See, reading your post confirms that you lack knowledge. Anyone with sense knows live foods are great for the fish. Read up on some articles and get away from your troll life on here which you think there is a textbook answer and blabbing about the same stuff everyone says.
Read this my bright little star...
now the foods
i combined sodenoshirayuki and haos lists.
First off, this is for ALL aros, so don't ask if silvers or blacks or aussies or asians need something different. This will be for 3 sizes, baby, medium sized, and the big boys.
Remember, the key to a good diet is variety and freshness, no food has all the needed nutrients, thus you need to mix it up to maintain and
healthy diet, which spoiled food is never a good thing.
Arowana is a carnivorous fish. In wild, its food consist mainly insects, fishes, prawns, worms and small amphibians. Live food is preferred
by arowana though they can be trained to accept other food. Variety in food is a MUST to avoid nutritional deficiency. Small arowana (below 15cm> should be fed three times a day, medium arowana (15-35cm) twice a day and large arowana (above 35cm) once a day or alternate day.
If arowana is overfed for a long period of time, it may lost its appetite and starve itself for a periods of a few days. Overfeeding can also shorten the lifespan of arowana and affect its breeding capability. Live food is generally more nutritious then its counterpart. However, the risk of introducing disease into the tank is increased when live food is used. This is especially true when the live food is waterborne (live in water). Live food should be quarantine for at least a few days before feeding to the arowana. If you have doubt in certain food, the golden rule is "If in Doubt, Don't Use It". There are always other types of food available.
bref discription of some food availible
Crickets-
Crickets are nutritious food for arowana. The risk of disease transmission is very low. Use the appropriate size crickets for different size arowanas. Hard shell of crickets should be removed when feed to baby arowana to avoid intestinal injury. Use only farm raise crickets as wild caught crickets may be contaminated with insecticide. You may feed the crickets’ vitamin A rice food like carrot before feeding it to arowana. This is a good way to transfer nutrient. Vitamin A enhances color of arowana (esp. red). Crickets may be frozen to avoid hassle, the percentage of nutrients retained when frozen is uncertain and require further study.
Cockroach-
Similar to cricket. Do not feed dead cockroach to arowana as it might have been killed by insecticide. It is advisable to keep the cockroach for
a couple of days before using it; any insecticide contaminated cockroach would be death by then.
Centipedes-
Centipedes are very nutritious food for arowana. They are commonly used in Asia to enhance and intensify the color of arowana. Unfortunately the
availability of this food is low. Frozen centipedes are more readily available then live one.
Live fish-
Almost any bite size fish that is not poisonous can be arowana's food. Feeder gold, meadow, baby koi, baby catfish and small chidlid are
commonly used. There is potential risk of disease transmission when this type of food is used. Quarantine is a MUST as it will screen out most
(but not all) sick fishes. To transfer nutrient or medication to arowana, you may feed them to feeder fish right before using it. Goldfish are
believed to contained enzymes that will lead to nutritional deficiency in arowana, use it sparingly or avoid using it.
Fish meat-
Fresh fish meat can be used. Trim all the fat away and cut them to bite size, wash them before use to avoid contamination of the water. Use
frozen fish meat with caution, as it may contain denatured protein witch may lead to liver and internal organ sickness in long run. Frozen products also can contain presurvitives that can kill your fish. You should try to find some without any presurvatives.
Live prawns/shrimps
Prawns/shrimps are rich in vitamin A which enhances arowana's color. They are very nutritious food. Avoid feeding baby arowana shrimps as
their shells are hard to digest and may cause intestinal injury. Do not leave live prawns/shrimps as they can die and rot causing amonia spikes.
Once again, there is also a potential risk of disease transmission. Diseases from saltwater rarely if ever transfure to freshwater, but it is
possible.
Prawn meat Use only fresh prawns. Removal of head is recommended as it is hard to digest and also the gill may have high concentration of germs/toxin. Prepare the prawn into bite sizes and wash it before use. You can also use frozen raw shrimp. Younger aros deshell them and break them up so the aro can eat them. Older aros can eat the shell and it can improve the red tones in the fish.
krill-
Krill is a nutritious food and it is readily available. Use appropriate size krill for different size arowana. Crush the shell then soak the krill to soften the shell prior to feeding baby arowana as hard krill may cause intestinal injury. It is also kinda spendy so it can be used sparingly or to get an aro eatting.
Bloodworms-
Bloodworms are mainly used to feed baby arowana. They are nutritious food. Rinse away impurities before use. Do not feed it when frozen as it may cause intestinal upset. Avoid old age bloodworms as it is hard for baby arowana to digest. Live bloodworms are preferable but commercially available bloodworms are equally good when fresh. Freeze dry bloodworms may also used.
Tubifex worms-
Tubifex worms are collected in highly contaminated drain and should be avoid unless properly treated. Commercially breed tubifex worms claim to be cleaner but its source are sometime questionable. Remember the golden rule: "If in Doubt, Don't Use it". This goes to frozen tubifex worms too. Freeze dry tubifex worms are cleaner but possibility of germs survived through very low temperature cannot be ruled out. High heavy metal content in the source is also a worry.
