through order, light and use. A clean, bright, lived-in Southeast with a modest water feature, a healthy plant or even just a tidy shelf follows the same logic. For the deity side of wealth traditions, many families also honour Choy San, the God of Wealth, which is a cultural practice separate from keeping fish.
Arowana and the 2027 Annual Stars
2027 is the Fire Goat year 丁未 (Dīng Wèi), and I will keep this note light, because the annual stars are only one layer of a home. For the full picture, see my feng shui 2027 guide.
In 2027 the Tai Sui 太岁 (Tài Suì) sits in the South-Southwest, the Year Breaker in the North-Northeast and the Three Killings 三煞 (Sān Shā) in the West. The traditional advice is to avoid noise, drilling and heavy renovation in those sectors. For a fish tank owner, that translates into a few easy points:
- If you plan to install a new tank, do it before or after construction work, not in the middle of it, and if another quiet position works, avoid the Tai Sui and Three Killings sectors.
- Remember that moving a large tank is a significant disturbance for the fish. If your tank is already well placed, keep it there rather than shifting it for the stars. A stable fish matters more than a perfect chart.
The Southeast carries the 8 White star in 2027, a steady wealth star, so a tidy, bright tank in the Southeast remains a reasonable choice for those who want one. Treat that as a gentle support, not a promise.
Common Questions
Is the arowana really a lucky fish? In Chinese and Southeast Asian folk culture it is regarded as a wealth and guardian fish, mostly because of its dragon-like appearance, coin-like scales and leaping nature. It is a tradition rather than a classical rule, and it does not guarantee any financial result.
Is it legal to keep an Asian arowana in Malaysia? Asian arowana is a protected species under CITES, and legally traded fish come with documentation. Rules on keeping and registering protected fish can change, so please check with the relevant wildlife authority and buy only from licensed sources who can show you the papers.
Which colour is best for wealth? Red and gold are the most popular because they match lucky and wealthy colours, while green suggests steady growth. These are cultural associations, so choose the fish you can care for properly and that you like.
Can I keep an arowana in the bedroom or kitchen? Traditionally, no. The bedroom should stay quiet and restful, and the kitchen holds the Fire of the stove, which is read as opposed to Water. The living room or shop floor, away from a toilet door, is the usual choice.
Does it matter if the fish dies? It is sad, and worth understanding through an aquarist, but it is not a sign of coming misfortune. The idea that it took a disaster in your place is a belief, not a classical rule.
Should I keep one arowana or several? Practices differ: many prefer one as a lone guardian, some keep nine, and others a pair. Because arowana can be territorial, the safe approach is to seek the advice of a specialist aquarist before adding any other fish.
Key Takeaways
- The arowana 龙鱼 (lóngyú) is associated with wealth because of its dragon-like look, coin-like scales, leaping nature and guardian imagery. This is folk tradition, not a classical rule.
- Red, gold and green Asian arowana carry different traditional meanings; silver and black arowana from South America belong to a separate group. Colour is a cultural association rather than a prediction.
- Asian arowana is protected under CITES. Buy only from licensed sources with documents, and check the local rules before you do.
- Place the tank in the living room or shop, ideally in the Southeast and facing the entrance diagonally, away from the bedroom, kitchen and toilet door. Keep it stable, quiet and gently lit.
- One fish, a pair or nine: traditions differ, and the fish’s own temperament matters more than the symbolism.
- Basic welfare comes first: a large tank, clean water, a tight lid and the advice of a specialist aquarist.
- The idea that the arowana absorbs your bad luck is a belief. In 2027, avoid noise and renovation near the Tai Sui and Three Killings sectors and keep a well-placed tank where it is.
If you would like me to read your Bagua, the right placement for a tank and the 2027 stars against your own floor plan, book a house feng shui consultation.
