Arowana

[Oscaric]

Greetings my friends!
I got a question today.
How to train a silver arowana to eat pellets? I just bought a new baby arowana and he does eat but spits out from time to time.
Not sure if it is too big for it?
I want to train it to eat pellet. Currently feeding carnivorous floating sticks. Water parameters all good too. It is the only surface swimmer in the tank. It is also swimming well around the tank.

 

[tlindsey]

Greetings my friends!
I got a question today.
How to train a silver arowana to eat pellets? I just bought a new baby arowana and he does eat but spits out from time to time.
Not sure if it is too big for it?
I want to train it to eat pellet. Currently feeding carnivorous floating sticks. Water parameters all good too. It is the only surface swimmer in the tank. It is also swimming well around the tank.

Offer only small floating foods and make sure floating pellets are small.

 

[eddiegunks]

How long have you had him? It takes time. I find small aros are not very hardy. Feed him anything he will eat until hid is bigger.

I got one that was about 7 inches. He is probably 11-12 now. He eat absolutly EVERYTHING i put in the tank (even flake food!)......he attempts to eat my finger if i dont pay attention.

 

[Oscaric]

Offer only small floating foods and make sure floating pellets are small.

Hmm. I tried. Apparently all he does is try it then spits it out. Maybe I can try some small worms?

 

[Oscaric]

How long have you had him? It takes time. I find small aros are not very hardy. Feed him anything he will eat until hid is bigger.

I got one that was about 7 inches. He is probably 11-12 now. He eat absolutly EVERYTHING i put in the tank (even flake food!)......he attempts to eat my finger if i dont pay attention.

Hey ive had him for like a week or 2 now. It aint scared of my hand like it used to be. He did ate some pellets but not all of it. He spits it out sometimes. I'll probably try worms?

 

[tlindsey]

Hey ive had him for like a week or 2 now. It aint scared of my hand like it used to be. He did ate some pellets but not all of it. He spits it out sometimes. I'll probably try worms?

Try freeze dried bloodworms, freeze dried mysis.shrimp once it starts eating that particular food then toss in a couple of pellets with whatever little Aro likes. Like stated Aro's are fragile when small but after the 6-7 inch mark they become beggar's and want food everytime the Aro see you lol.

 

[tlindsey]

You just got the Aro give time for it to get acclimated to its aquarium don't jeopardize water quality remove food asap if it doesn't eat it.

 

[Lsey81]

Try smaller carnivore sticks and make sure the water is nice and warm...also as cruel as it may sound you may have to starve him for a day or two so he builds an appetite...I spoiled an Aro of mine once on live and had a heck of a time getting it to eat sticks

 

[eddiegunks]

[

Try smaller carnivore sticks and make sure the water is nice and warm...also as cruel as it may sound you may have to starve him for a day or two so he builds an appetite...I spoiled an Aro of mine once on live and had a heck of a time getting it to eat sticks

I would not starve a small aro (especially a new one). They die very easily. I had 3 small aros that i got with egg sacks still attached. The last one died last week.....after 2-3 months. I am not sure why but he died.

Feed it what ever it will eat. Try to vary it a bid. Feeding one food all the time may not be the best.

When he gets bigger he will eat everything. You will not have to starve him.

I have found with most all fish i keep eventually they will eat whatever hits the water. The exception being my rays. Two eat pellets (i got them they were eating pellets). I like that they eat pellets so they get pellets. The larger one will eat some talapia and an occasional worm.....but massivore is her main diet. The other is my small motorro. She eats worms. When i get them all in the same pond i think she will learn from the others.

I do not wanna risk starving expensive fish......i am new to rays and do not wanna push my luck. I have learned that a fish that is eating usually lives a long time......and a fish that does not eat, dies. That has been my experience....

 

[DN328]

What size is your baby aro? If it's 4"+ I dont think it would die not getting fed for a day to perhaps build its appetite. Having said this, I find they dont turn away from frozen blood worms.

When I was training both of my Lei's that I had and have, I always start with pellets when feeding. Then supplement with blood worms to ensure their bellies are full. My Lei now at 18" has graduated to jumbo sticks. Just be patient;-)