ARAPAIMA colours

[TLkmDN]

how many types of colours to arapaimas come in??? or do they only have red scales???

[filiportela]

dark and redish ;)

[Zoodiver]

Depends on what you get. Poor water and poor light - you'll end up with a dark grey animal. Better conditions combined with good genetics and you'll get a medium silver with a nice red tail.

[DownUnder]

well the only gigas i've seen are silver and gold... basically... i've never seen a red tail or a dark and redish giga yet...

[Zoodiver]

Here's mine. Now that he's in a slightly darker tank, he has toned down alot.
His tail is getting redder all the time.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=105137&d=1183009156

[DownUnder]

**** mate! tat's a beautiful giga! i love uR monster! cheers!

[Zoodiver]

Thanks.

[mike999g]

That is a truely amazing fish!

[Mystix212]

I've only seen Pima's with red tails and black bodys. Same as above, but is there a gold/yellow variant?

[DownUnder]

hi Mystix... it's not really gold gold or yellow in colour... not like the colour tat we usually see on the golden x-backs or golden tat we see on aros... but more of a slight tinge of light gold across the bodies of the pimas... if ever u come by Singapore lemme know imma bring u 2 the Singapore Zoological Gardens... u get 2 see fantastic pimas there... cheers mate... =)

[bmxer4ever]

I hope they released them.....

[pirarucu319]

wow..nice specimen..i wonder if these giant can have some sort colour like their cousin, maybe blue..:D

[stormcatcher]

wow matt, that pima looks like a real beauty. do u handfeed it?

[Zoodiver]

wow matt, that pima looks like a real beauty. do u handfeed it?

When I have time. :D

[ESJBond007]

nice looking specimen..

[Death Pony]

Matt, that pima is a top notch specimen. Those golden ones that bmx posted look incredible!!!! I hope they released them too.

[dookie]

There is suppose to be a population from brasil that are red. perhaps this specimen is from there?http://pages.sbcglobal.net/dinan3/Livestock/arapaima2.jpg
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/dinan3/Livestock/P1010059.jpg

[Gr8KarmaSF]

Wow! great pictures!

[josefandtin]

Wow pimas pictures really temp me to buy one but of course i know i cant keep one right now. :(

[Razman]

Depends on what you get. Poor water and poor light - you'll end up with a dark grey animal. Better conditions combined with good genetics and you'll get a medium silver with a nice red tail.

well said
:iagree:

[Opiate]

i wish i had the room fer one... :( z00diver how many gallons ur tank?

[Zoodiver]

That was 145,000 gallons.
As far as we know, it's the second largest Amazon display in the world.

[rza_mib7]

Nice pics

[Karun]

I have seen a black body with white marking scale in Thailand .I think the called it white rose

[BaTsBR]

In what age they usually becomes more colourfull ??
My two pimas hava about 5 and 3 months, and the older one starts to show some spotss in his tail, not red, just grey.
In here, Brasil, the big ones I see have red color marks, never seen another color before.

[Karun]

In what age they usually becomes more colourfull ??
My two pimas hava about 5 and 3 months, and the older one starts to show some spotss in his tail, not red, just grey.
In here, Brasil, the big ones I see have red color marks, never seen another color before.
I think is quite difficult to tell the age when it will develope the colour.My is now 7" and the tail and body already shown red and i came across in my country there are few pieces the same size as mine develope 60% of red scale on it body and some big gigas also don't even have that much of red scale.It too bad the asking price is to high.It cost 5X for the normal one

[BaTsBR]

with just 7 inchs already has red scales ??? wow
mine is about 10 inchs and only some grey dots in his tail.
Even without the red scales, its a nice monster anyway.

