Silver Arowana opening and closing mouth continuously and having white spot on eye

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Janardan

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 3, 2018
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Hello All,
I bought silver Arowana(5-6 inch long) 3 days ago and new tank. I observed that he is opening and closing his mouth continuously. Also having a white spot on his eye and little red on his gills. He is moving properly as well as eating properly. For food I am using live fishes. Having this problem from 2 days. Please find attached picture. Tank size is Length And Height = 19 inches and width 8 inch. Water changed in the morning IMG_20180103_211435_LI.jpg
Please suggest if any major needs to be taken.
Thank you.
 
Post your water parameters and it’ll help to start with.
 
Which parameters. I am new to this. This is my first tank and first fish.
Get a api liquid test kit and test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Check the water temp. How new is the tank? What ur filtration?
 
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Water temperature is 28 degree celsius. 3 days new tank. Tank have inbuilt filter. I have attached picture of filter.
Video for the same
IMG_20180103_225608.jpg
Get a api liquid test kit and test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Check the water temp. How new is the tank? What ur filtration?
 
Well you have a new and uncycled tank. Get some kind of dechlorinator and a test kit. Get a canister filter and fill with media of some kind.

Attach the canister filter and start with a water change plus dechlorinator and check the water daily.

You may have poor water quality (high ammonia/nitrite). Water changes will reduce this down to safe levels. The media will eventually hold bacteria but will take months. Add some bacteria in a bottle to the tank to jumpstart it.
 
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Reduce the temp down to 78 degrees or 25 degrees Celsius.
 
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Definitely ammonia. Hell of a first fish! Get ready to upgrade to a very large aquarium soon...my silver aro is less than 2 years old and already 26 inches long and very thick and massive. He is making my 8 foot long 370 gallon tank look small and will need to go into something bigger soon. For now keep up with the water quality, ammonia will kill your aro quickly. Large daily water changes will help for now. Read up on proper filtration in the filtration sub-forum for good ideas. Good luck...also be sure the aquarium is covered very tightly, aros WILL jump out of any small gap.
 
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All the advice given so far is great but personally i believe that the first thing you need to consider is.. that was not a good fish to start the hobby with no experience....
Silver Arowana grow VERY fast and if she is 6 inches and the tank 18inches, you going to need a bigger tank in probably 2 months's time
You will need at least a 1.5m tank to start... it should be ok for about a year... more or less.... then you will need a bigger tank again

Are you able to provide this?
If not, the best fast remedy is to take her back to the LFS now before you end up losing her and get some fish that are suitable for the tank to start off with
Later you can always get one again
Please Dont be offended... these are the facts...

If you decide to keep her, the advice given is good but i would get a bigger tank right now and a good filter.
The small volume of water in that tank makes it very difficult to keep the water good
As your tank is not cycled, i would add bacteria in a bottle, as was mentioned above.
In my country the Seachem products are readily available and very good so I usually use Seachem Prime or Safe to dechlorinate the water and Seachem Stability to help with cycling a new tank
Follow the instructions on the bottle
It will help cycle the tank and assist your arowana to cope.
It will protect her gills as well while the tank cycles and ease her breathing
 
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