Hi fellow mfkeepers, I usually hang out in the Cichla forum, but i just recently picked up a 17" silver that has drop eye on one eye. And i figured i'd get more accurate answers here. I was just wandering if ALL silvers eventualy get drop eye, because i have yet to see one that's over 16" that doesn't have it. Is it inevitable? Do they all (captive) silver arowanas get this? Thanks for helping out an aro newbie!
Drop eye
- Thread starter callen
- Start date
I was just talking to Arapaimag the other day about this topic. He brought up some interesting theories that were circulating about how drop eye could be caused from the fact that the muscles in the captive aros eyes are always straining down in to see what is below them such as feeders whereas in the wild their main food source is insect about the water in low hanging branches or insects that have fallen into the water. I suggest dropping the water level in the tank a few inches and place some floating plants such as water lettuce or hyacinth in the tank and load them up with crickets for a few months and see if it helps.
Except for silver arowana don't look up they look forward, IMO. Something may catch their eye out of their peripheral vision, but the eyes don't point up. I do believe there is something to the eye muscle getting weak, possibly in a tank they are not exercised enough. Maybe the key is keeping in a crowded tank as Koji has done. With this set up the arowana has to always be looking to compete for food, not to mention just watching as to not run into the other aro in the tank.
Personally I have watch my silver develop DE within hours of experiencing severe head trauma. This happened with both eyes on two separate incidents.
Personally I have watch my silver develop DE within hours of experiencing severe head trauma. This happened with both eyes on two separate incidents.
Bderick67;4486642; said:
it would have to be a crowded tank with other fish that stay up top, mine is with cichlids and it got drop eye, i guess from constantly watching all the action below him
I think genetics is a big part of it. Mass breeding them in captive hasn't done good for the genes being passed around. Wild caught silvers and most Black arowanas hardly develop DE, so I think that's part of it. There are a bunch of reasons that people think are responsible. Diet, looking down and head trauma are all valid points. I've heard it compared to how some people are more prone to get diabetes than others.
The DE debate is endless. But they all do not get it as I have a near 30incher with NO DROP EYE. It is a high shine but that still may not have anything to do with it as I have seen other high shines and platinums with drop eye. Who knows the true cause as even experts continue to debate this phenomenon. But I have "personally" seen blacks and asians with drop eye as well, though some have argued it is strictly a silver aro trait. Not so.