[Karun]

with just 7 inchs already has red scales ??? wow
mine is about 10 inchs and only some grey dots in his tail.
Even without the red scales, its a nice monster anyway.
one of the breeder in my country told me that every fish will have red scale it only how much the red scale will cover the body.Don't worry the red will appear sooner or later

[s15240drifter]

That was 145,000 gallons.
As far as we know, it's the second largest Amazon display in the world.

what do you mean "was"

[jdamian13]

Today I purchased "what they told me" a Arapaima Giga, he is 4" long, they also had a 2-year old 16" one (he was black w/little red showing). I'm wondering if what I got is a Arapaima cause his colors are Top is light black, the side os the body (most of it) is Teal/Green and the bottom is whiteish w/tiger like spots on his face....
what do I have?... lol

[TLkmDN]

16'' at 2 years?? thats so small...:s mine grew to 2 feet in 8 months from 7''

[Zoodiver]

what do you mean "was"

"Was" - as in I set it up in the past. That's all.


As for color - there are several factors in arapaima. Some don't color up at all.
Genetics is the biggest part, diet is second, and environment is third. You need all 3 to get a great red color going.

If you get one with a set of color parents, you need a great diet to really bring out the color and good water chemistry and lighting to keep it showing.

jdamian13 - post a picture of it. Doesn't sound like an arapaima gigas.

[cichlaguapote]

Today I purchased "what they told me" a Arapaima Giga, he is 4" long, they also had a 2-year old 16" one (he was black w/little red showing). I'm wondering if what I got is a Arapaima cause his colors are Top is light black, the side os the body (most of it) is Teal/Green and the bottom is whiteish w/tiger like spots on his face....
what do I have?... lol

The one you purchased sounds like baby pima. Not sure on the 16"er as it should be far bigger in 2 years. But like Zoodiver said you should post a pic of it to be sure on the ID.

[LBathory]

zoo diver, is that a tank in your home? or do you work at an aquarium? either way, thats a beautiful pima and a beautiful amazon tank.

[Zoodiver]

Work set up I made. 2nd largest Amazon exhibit in the world (by volume), first largest (at the time) by species and number of fish.

[LBathory]

wow. that's amazing. where exactly do you work?

[Zoodiver]

I've worked several places, including with the largest freshwater fish tank in the world, and the two largest Amazon exhibits in the world.

[tangigi]

Matt,

How do they prevent the arapima from eating the smaller inhabitants in the tank? are they selective feeders?

Lar

[KuricX]

Hey Zoo Diver how many Gallons is that tank???

[Zoodiver]

Matt,

How do they prevent the arapima from eating the smaller inhabitants in the tank? are they selective feeders?

Lar

You must get them off of live food right away. It's much healthier to have them on prepared foods anyway. Most of mine would only eat right from my hand. They are also smart enough to learn when/where they are fed if you remain consistant with the time/place you feed. Doesn't take much at all, and soon they are there waiting at feeding time.
I can't say I've never lost a fish to an arapaima, but it is very rare. It comes with having a proper size set up, and enough cover for the other fish to feel safe in. Once all fish are in and settled, most small fish will swim right up along side the bigger ones.


Hey Zoo Diver how many Gallons is that tank???


Last Amazon I made was 145,000 gallons. I've also worked on/with a 200,000 gallon Amazon based display.

[limz_777]

the red variant is more of a common one

[TLkmDN]

prety sure red is the only colour

[johnptc]

Most of mine would only eat right from my hand. They are also smart enough to learn when/where they are fed if you remain consistent with the time/place you feed.



mine act more like dogs than fish.......... no shame in begging when they see me....even swim around trying to get my attention

[Zoodiver]

prety sure red is the only colour

Hobbyists refer to a 'gold' phase as well from time to time.



mine act more like dogs than fish.......... no shame in begging when they see me....even swim around trying to get my attention


For sure! They are fairly smart and know who gives them food.

[ctoychik]

In what age they usually becomes more colourfull ??
My two pimas hava about 5 and 3 months, and the older one starts to show some spotss in his tail, not red, just grey.
In here, Brasil, the big ones I see have red color marks, never seen another color before.

I agree with Karun, in time your gigas will show red/orange (it is just the matter of how much). I got mine and it had no colors at all (just dark green). It is starting to show coloring on the scales all over the body (not yet briliant red) and the tail definitely has red stripes developing.

