I have a diablo red arowana approx 12 inches long. I have had him for 12 days. I have him housed in a 180 gallon tank with 3 laticeps rays. From the minute I brought him home he ate non stop. I also caught him eating ray poop. In the morning when i wake up i usually suck out the ray pooop to keep my water cleaner. But lateley there is no poop. The rays are eating alot but no real poop is being left behind. im assuming the aro is eating it. I fed him prawns with no shells that are human grade. He also loves eating the rays earthworms. Yesterday I came home and he had a bit of red showing from his anus. There was a lil poop in the middle but it was red all around. No worms hanging out at all. I change 45 gallons every second day by bucket. I pre treat water with prime before adding to tank. Water parameters are ideal. Amm 0ppm nitrite0ppm and i keep my nitrate between 10 and 20 ppm. I am addicted to clean water for my fish. I have only lost one fish in the last 5 years. Temp is at 74.5 degrees. Ph is near the tap water(a goal of mine) 7.6 to 7.8. I have no idea why my aro is sick, my rays are fine and hungry. I have with held food since i noticed the red anus. Can anyone help me? The first few days the aro seemed a lil itchy in the tank. But he stopped that in a few days and seemed like all was well. Im hoping its not a bacterial thing as i have no idea how to handle it or where it came from. If its bacterial why are my super sensitive laticeps not showing any discomfort? I need help PLZ
Diablo red arowana sick
- Thread starter J.Lake
- Start date
1. is that the normal temp for this tank?
2. can you provide close up pics of the aros anus?
3. where did you get this fish from? Did it come directly from Bret?
Yes fish was in excellent health and came from him to me. I know i was given a very healthy aro. This was not the normal temp for the tank. It was more like 72.5 before the aro came. He looks and appears to be healthy except for the slightly inflamed anus. I am having a hard time getting a good picture. It is brownish with some sort of centre to it. It also appears to be inflamed more towards one side than the other. He is literally begging me for food right now but im scared to feed him. I will continue to try and take a pic. He never sits still. Its not as severe as the other cases i seen on the internet.
For a starter the temp is way to cool for an aro. That fish came from a tank that would have been in the low to mid 80's, which is where it should be. I would start by slowly raising the temp over the next couple of days.
It maybe the market prawn that you are using. They have phosphate as preservative. I've seen that happen to one of my friends aro with a strict diet of market prawn. Also the prawn are from the saltwater. I would use something like fresh tilapia fillets. Good Luck.
First pic is the bad side, second is the not so bad side. The whole body shot is before this problem. excuse the water spots no time for that right now.