Help w/ arowanas

[Heyitsduy42]

So I have 2 Aros in a 6x2x2. One is about 20" and the other is 18". About 2 weeks ago, the 20" aro got really excited after I threw in some food. He jumped on top on the lid, good think he was just flopping on top of the tank lid for about 3 seconds.

The problem is that both aros are real skittish now. The 18" is acutally acting worst than the 20" was. They are only swimming around when no one is close to the tank and the lights are off. Once the lights are on, they are stuck in a corner. They are still eating when food falls in front of them. Anything I can do? Tankmates are 3 Dats, 1 bichir, clown loaches and a flagtail.

 

[Bderick67]

Well as someone who has the same(except with bigger aros) I would recommend looking to upgrade to a bigger tank. The skittish behavior will go with time, but once you have the next event you are back to the same.

To what you can to keep them from being startled, because if one goes off the other will too. This can lead to injury or death to themselves or other fish.

 

[Heyitsduy42]

Well as someone who has the same(except with bigger aros) I would recommend looking to upgrade to a bigger tank. The skittish behavior will go with time, but once you have the next event you are back to the same.

To what you can to keep them from being startled, because if one goes off the other will too. This can lead to injury or death to themselves or other fish.

I know I need more space but I cant get a bigger tank til I get my own house.

I would think they'll be back to normal by now. Its been about 2 weeks.

Do you guys think it'll be a good idea to leave the lights off for a few days?

 

[jlnguyen74]

Leave the aquarium light off for a week, Duy. Just turn it on 5-10 minutes before you feed them, and turn it off once you finish feeding them. Do it for a week, and then turn the light on for a longer duration in the evening (like 1-2 hours, and then 3-4 hours). Keep the light in your room on in the evening, so they can get use to seeing you or others in the room. If you have a 2-bulb light fixture, consider using one daylight bulb and one blue/attinic bulb, since bright light will scare it more. Don't get too close to the tank, unless you have to, like feeding them, or doing w/c. Watching them from a short distance, until they're used to seeing you. Also, when you feed them, just slide the lid as big as you can drop the food in. Don't open the whole lid, unless you have a glass tank with lid that opens half way. An aro goes wild can make everyone in the tank goes wild. BTW, upgrading to a bigger tank won't solve the problem. It may make it worse. Imagine a scary aro in a bigger tank A timer will actually help the aro to get use with the light on at certain time. Good luck!

 

[Bderick67]

I know I need more space but I cant get a bigger tank til I get my own house.

I would think they'll be back to normal by now. Its been about 2 weeks.

Do you guys think it'll be a good idea to leave the lights off for a few days?

Considering how long this may take you may think of getting rid of one of the aros.


For anyone to say moving to a bigger tank will make it worse is just moronic. But they also may just be trying to justify their own sitsuation.

 

[jlnguyen74]

Considering how long this may take you may think of getting rid of one of the aros.


For anyone to say moving to a bigger tank will make it worse is just moronic. But they also may just be trying to justify their own sitsuation.

Let's see who's the moron here Do you know what kind of arowana does he have? Giving opinion without knowing the situation is moronic! Using your situation as justification is justifying your own situation!

 

[feeling2good]

give it some more time. when approaching, move slow, let them know you are there. my big guy was like that for a couple of days but now back to normal. but usually when one gets skittish it spreads.

 

[Bderick67]

Let's see who's the moron here Do you know what kind of arowana does he have? Giving opinion without knowing the situation is moronic! Using your situation as justification is justifying your own situation!

Your right and have explained yourself well

Although my assumtion for the arowana is silver, the advise would not stray far for any species. I think you have truely proved your worth here with these couple of posts.

 

[Miguel]

The aro's feel cramped and when this happens, they tend to freak out like that.

 

[jlnguyen74]

Your right and have explained yourself well

Although my assumtion for the arowana is silver, the advise would not stray far for any species. I think you have truely proved your worth here with these couple of posts.

You just don't get it, do you? Or is that a note to yourself? Anyway, I'll type slow!

Using your situation of 2 silver arowanas and a bunch of cichlids in the 180 gal, which I'm sure you feel like upgrading but you don't (or can't) for whatever reason, as justification to tell other to upgrade his/her tank, when you don't even bother to read or response to his question for help - that is justify your own situation!

So I have 2 Aros in a 6x2x2. One is about 20" and the other is 18". About 2 weeks ago, the 20" aro got really excited after I threw in some food. He jumped on top on the lid, good think he was just flopping on top of the tank lid for about 3 seconds.

The problem is that both aros are real skittish now. The 18" is acutally acting worst than the 20" was. They are only swimming around when no one is close to the tank and the lights are off. Once the lights are on, they are stuck in a corner. They are still eating when food falls in front of them. Anything I can do? Tankmates are 3 Dats, 1 bichir, clown loaches and a flagtail.

What make you think of upgrading a tank will get them not to stay in the corner when the light is on? Would it be wise to transfer them to another tank when they're already scare and skittish? Save that "Upgrading Tank" lesson, until you upgrade your tank and find out if your aros behave better in bigger tank, then come here and share it. BTW, not all type of arowana behave the same. Silver is the worst of all in skittish. Silver is skittish as baby, silver's skittish as adult! Silver's skittish in small tank. Silver's skittish in big tank! Silver's skittish keeping by itself. Silver's skittish keeping in comm. tank, and scares the hell out of other fish when it goes wild! Most of other types calm down when they mature. They're only scare when something spook them, in this case, he jumped for food, and ended up on the top of the tank, out of the water!
Well, I hope that you know how to read!