Karun's version is exceptionally colored at such a small age. I have a lost a batch of paimas that were selected for their color during a cold spell in February (similar to Karun's) alas when i returned to the shop for more they had non-colored ones left (but i was assured that the color will come - and it is coming now).

Feeding paimas fresh fish (and prawns if you can afford it) DOES bring out the color better. My neighbor's paimas get brighter when he adds fish to their diet (on top of dog pellets)

[ctoychik]

mine act more like dogs than fish.......... no shame in begging when they see me....even swim around trying to get my attention

I second that. Paimas beg for food shamelessly like pet puppies (and follow you from one length of aquarium to another). Though, they hate when i clean the glass with the magnet thing .... freaks one of them real bad ... one of the reason the paima's tank is not so spotless =S
I don't get that reaction from silver aros or jardini (in fact, my silvers and jardini) tend to swim away ... the plus side is that sivers are quite docile during tank cleaning

[ctoychik]

.... For sure! They are fairly smart and know who gives them food.

Nah. Mines beg for food from any passer buys ^^

[Stinkiray]

Does the red scales of the pima grow in a specific pattern or does it cover the whole back of the pima?

[johnptc]

somewhat a random pattern... more near the tail less towards the head

[Savorp]

I have not read with colour cards,but spirit often shows me colours that relate to health issues and questions on what is the sex of my baby? etc

[Pharaoh]

I'm sure Li has a platinum pima. LOL

[Arapaimaman]

I have seen two pima's in the wild that where the red color on it,it was all white,no red at all.

Arapaimaman

[Hesh69]

when thy r small the tail is black n the front part is greenish.. red is the only colour iv seen so far.. i dont own a one..but certainly i hv seen so many!!! cheers

[Stinkiray]

So are there any ways to like, bring out the red in Arapaimas? Of course there are no confirmed(?) methods I guess...

[johnptc]

diet helps

[Stinkiray]

Umm, any suggestions?

[SimonL]

I hear feeding them Lucky Charms brings out a multi-coloured hue...

Seriously, red shelled shrimp and colour enhancing pellets (and additives) are the two most common.

[johnptc]

i use alot of hikari

[SimonL]

i use alot of hikari

I have this humorous mental image of you flinging unopened bags of Massivore to your Arapaima...

[johnptc]

I have this humorous mental image of you flinging unopened bags of Massivore to your Arapaima...

kg at a time but opened :)

[Stinkiray]

I hear feeding them Lucky Charms brings out a multi-coloured hue...

Lucky Charms? As in... the Luck Charms for breakfast?:eek:

[SimonL]

Lucky Charms? As in... the Luck Charms for breakfast?:eek:

I do hope people realize that was a joke, before emptying boxes of cereal into their tanks...

[Stinkiray]

Don't worry, mine only eats POST Banana cereals.:drool:

:ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::ROFL::R OFL::ROFL::ROFL:

But seriously, which Hikari food? I understand there are like, zillions of types out there.

[jardinios]

arapaima ftw

[ctoychik]

There are paimas with white markings. Red rose (or fire) is red - the ones usually seen on MFK. There is a white rose type - it has only white markings. I prefer the reds ones. I believe you can see these two types of color on johnptc youtube video (the one in thai language)

[mds148]

if the baby arapima black. then if he getting bigger he will get black and red tail or he can get gold with red tail color?

coz i'm thinking to buy one but the arapaima is in all black color. the size is about 18 cm..

[Yuan Hao Ma]

scarlet

[limz_777]

a yellow tail pima <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xTMozb-wNeM&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xTMozb-wNeM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[trojan09]

I'm sure Li has a platinum pima. LOL

lol i bet he does too...:ROFL:

[BenSow]

I thought the males were the red tailed ones? I read that every breeding season, the male will enhance its color. And Zoodiver what size is your tank? That is a beautiful pirarucu and a huge tank!