Arowana enclosure

AlaskaJammin · 08-16-2005, 8:03 AM

Whatsup from Alaska Everyone!

I have a 210 gallon tank with two foot and a half long black arowana

in it, and an assortment of bichirs, (endlicheri, buttikoferi

, albino senegalus, retropinnis, etc) I was thinking about building a heavy duty 5 foot tall screen canopy over the top of my tank, and lighting it with spotlights from outside the screen. This would give my jumpers plenty of room to jump around, worse that can happen is they get bounced back into a cross piece. This would allow for some interesting feeding options (small birds?

), as well as preventing the super agravating sucides. Those always piss me off, lost a foot and a half long ornate bichir that way.

Does anyone have any experience, advice, or comments on a setup like this? Id love to hear it. :feedback

Loubard · 08-16-2005, 12:30 PM

I'll think your better off with a normal hood, because if your arowana is comferteble in your tank he has no reason of jumping. Well the feeding, but you only do that because you think it is a spectacular site, and the arowana may hurt its self.

Besides your tank will be ****ing dark with the spots so high above the water, but if you don't mind its okey.

And if your arowana is 2 and a half foot long, your gonna need one hell of a firm hood!
And if your arowana is 2 and a half foot long, i wana see pictures!

WckedMidas · 08-16-2005, 12:43 PM

that would make a pretty cool hood. But i wouldnt do it with birds i was thinking lizards geckos or something but even then there droppings will fall in the watter and fowl it up. but for show and tell to throw coule bird snakes lizards in take some pics or do it while throwing dinner partys be cool. im useing a plastic sheet on one side my tank and glass hood on other side look like crap but works grweat

AlaskaJammin · 08-18-2005, 6:16 AM

Yeah I was hoping of some way to fix it so they dont hit the crosspieces. Mine dont jump to often, but since it is part of their naturual environments I thought it would be cool. Would never injure my fish just for entertainment. But i will feed them stuff

. Will try to get some pics online. Also im working on plans for a giant indoor pond, around 10,000 gallons, to try breeding black aros up here in AK. Sounds like a cool project to throw extra money at. Think if it worked? Any ideas for a good way to heat something so huge?

AlaskaJammin · 08-18-2005, 6:17 AM

And the spotlight I could put down low, but off to the side. SO I dont think it would be to dark.

EFeX · 08-18-2005, 6:37 AM

For my arowana tanks I use eggcrate dividers to prevent jumping & easy feeding.

sohfatfish · 08-18-2005, 6:45 AM

Sounds interesting... just make sure that the screen is sturdy enough so that the fishes cant jump out. Also make sure there is nothing that the arowana can injure itself on when is does jump. Pls post some pics if u do make this cover.

AlaskaJammin · 08-19-2005, 8:01 AM

Will do. Im purely in the theoretical stage at this point. I only have a 210 gallon tank, and I am seriously considering an upgrade to somethin bigger first. But its super hard to get big tanks up here.