Arapaima Pond Build

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Over the last week, I've done a bit of 'testing' with feeding Mr. T.
Before, we'd put a cup of pellets in the water close to the wall.
He'd grab his mouth full, then swim away and the Tilapia going for what is still left.
Then, after his food, (and my lunch...lol) I'd go to the pond and play a bit as I've described before with him going around and coming back a couple of times.

So now, I put a cup of pellets in the water, he gets his mouth full, I stay and keep the remaining pellets together and tilapia away until he comes back.
After a couple of times, I started stroking & pushing him every time he comes back to gulp down some more pellets. (after he gets the pellets, not before).
Quite amazed, but after 2 or 3 days, he got the hang of it and changed his behavior...

He comes over, gulps down some pellets and then looks at me, rolls over his body sideways waiting for me to push him and then makes a round, chewing and eating before coming back for the same again...
Once he's done with it, normally after 5 - 10 rounds, he simply swims off to another area and doesn't return...

But it's just plain fun to see how smart he is.
 
Not only is he an awesome magnificent fish, but he loves to interact and play with you.....it doesn't get better than that.
 
thanks Pacu Mom, he just finished his lunch...
He's getting some hotdogs now. First time was a snatch and run.
After that, our housekeeping lady started feeding them.
Same old story as with prawns. Hanging there, looking at the lady.
She talks to him and he just opens his mouth, she puts the food in and he chews and swallows.

Been thinking about his coloration lately.
Most of the Arapaima's I have seen are silver/grey base-color with the obvious red spots.
But when I look at mister T, he's a very nice, almost velvet black/brown color with only his belly and chin white/grey.
I personally like the brown color much better than the silver/grey ones.

My question of course, anybody else seen this color or is it a much less common color seen on Arapaimas?

Overall, pond doing great. Bogs just look good, fish are growing well.
Of the 6 Oscars, only 1 survived. Really funny to see him spurting around after small fry.
Still got my other 3 at home, someday soon to be transferred to the pond.

The Crystal Eye at home is a character and boy does he have a nasty look when he's upset.
He really looks like a cat 'blazing' at you when he's not happy.
In the 79Gallon for now, broke the water-inlet for the canister already.
Replaced it with a hose for flexibility. He's just racing around at night catching his daily meal, so flexible pipe solves that problem.
Held a cube of frozen bloodworm in front of his with tweezers. The force and speed of him hitting the tweezers and getting the worms is just awesome.

2 RTC's are very different animals. 1 of them is pretty much a wild fish, hiding mostly in his cave.
He'd just grab the food you have and hurry back to his hide.
The other one though is a very sweet, happy fellow that comes over and sucks on the food between your fingers.
More social I'd say.

Anyhow, it's still fun every day.

New projects coming up in the coming months, will start some new threads on those.
1 Project will be my indoor/outdoor pond and fishroom...That's a 2-3 year project, but it's going to be my fish-paradise...lol.

Cheers,
Luc
 
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