African Aro Feeding

[Blakewater]

Tuesday I will be having a 12-13" African Arowana joining my tank. Over the last week I've done a lot of research on their husbandry and feeding but I see a lot of reports stating what to feed juveniles but many reports on what to feed adolescents seem to be conflicting. I understand their throat is very thin so no large pieces of food can fit. I also understand they are not actual filter feeders so much as they are detritovores and scavengers especially as they get bigger. I specifically got the biggest one I could find to keep the ease of adjustment to my tank as pleasant as possible for the fish. My question is two pronged: What have you fed your 12" African Arowana that worked well? Also, what is the biggest food you would suggest they could even accept at that size?

Thanks much

 

[Hao]

Tuesday I will be having a 12-13" African Arowana joining my tank. Over the last week I've done a lot of research on their husbandry and feeding but I see a lot of reports stating what to feed juveniles but many reports on what to feed adolescents seem to be conflicting. I understand their throat is very thin so no large pieces of food can fit. I also understand they are not actual filter feeders so much as they are detritovores and scavengers especially as they get bigger. I specifically got the biggest one I could find to keep the ease of adjustment to my tank as pleasant as possible for the fish. My question is two pronged: What have you fed your 12" African Arowana that worked well? Also, what is the biggest food you would suggest they could even accept at that size?

Thanks much

Small pellets, tilapia/smelts/shrimp diced up into small bits worked for me.

 

[Potato Patatto]

Very cool was deciding between an Afro or jardini and went with the jardini since it’s more mid/top water. I would have an assortment of cut up shrimp, trout worms, & black worms and see what he’s interested in. Based on my own research at 12 inches he’s far past the difficult 3x a day feedings. 1x or a morning/evening should be enough. Please let us know how he’s doing and pics!

 

[Blakewater]

Small pellets, tilapia/smelts/shrimp diced up into small bits worked for me.

okay cool so bits of tilapia and shrimp DO work. Itll fit right in then certainly. Do they often slurp up at the top of the water? My pellets are floating style

 

[Hao]

okay cool so bits of tilapia and shrimp DO work. Itll fit right in then certainly. Do they often slurp up at the top of the water? My pellets are floating style

Yeah. By the time, they are like 20"+, they should be okay with massivore size shrimp/tilapia/ pellets. As for floating pellets, its do-able. I've had african aros eat floating krills, but they definitely prefer eating off the bottom/sandsifting.

 

[Blakewater]

Yeah. By the time, they are like 20"+, they should be okay with massivore size shrimp/tilapia/ pellets. As for floating pellets, its do-able. I've had african aros eat floating krills, but they definitely prefer eating off the bottom/sandsifting.

Thanks for the help man, much appreciated