File :-(, x, )
Need some advice MoonNoodles !/RDa1B/y1o
Okay, so I found out about Arowanas and basically fell in love with the fish. So today I finally bought myself a baby one that's at about 2 and a half inches in length.

Thing is, I've never had one before so I was wondering if I could get some good advice on how to "properly" take care of one.

Right now, I'm starting it off in a basic 10 gallon tank which the fish shares with a Pleco, a Columbian shark, and a Spotted shark which are all about a quarter of an inch smaller than the Arowana itself.

Eaten habbits wise, I'm not too sure what it eats, as a baby anyway. I was told to feed it cichlid pellets for now but it doesnt seem to be able to fit the things in its mouth, (it swallows and spits them back out.), and smaller pellets it doesnt seem to even notice so I'm kind of at my wits end here.

Also, its color is green and silver, but I thought they're color was totally silver. Is that supposed to be its color in its early years or could it be something else?

Thanks in advance.
>> Anonymous
Arowana come in different colors.
Some are even red and very expensive.
You'll need a huge tank for this fish, since it's going to be huge too.
Better start saving money now for that.

They jump, so you'll need a tank with a strong cover.
They can breathe air, so, make sure they can!

Food: Try everything: flakes, bloodworm, water flea, pellets, later fish, meat, etc.
Also calculate that it will be expensive to feed a fish this big.
>> Anonymous
that fish looks fucking delicious

seriously, I want to eat that
>> Anonymous
you are aware that this fish is going to get big mclarge huge, right?
>> MoonNoodles !/RDa1B/y1o
>>109157
Thanks for the tips I appreciate it.

>>109167
Yeah I've heard about how big they can get. This one lady I know told me she had one once at about 4' long.

But yeah within a month or two I'm going to get a 150 gallon tank from a friend but until then I think it'll be fine, it isn't exactly that big just yet.
>> Anonymous
I've read anything under 250 gallons is far too small for an arrow

shame on you for impulse buying a rather advanced fish. it'll die, etcetera. Have to wonder what the fishperson was thinking when they even sold it to you
>> MoonNoodles !/RDa1B/y1o
>>109282
It was Petsupermarket they obviously didn't care =\
>> Anonymous
..oh.

:c I swear if I knew how to punch a company in the face...
>> Anonymous
Enjoy your eventual giant monster fish that will eat all of its tankmates and likely outgrow everything within your price range. Research before buying next time.
>> MoonNoodles !/RDa1B/y1o
>>109290
Well I did some research. I know I was gonna need a big ass tank before anything.

As for the tankmates... they're pretty much gonna be used for appetisers anyway.
>> Anonymous
>Right now, I'm starting it off in a basic 10 gallon tank which the fish shares with a Pleco, a Columbian shark, and a Spotted shark which are all about a quarter of an inch smaller than the Arowana itself.

wow.
>> MoonNoodles !/RDa1B/y1o
Okay well I'm taking it that at this point, even as a baby, it still needs a fuck load of room.
>> Anonymous
I've owned a silver arowana and I have learned a few things about keeping them.

Obviously ou will need a very large tank! The ten gallon will due while it's still a juvenile, but they grow fairly fast so you should be getting that 150 set up pretty soon so you can start the month cycle and get the tank ready for your new friend. If you don't know how to cycle a tank, google it. Arowanas are sensitive to Ph as well, so you'll have to mind that, but don't overtreat the water as many beginners do. Find a place out of direct sunlight, without a lot of human traffic. Arowanas spook easily, and they can injure themselves when they jump (which some do quite often). When it gets bigger, keep heavy things on top of the cover or else you'll come home do a nice dried arowana on your floor one day.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
The 150 should do for a while, but you might have to upgrade to a 250 after it reaches full size. Don't put any decorations or wood (drastically lowers Ph, btw) or rocks or stupid crap in your tank. A lot of good arowana tanks don't have any substrate at all (gravel, sand, etc) because its much easier to clean out waste. Arowanas are river fish... they need fresh water! You should be doing partial water changes quite often, at LEAST weekly.

Move the pleco with it (or buy a big one, they are cheap and cool fish) to do some housekeeping. Another good tankmate is the siamese tiger fish, or dat as they are commonly referred to. They look cool, are usually pretty mellow, and won't be devoured or bullied (due to their size).

(here's a shot of my dat with the arowana in the background)
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
About the coloring, you might own a black arowana instead of a silver. But silvers have quite a color variation as well. You can see the pink highlights on my wild caught silver here! Other species of arowana can be gold, green, red, etc. But they are expensive, with nice specimens running about 5 grand!!

Aros are damn cool fish to own, and are very relaxing to watch. When it gets larger you should be feeding it live worms (like mealworms) and feeding time is quite entertaining. It will recognise you and really chomp those wormies. Avoid golfish as they can carry disease and are quite fatty (bad for your fish). Good luck!
>> Anonymous
Oh and a bout baby food try baby crickets? should be able to get those at your good local fish shop (find one, you'll be there often!). Finding a good LFS is key(especially one that deals with larger freshwater and predatory fish).
>> MoonNoodles !/RDa1B/y1o
>>109753
Wow thanks a bunch man, that was the kind of advice I was lookin for.

So far, I took all of the fish out except the pleco. I also took out a big rock and a skull I had in there and now it has a lot more space. I also added some potted plants because I heard somewhere that Arows like that or something, (if thats even correct.).

I used my friend google about that month cycle and apparently, I did it without knowing just what the hell it was. When I started this little tank about two months ago I added a few of those cheap fish so I think it should've been okay by now.

Anyway, thanks again for the advice, especially about those goldfish because I was told that they love them. Geez, the three full grown Arows they had at this petsupermarket were getting fed those about every day =\ poor things...
>> Anonymous
...Jesus christ that thing is going to get big. I can't imagine how you'll afford half of the stuff for it.
>> Anonymous
arwanas is an aggressive fish, they'll attack and eat fish smaller than them, so it is much better to have one arwanas per tank, no ornaments either, leave your tank empty, nothing but water and the arwanas itself
although there are some who said that you can group arwanas with other fished, i would not recommend you do so


arwanas eat mostly bugs as far as i know
they eat crickets, grasshopper, centipede, even small fish

maintain the water quality to perfection if needed, they die easily if the water quality drops

check these links for more information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arowana
http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Oddball,%20Arowana.htm
http://www.articlefishtalk.com/Article/Keeping-Arowana/174
http://www.arofanatics.com/
>> MoonNoodles !/RDa1B/y1o
>>110300
I guess that would mean the gravel too. It would make sense, and make the tank easier to clean. thanks.
>> Anonymous
I heard about a guy losing his fishtank because his arowana spooked and broke the whole deal.