Help on Natural Tanning for my HBRTG.

[fishkeepercarlo]

Hi! I am new to fish keeping and some of the videos I watched from YouTube about HBRTGs are nice looking and I also checked Google and I have come across this image:

I have a 1 year and 4 months old HBRTG and so far, it was already tanned by the pet shop where I bought it and I was wondering if I can achieve this through natural tanning since I have read that tanning lights can be stressful. Anyone who can guide me on how I can start this with my pet? I have seen a lot of guides but there are all using tanning lights.

 

[Polyaddict86]

You can get a natural tanning if you place the tank next to a window or outside and gets sunlight. Thats what we used to do before they had tanning lights in the tank.

 

[fishkeepercarlo]

I am willing to put my tank outside of our garden which has direct sunlight from morning to lunchtime. Would that help? Also for the tank's wallpaper, any color suggestion? And also for the meals. I usually feed my HBRTG with an ARG2 pellet. In addition, how many hours per day for natural tanning?

 

[Polyaddict86]

Yes direct sunlight would help alot, just watch out for algae. For background i remember i used to use white or blue color. For food im not sure cause i usually feed tilapia,shrimp and smelt. For natural tanning a entire day is fine.

 

[RealCrix220]

Hi
I wouldn’t suggest tanning your RTG with bulbs as I have been told it can burn the fish and also you may get un even colouring if the fish sits on one one for too long.
Please look at mine which was all natural no colour enhancing.
mid you give the right food and keep the water correct you can achieve decent colours

I used to feed mealworms carrots and then feed the worms to the Aro as I was told the carrots would help with the colouring on the Aro

Live crickets and worms, market prawns / shrimp once he got older

 

[RealCrix220]

Hi! I am new to fish keeping and some of the videos I watched from YouTube about HBRTGs are nice looking and I also checked Google and I have come across this image:
View attachment 1452952
I have a 1 year and 4 months old HBRTG and so far, it was already tanned by the pet shop where I bought it and I was wondering if I can achieve this through natural tanning since I have read that tanning lights can be stressful. Anyone who can guide me on how I can start this with my pet? I have seen a lot of guides but there are all using tanning lights.

I personally wouldn’t say this is a fish someone has grown out, I feel that this has been photo shopped, I may be wrong

 

[fishkeepercarlo]

Thank you for all your comments. Will add comments as notes on my study for tending my HBRTG. Thanks again.

 

[fishkeepercarlo]

Hi
I wouldn’t suggest tanning your RTG with bulbs as I have been told it can burn the fish and also you may get un even colouring if the fish sits on one one for too long.
Please look at mine which was all natural no colour enhancing.
mid you give the right food and keep the water correct you can achieve decent colours

I used to feed mealworms carrots and then feed the worms to the Aro as I was told the carrots would help with the colouring on the Aro

Live crickets and worms, market prawns / shrimp once he got older

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May I ask for the lighting you are using for your RTG? Really love that second image. How many months/years did you work on your Arowana's tanning through direct sunlight?

 

[RealCrix220]

Hi
The lights were the standard bulbs that come on the tank and I never had any direct sunlight on the fish.
I had him 2 years
I truly believe that I gor him looking like that due to quality food and quality water

 

[cafeiguana]

I am willing to put my tank outside of our garden which has direct sunlight from morning to lunchtime. Would that help? Also for the tank's wallpaper, any color suggestion? And also for the meals. I usually feed my HBRTG with an ARG2 pellet. In addition, how many hours per day for natural tanning?

I give mine a lot Of red worms, Dubia roaches, superworms.... prawn and tilapia.
Insects 80%. And its getting very nice coloration.