Arapaima Gigas

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
It's two fold. First it needs to have the genes to show the color. If you are lucky and it has the good genetic background, then the best way to bring out the color is a good varied diet.
 
So have you opened yet? Is the 'Pima in? Did the musky get in the tank again...?!
 
Just looking at the webcam...seems to be set up deep in Pacu territory! Looks like a lot of fish in there....gonna watch for a bit longer - see if anything interesting swims by! Good work dude!
 
Keep an eye on the thread in the pics section about the Amazon. Arapaima goes in at the end of this month. There aren't as many pacu as other things. We have 2 blacks, 1 red belly and a bunch of piractus right now. We picked up 5 more small red belly from Mystic Aquarium (in holding) as well as 5 more big blacks from Omaha Zoo (in holding).

Arapaima is doing awesome. He's eating from my hand and is always interested in what is going on outside his tank window.
 
I Googled "Musky" and I got this..... surely this little fella couldn't have eaten your Silver Dollars...??!!

Musky.jpg
 
I'm wondering if i put some breeding pairs in my own lake, could I keep ducks/geese in the same body of water?
 
First, the trick would be to get animals of breeding size, then figure out how to sex them. After that, breeding them isn't as easy as it sounds.

As far as water fowl, even with just one arapaima in there, the birds would become food quickly.
 
This is a photo my Arapaima which arrived February 13, 2005 in a bag from a LFS at 3 inches.
In this picture August 5 2006, the Arapaima is 36 inches at 19 months.

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This is my temporary 3500-gallon outdoor aquarium, which contains a 40 fish assortment.

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Arapaima in 2400-gallon outdoor aquarium, April 2006.
The color began to show after one year.
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These fish will eat 10 pounds of Bar-S hot dogs in a 10-minute feeding session.
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Arapaima at 20 months in the fall of 2006, He is very friendly and curious and can be scratched under his chin.
When I am wading in the tank, the Arapaima will follow me around waiting for a hot dog.
Arapaima in 3500 Tank 116.jpg


This Pacu weighed 45 pounds in August 2006.
Pacu 129.jpg


I parked my Arapaima in Todd’s 2500-gallon concrete tank to be fattened up.
Todd goes to the fish market daily for fresh shrimp for his Sting Rays and as some of you know, the Arapaima is a very aggressive feeder.
I got 20 pounds of liver from a butcher the other day and the Arapaima grabbed the first 7-8 pounds before the pacu or catfish could get to it.
When we tried to net the Arapaima out of Todd’s tank, he was very difficult to catch.
He used every trick known to fish keepers to avoid capture.
We used two 30” diameter rubber web “catch-and-release” type nets.
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Netting Arapaima age 14 months 1287.jpg


This is a photo of my four new Arapaima, which just arrived via FedEx priority from:
Brian at:
Ocean Blue, Marine/Tropical Fish
622 East Katella Ave.
Orange, CA 92867

714-532-4528
714-280-4789
info@oceanblueca.com

The fish were very well packaged in multiple inverted bags. The water in the shipping bag was pristine.

The 5” - 6” fish began eating within a few hours and eat constantly, mostly earthworms.

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Arapaima 4 at 6 in 2908.jpg


Arapaima 4 days after FedEx shipping 2952.jpg


Arapaima in 3500 outdoor aquarium in August 2006.
Arapaima in 3500 49.jpg
 
what is the long term plan for them????

After reading all the great information presented in this Monster Fish Keepers forum/Arapaima, I thought I would quickly get started on my 8,000 gallon outdoor Aquarium. It will be made of ¾” CDX plywood painted with Epoxy.

I am considering using "Coat-It" Marine Goop epoxy made by Eclectic. Anyone have experience using the"Fix-It" epoxy product as an aquarium coating?

The tank measures 16 feet by 12 feet by 6 feet high, picture of the foundation below.

I presently use a 4.4 cubic foot bead filter on my 3,500-gallon tank, which gives me reasonable water clarity (4-6 feet). I was thinking of adding a bag filter with the new tank and switching to my 9 cubic foot bead pond filter. The water flow in the 3,500 is about 5,200 GPH, which is a minimum for any clarity. I must backwash every other day or visibility drops quickly.

I am planning for a cell cast Acrylic window 4 feet by 8 feet by 1-1/2” thick however the window JohnPTC used was 5 feet by 10 feet by 2” thick. That might be worth the extra investment. Anyone know of good deals on cell cast Acrylic?

AI would appreciate hearing from anyone with comments or suggestions or questions.

Outdoor 8000 gallon Aquarium Foundation 3183.jpg
 
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