Do you guys remember the tragic paima that was lost in August when i tried to move two paimas to outdoor set-up populated by gars and RTCs? One was munched http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=161954 and the other one had to be moved back inside and fed some more?
Well, now it was moved back about a month ago and now he rules the outdoor set-up.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166873
Check out the size difference between him and the RTCs as of end of September. There is no way RTC can eat him now. Paima basically cleaned out all the remaining feeders and now dominates the feeding time when the food is 'inhaleable' by it (shrimp, small frogs and fishes). It still does not do snakelike-swallowing trick, probably feels exposed when a large frog or fish is stuck in its throat while 3 gars circle it.
I will be moving the remaining paimas out in mid October. Currently building a 1x1x1m mesh box to suspend within a larger set-up while they grow some more and get climatized to unsalted water (RTC might just to snack on them while they are in shock from moving).
The coloration is coming along nicely too. From a drab dark green all over it has now a colorful tail and scales are turning orange/red
PS: this exprience does show that arapaima gigas grows at quite crazy speed so all potential owner beware - it gets big FAST
Well, now it was moved back about a month ago and now he rules the outdoor set-up.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=166873Check out the size difference between him and the RTCs as of end of September. There is no way RTC can eat him now. Paima basically cleaned out all the remaining feeders and now dominates the feeding time when the food is 'inhaleable' by it (shrimp, small frogs and fishes). It still does not do snakelike-swallowing trick, probably feels exposed when a large frog or fish is stuck in its throat while 3 gars circle it.
I will be moving the remaining paimas out in mid October. Currently building a 1x1x1m mesh box to suspend within a larger set-up while they grow some more and get climatized to unsalted water (RTC might just to snack on them while they are in shock from moving).
The coloration is coming along nicely too. From a drab dark green all over it has now a colorful tail and scales are turning orange/red
PS: this exprience does show that arapaima gigas grows at quite crazy speed so all potential owner beware - it gets big FAST
