Giga

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
thanks for the info Zoo, they sound like very interesting creatures, must have been amazing to "walk" them like that :)

Maybe one day when I do have the mega dream tank like arapaimag, I'll get a couple.
 
I am in the process of building a 12,000 gal. tank just to keep a couple of pima,s
in it. I have had them before in a 1,500 gal.and they out grew the tank real fast
 
I'd say nothing smaller than 30,000 for a single arapaima. Anything less then that and you will see growth stunting and major heath issues only a few years into it If you want two or three, you can do it in 50,000. Horizontal space is more important than depth. But avoid something too shallow. At least 7" depth for them. They will use at least that much if they take a larger breather and diver down with it. I've seen it a lot. Also, in the wild, they spend a lot of time "laying" on the bottom to rest. That depth needs to be deeper than the swimming depth. They need the length to get into full stride while swimming. If they don't have that, muscles won't develop correctly. Improper muscle growth leads to spinal issues after about a year. That leads to an animal that can't swim properly, and therefor can't get to the surface to breathe as it should.

The zoo I'm at now lead me to think I was going to have a display big enough for one for life. (That happened back when when they were pitching this job to me when they wanted me to help them get this exhibit up and running.) Sadly, I aquired the fish, and now see the tank isn't large enough. I will only be able to display one for a year or so before it will have to move out. Sad to see them go, but more than happy to move them out for their own good. I'd hate to see them stuck in a tank too small just because of some poor zoo politics. Especially a protected fish like this. They are a very high profile animal in the zoo world. Not many in the US display them, and everyone who does knows everyone else (more or less). A loss of an animal or word spreading about improper care doesn't reflect well on a zoo.


EDIT: Just as a side note, the new display tank is 10,000 gallons. That isn't enough for a year old fish. Think of it this way. You have a ten foot fish (minimum size - 14'-15' if you do it right). If you have a 20' long tank, the fish is half the length of the tank. If you have a 10" oscar, would you keep it in a tank 20" long?
 
piranha45 said:
they get really big so you shouldn't own one. glad to be of assistance.
Click to expand...

:nutkick: some time i feel like , never mind. sure can own one, but you are gonna need a big and i mean a big ass tank. prob a big as pond. but there is some people on here that have had some in big tanks and they did fine. ya piranha45 is always like that but thats his opinion. he should of asked what are your plans with haveing one instead of jumping the gun and saying you shouldnt own one. if u want to u can but if u do have the right set up for it so the fish isnt unhappy. good luck to ya, and piranha45 ur funny :nutkick: glad to be of assistance :thumbsup:
 
Zoodiver said:
I'd say nothing smaller than 30,000 for a single arapaima. Anything less then that and you will see growth stunting and major heath issues only a few years into it If you want two or three, you can do it in 50,000. Horizontal space is more important than depth. But avoid something too shallow. At least 7" depth for them. They will use at least that much if they take a larger breather and diver down with it. I've seen it a lot. Also, in the wild, they spend a lot of time "laying" on the bottom to rest. That depth needs to be deeper than the swimming depth. They need the length to get into full stride while swimming. If they don't have that, muscles won't develop correctly. Improper muscle growth leads to spinal issues after about a year. That leads to an animal that can't swim properly, and therefor can't get to the surface to breathe as it should.

/QUOTE]............

Yeah, ok, well then, leave me nothing to add, LOL.

--EMI
Click to expand...
 
heard they are mighty tasty, grow it out and once it gets too big, fry it up. :naughty: wonder what you feed them when they are 8ft long? stray cats from the neighborhood?

just dont release it in the wild..!!!
 
just forget keeping them they are way to big and the main thing that attracts people is the size

they should ONLY be kept in captiverty for breeding perposes in zoos or public aquariums

i read someone say that they are building a 12,000 gal tank like thats big enought
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom