What are the differences in raising an African vs a Silver , Jardini or Black Aro?
Tank Setup?
More Fragile species?
Habits?
Disposition?
everything else?
Tank Setup?
More Fragile species?
Habits?
Disposition?
everything else?
African Arowana Differences
- Thread starter meiling
- Start date
There's a ton of info on the site if you perform a search. Here's a post I offered to another member:
The african arowana , Heterotis niloticus, is extremely difficult to keep alive as juvies in aquaria. They basically have to have food constantly available until they hit about 8" and their bodies start holding reserve fat. These are filter feeding fish that can reach 3ft in length.
I kept mine going by maintaining it in a bare tank with sponge filters. The sponge filters were beneficial in that they attracted food to their surface which the aro grazed on between feedings. Water chemistry is hard and alkaline with rift lake salts added to the tank. Water changes are every other day and sponge filters each are rinsed off on alternating days to keep spoiled food clear of the aros grazing areas. The tank receives direct sunlight to 1 side for an hour or 2 a day. The water is pretty green (to match their native waters). Once he hits a foot long, I'll probably move him from the 120 to the 360 and stop the sunlight/algae routine. Young can be kept together for only a short time before they become intolerant of each other and begin fighting. However, I have other small growout species in with my aro and he's never bothered them. These fish are active in all areas of the tank and are always on the move.
Foods consist of frozen bloodworms, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp plus, daphnia, cyclop-eeze, commercial dense culture crumbles, and mosquito larvae.
This is an awesome species if you can resolve yourself to being extremely busy on their maintenance for the first 6-8 months or so.
Now, my af aro is close to 20 inches. He's still friendly towards his tankmates. At his current size, he's also able to eat FD krill/plankton and arowana sticks. He's extremely active and uses every inch of the 650gal.
The african arowana , Heterotis niloticus, is extremely difficult to keep alive as juvies in aquaria. They basically have to have food constantly available until they hit about 8" and their bodies start holding reserve fat. These are filter feeding fish that can reach 3ft in length.
I kept mine going by maintaining it in a bare tank with sponge filters. The sponge filters were beneficial in that they attracted food to their surface which the aro grazed on between feedings. Water chemistry is hard and alkaline with rift lake salts added to the tank. Water changes are every other day and sponge filters each are rinsed off on alternating days to keep spoiled food clear of the aros grazing areas. The tank receives direct sunlight to 1 side for an hour or 2 a day. The water is pretty green (to match their native waters). Once he hits a foot long, I'll probably move him from the 120 to the 360 and stop the sunlight/algae routine. Young can be kept together for only a short time before they become intolerant of each other and begin fighting. However, I have other small growout species in with my aro and he's never bothered them. These fish are active in all areas of the tank and are always on the move.
Foods consist of frozen bloodworms, mysis shrimp, brine shrimp plus, daphnia, cyclop-eeze, commercial dense culture crumbles, and mosquito larvae.
This is an awesome species if you can resolve yourself to being extremely busy on their maintenance for the first 6-8 months or so.
Now, my af aro is close to 20 inches. He's still friendly towards his tankmates. At his current size, he's also able to eat FD krill/plankton and arowana sticks. He's extremely active and uses every inch of the 650gal.
Great info Oddball.
I love my African Aro. They are ugly as hell when it comes to color but the personality makes up for it
And yes you are correct that they have to constantly eat...eat...and eat.... He's great in my tank cause he's constantly shifting through my sand. He's defitnitly a great addition to my soon to be African Biotope type tank =-)
I love my African Aro. They are ugly as hell when it comes to color but the personality makes up for it
And yes you are correct that they have to constantly eat...eat...and eat.... He's great in my tank cause he's constantly shifting through my sand. He's defitnitly a great addition to my soon to be African Biotope type tank =-)
I Have a silver aro thats about 2 1/2 feet long and been wanting an african aro if someone could post some good pics and/or hook me up with some suggestions that would be awsome!
Thanks
Josh
Thanks
Josh
here is a OK pic what size tank do you have? and what size African arowana are you thinking about getting?
You're darn right, I am so sorry. I stand corrected,Oddball;481126; said:
ODDBALL HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD!!!!!! DINK! DINK!
