A few random Arowana questions from new owner

[polish]

After watching mine swim around the last few days and doing a little research I have came up with a few questions/thoughts. Anyone feel free to chime in.

1. When people come over and see a 2ft + fish swimming around what do they typically say? I assume some may even be scared even though it's in a tank.

2. How in the funk do you clean the tank? I mean, you've got one very large fish or more inside the tank and you need to reach in to clean the filter intake or something. Are they tolerant of it or do they freak? With all my past fish they were small enough that they could swim to one side of the tank and hide. I can just see a huge Aro splashing around violently and causing a huge mess.

3. He is in a 75g now, in a year or less I'll upgrade and will need to transfer him. I am *hoping* for the stars to align and be able to get a new house by then also so when I move I can have the big tank setup at my new house and be able to bring him over and put him in. However that may not happen and I'll have to setup a huge tank in my duplex, not a huge issue but how you move a fish of such size is. Obviously the water parameters are going to have to be dead on because you can't do the typical slow acclimation when you can't even put him in a bucket. I don't even wanna try to think about netting a 1ft+ fish out of a tank, let alone when they get 2ft plus!! What do you all do?

 

[Miguel]

1- good luck, first of all.

2- as to cleaning and putting your hands in the tank, once it is accustomed to you should be no problem...just don't rush things and do not frighten the aro ( I am assuming it is a silver, don't ask me why ). Mine do not give a rats arse if I jump into the tank.

3- Do not surprise the aro by showing up near the tank without it perceiving it. Especially when it is dark. Leave some weak light on at all times near the tank, at least during the first days.

4- your tank is small. The smaller the tank, the more cornered and stressed they feel. Bear that in mind. It is in those conditions that thet are more apt to freak out and jump or hurt themselves agains the glass.

5- A big monster is perfectly "transferable " ( theer are several threads about that. When you get there, we will be here to assist.

Again, good luck.

 

[polish]

My tank is small but it's only 3.5" right now, it's like a mansion for now. However he will be put into a LARGE tank when the time comes.

Thanks for all your input, much appreciated. And yes it's a Silver, whom I think just got fin rot. I am heading to buy some treatment right now.

 

[Miguel]

My tank is small but it's only 3.5" right now, it's like a mansion for now. However he will be put into a LARGE tank when the time comes.

Thanks for all your input, much appreciated. And yes it's a Silver, whom I think just got fin rot. I am heading to buy some treatment right now.

I understood it was a 2 footer.

At that size provide it with some cover, some floating plants and leave it be for now..

how do you know it is fin rot? Show us some pixs befoe you rush to the medicines...

 

[polish]

Tank is well covered and I have no floating plants at the moment but I have a very large amazon sword which goes to the top of the tank.

I am not 100% sure but I am pretty sure. I have 5 small Cories (Gone to a new home in a week) in there and one has been showing some tattered fins with no explanation. I have been trying to figure it out and thats my guess. Now that the Aro is showing some fin symptoms I can only guess thats what it is. I read a few places online and it matches perfectly.

Here are some photos though, to see if you can tell.

After speaking with the expert at the LFS just now he suggested the following.

Aquarium Salt - He didn't say it would fix it but said it wouldn't hurt.
Neutral Buffer - Again he didn't say it would fix it but it can't hurt type of thing just to make sure the Ph is stable.
I already had the Melafix in my hand, he said it should do the trick as well as other sources online.

Also stated none of the above would hurt anything, so even if there is not fin rot adding all of the above will not hurt the cause.

It *is* possible my Chocolate did it but he has been gone since last night and I think it looked a little worse today which is also why I think it might be Fin Rot and not fight damage. Either way the meds are supposed to help heal no matter the cause.

 

[BIGgourami]

one tip for cleaning the tank.. dont dangel your fingers aorund the surface.. it puts them into 'feed mode'... i learned this with my lionfish, you need to get at least your whole hand in the water before they think your fingers are food...

people see some of my 5'' fish and think they are huge.. then they see the oscar and almost ****e themselves.. i dont know how they'd react to a 3 foot aro

as for teh 'fin rot' looks ore like shipping damage or jumping damage to me.. my O regularly recieves sratched and cuts and bump cause he can't learn to keep his @$$ in the tank

 

[polish]

Well here is a photo from the day I got him, no damage. So I know it at least happened under my care.

How big is your Oscar?

I did ask my LFS today if they can get Jardini and Black Arowana and he said they could.

I was also looking at some Red Tailed Cats and Tiger Shovelnose. Neat Fish.

Also asked about a 240g and he said around 1200 for tank only. phew!

 

[BIGgourami]

my O is 12-13"

240 sounds like an odd tank size.. i've heard of 210 and 220's and then it just seems to jump into the 300's

if it's a custom or something it will deftinatley cost more

 

[polish]

240g is the same as a standard 180 just 6" taller but it makes a big difference.

He said a 180g setup was around 1200 total, with stand. I was just curious, not needed yet.

 

[rallysman]

240g is the same as a standard 180 just 6" taller but it makes a big difference.

He said a 180g setup was around 1200 total, with stand. I was just curious, not needed yet.

If I get the tank I'm planning on soon I'll have a 300g acrylic for sale. It's a bit scratched up but it makes a good aro tank.

As far as the fins I would add some salt and keep the temp mid 80s. (slowly increase if you have to). Feed it quality pellets and crickets.

People LOVE it when they see my silver. IME the bigger they get the calmer they get. He'll get to know you and the food bottle. My silver is pushing 30" and he's the first thing you see when you walk in the house. Definitely an attention getter

Congrats on the aro and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Edit: Don't mess with buffers or anything that alters parameters. You don't need them and it'll just cause more headache. Lots of small water changes will be best for that fish at this point. Water stability is very important for a silver that size.