Help! First time Arowana keeper! Hes floating head up tail down

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Ekorider

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 20, 2020
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Have you tested your water?
Yes
If I did not test my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.
Do you do water changes?
Yes
If I do not change my water...
  1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.
Hi, I'm a first time arowana keeper. Did (what I thought was a reasonable amount of reasearch) before purchasing a 8 inch arowana last week. For the first few days everything was great. Swimming, eating, no fighting with tank mates. His starter tank is a 75 gallon, while I finish building a 1,00 gallon tank at my home. I've done daily water tests since putting him in, with results as follows
Ph 7.1
Carbon hardness 75
Alkaline 126
Nitrites 0
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0
His previous owner fed him feeders and worms, so I continued to do that myself. Yesturday he was hiding the corner of the tank, did not eat, but did not run from me when i approached the tank. This morning i found him head at water tail low. I have moved him into a hospital tank, and treated the tank with bactrim and melaflix. What do I need to do? I waited to buy him until I was sure I could take care of him, and he is not my first monster fish. Please help.

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I’d lower the water level so the fish stay upright and not splash around too much. Kept the water clean. Reduce the lights.
 
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Welcome aboard

Tbh something is seriously wrong with the Silver Arowana and you should have a positive reading for Nitrate. A reading of 0ppm means that your aquarium is not cycled would suggest retesting Nitrate. How long has the aquarium been setup?
Also feeding live un quarantined feeders is like playing Russian Roulette with your fish most feeders carry harmful pathogens and parasites that can be passed on to your Aro.
 
Last edited:
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tlindsey said:
Welcome aboard

Tbh something is seriously wrong with the Silver Arowana and you should have a positive reading for Nitrate. A reading of 0ppm means that your aquarium is not cycled would suggest retesting Nitrate. How long has the aquarium been setup?
Also feeding live in quarantined feeders is like playing Russian Roulette with your fish most feeders carry harmful pathogens and parasites that can be passed on to your Aro.
Click to expand...
The aquarium has been set up for almost two months. I'm using api test strips and a api ammonia test. I e been told about the worry with feeders, but had trouble getting him to eat anything else. I'll test again when I get home from work. The tank has a large sponge filter, a hang on back and a 30 gallon sump. The hang on back was added as an after thought.
 
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tlindsey said:
Welcome aboard

Tbh something is seriously wrong with the Silver Arowana and you should have a positive reading for Nitrate. A reading of 0ppm means that your aquarium is not cycled would suggest retesting Nitrate. How long has the aquarium been setup?
Also feeding live un quarantined feeders is like playing Russian Roulette with your fish most feeders carry harmful pathogens and parasites that can be passed on to your Aro.
Click to expand...
Bought new test strips. Tested old tank, nitrates at 60ppm nitrites at 9. Getting ready for a water change rn. My aro is still alive in his medical tank, and have just changed his water. He is still head up tail down, but has eaten a couple of the cichlid flakes I put in for him. Any other help to offer?
 
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Ekorider said:
Bought new test strips. Tested old tank, nitrates at 60ppm nitrites at 9. Getting ready for a water change rn. My aro is still alive in his medical tank, and have just changed his water. He is still head up tail down, but has eaten a couple of the cichlid flakes I put in for him. Any other help to offer?
Click to expand...

I recommend floating pellets.
 
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