African Arowana's Unite!!!

[Madding]

It seems to me that the African Arowana (Heterotis niloticus) doesn't get nearly enough love on this forum. I want to know who has these gentle giants, as well as see some pics!

How about size, age, tank mates, tank size, etc? Tell me everything!

For newcomers, here is the Definitive Guide for the amazing, extravagent African Arowana: http://aquaticpredators.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=11173 (co-written by our very own E_americanus!)

I own a 13"-14" African Arowana. Will update with pictures and more specs when I get home from work.

Let's get the ball rolling!

 

[xander]

my arfo can be seen in the link in my siggy

 

[Madding]

Very cool. Much shinier than mine. Is he still a juvi, then?

 

[xander]

yep, right around 5" now. i've grown out 2 12"ers in the past but got rid of em

 

[jlnguyen74]

I currently have one at 14" or so. Don't ever think that African arowana is gentle giant! I had one in the past that beat a Jardini at same size African arowana won't tolerate bully!

 

[Madding]

Yeah... when I said gentle I meant in regards to not eating other fish unless they're super tiny. . Mine has a nasty tail swat that leaves its tankmates running.

 

[olllie]

Excuse my language but
O Cool O Cool O Cool O Cool
Finally someone who's bashing the establishment
by asking recognision for the HT!!

It was the same (bit smaller impact) as the first time
I saw the love of my life, I was sold. Immediately.
This picture was taken januari 1st, 2009:

4"

And now Naserian is 18":





I didn't knew squat bout this giant when I bought him, intuition
and a good working pair of eyes is whereon I based my judgement
of this stounding fish, which appeared to be the African Arapaima.

Feeding it was thanks to the internet no big problem.
I had Oscars for some years and I fed them freeze dried gammarus.
Among others, but mostly floating insects. Just like in the wild.
I sieved (if thats the right word) the gammarus, cause their tiny legs
were to small for the big cichlids, and staid floating and influenced
the waterconditions unnecessairily.
I had a lot of floating legs left. Too small for piercing the surface.
Nothing to do with it.

Untill the day I layed my eyes on the first doable Arapaima for me.
Immediately I knew I could feed this MF.
Now I mix those legs with brine shrimp flakes, artemia fry, crushed
spirulina flakes, and othes tiny bits.
It mostly stays afloat, so the HT can filter from the surface.
The most I feed freeze dried Mysis.
He also likes to suck on a fish I feed to the Bichirs, and I suspect
he's the killer of a Geophagus. Competition for food.



I forgot which type of Niloticus I have, I believe there are two.

This is the 130g Africa tank,
other dwellers are a.o. Distichodus Sexfasciatus, Xenomystus Nigri,
and Gnathonemus Petersii. Tank is being upgraded.
First the way a Paima takes a breath:

 

[Oddball]

Here's a coupla old pics of my ~30 incher (He's 24-25" in the pix). He's about 3 1/2 years. I'm moving his 650gal so, he's temporarity in a 275gal with an AUL, a couple of trop gars, and a bunch of polys.

 

[olllie]

Wow, its beautiful.

 

[peewee]

i've heard these guys are very hard to feed as they grow. very finicky?