Introducing lake/river caught fish into my aquarium.

They need very different conditions from an Arowana, and have very different temperaments. Putting aside the different temperature, water, etc requirements consider the following:
A Blue Catfish would need a larger tank, and would end up snacking on the arowana.
A Bass would harrass the arowana, and outcompete the arowana for food.

Your best bet is to set up a 500+ gal unheated pond for the natives. Problem solved all-around.

I've seen several studies on North American species (both freshwater river and lake fish) and on salmon. Parasites are extremely common (at least two-thirds of the fish.) Diseases would be incremental to that total.


As for best methods, you need to acclimate the fish to the water pH and temperature which may take a while. The higher temps will likely accelerate the growth cycles of whatever it is carrying and allow you time to treat it. I would use a full month for wild caught fish although it's likely that with the right medications you could shorten that. However, when adding wild caught specimens to an existing tank with fish I prize, I tend to be very conservative.


This assumes the fish are good matches for your existing tank which is altogether something else.

When I had natives they all had anchor worms when I caught them. Most of them got a mild case of ich when introduced into aquarium water, even though the other inhabitants were totally fine.

Quarantine them first. That's my advice. I did mine in rubbermaid totes with sponge filters for a few weeks. Lots of waterchanges. Good water quality will make alot of things (non parasite related) just "work them selves out" from my experience

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