Mealworms-
Mealworms are healthy and nutritious. Avoid feeding them to baby arowana as their hard shell is difficult to digest and may cause digestive problem or/and intestinal injury. Use worms that have just shed its shell. Darker color mean older shell. So choose pale looking mealworm. Drowning the worm proir to feeding is recommended if the fish accept dead worm. Head can be removed to minimize digestive problem.
Earthworms-
Earthworms are very healthy and nutritious. Risk of disease transmission is minimal. Squeezing the soil out before feeding is recommended. Or better still, feed the earthworm with nutritious food to clear the soil and transfer the nutrient. This is a highly recommended food by most aquarist.
Pellets/food sticks-
There are many commercial pellets/food sticks available. Their nutritious value varies. Choose reputable brand. Pellets/food sticks specially formulated for arowana is recommended. However, this should not be the only food of arowana.
Amphibians/Frogs-
Frogs are very nutritious food for arowana and are commonly used in Asia. You should be certain that the frogs are not poisonous before feeding them to arowana. Do not feed posinous frogs to arowanas. Frogs are believed to enhance arowana's color.
Lizard/Gecko-
Lizards and geckos are also very nutritious food for arowana and are often loved by the fish. They are usually not commercially available or demand a very high price. Geckos are found in almost every house in tropical region. Catching them is hard work but often rewarded as they enhances arowana's color. Quarantine is also recommended as they might have eaten insecticide contamination insects, even though the probability is small.
"do you want an arowana?...then read this - sbuse"
Read this my bright little star...
now the foods
i combined sodenoshirayuki and haos lists.
First off, this is for ALL aros, so don't ask if silvers or blacks or aussies or asians need something different. This will be for 3 sizes, baby, medium sized, and the big boys.
Remember, the key to a good diet is variety and freshness, no food has all the needed nutrients, thus you need to mix it up to maintain and
healthy diet, which spoiled food is never a good thing.
Arowana is a carnivorous fish. In wild, its food consist mainly insects, fishes, prawns, worms and small amphibians. Live food is preferred
by arowana though they can be trained to accept other food. Variety in food is a MUST to avoid nutritional deficiency. Small arowana (below 15cm> should be fed three times a day, medium arowana (15-35cm) twice a day and large arowana (above 35cm) once a day or alternate day.
If arowana is overfed for a long period of time, it may lost its appetite and starve itself for a periods of a few days. Overfeeding can also shorten the lifespan of arowana and affect its breeding capability. Live food is generally more nutritious then its counterpart. However, the risk of introducing disease into the tank is increased when live food is used. This is especially true when the live food is waterborne (live in water). Live food should be quarantine for at least a few days before feeding to the arowana. If you have doubt in certain food, the golden rule is "If in Doubt, Don't Use It". There are always other types of food available.
bref discription of some food availible
Crickets-
Crickets are nutritious food for arowana. The risk of disease transmission is very low. Use the appropriate size crickets for different size arowanas. Hard shell of crickets should be removed when feed to baby arowana to avoid intestinal injury. Use only farm raise crickets as wild caught crickets may be contaminated with insecticide. You may feed the crickets’ vitamin A rice food like carrot before feeding it to arowana. This is a good way to transfer nutrient. Vitamin A enhances color of arowana (esp. red). Crickets may be frozen to avoid hassle, the percentage of nutrients retained when frozen is uncertain and require further study.
Cockroach-
Similar to cricket. Do not feed dead cockroach to arowana as it might have been killed by insecticide. It is advisable to keep the cockroach for
a couple of days before using it; any insecticide contaminated cockroach would be death by then.
Centipedes-
Centipedes are very nutritious food for arowana. They are commonly used in Asia to enhance and intensify the color of arowana. Unfortunately the
availability of this food is low. Frozen centipedes are more readily available then live one.
Live fish-
Almost any bite size fish that is not poisonous can be arowana's food. Feeder gold, meadow, baby koi, baby catfish and small chidlid are
commonly used. There is potential risk of disease transmission when this type of food is used. Quarantine is a MUST as it will screen out most
(but not all) sick fishes. To transfer nutrient or medication to arowana, you may feed them to feeder fish right before using it. Goldfish are
believed to contained enzymes that will lead to nutritional deficiency in arowana, use it sparingly or avoid using it.
Fish meat-
Fresh fish meat can be used. Trim all the fat away and cut them to bite size, wash them before use to avoid contamination of the water. Use
frozen fish meat with caution, as it may contain denatured protein witch may lead to liver and internal organ sickness in long run. Frozen products also can contain presurvitives that can kill your fish. You should try to find some without any presurvatives.
Live prawns/shrimps
Prawns/shrimps are rich in vitamin A which enhances arowana's color. They are very nutritious food. Avoid feeding baby arowana shrimps as
their shells are hard to digest and may cause intestinal injury. Do not leave live prawns/shrimps as they can die and rot causing amonia spikes.
Once again, there is also a potential risk of disease transmission. Diseases from saltwater rarely if ever transfure to freshwater, but it is
possible.
Prawn meat Use only fresh prawns. Removal of head is recommended as it is hard to digest and also the gill may have high concentration of germs/toxin. Prepare the prawn into bite sizes and wash it before use. You can also use frozen raw shrimp. Younger aros deshell them and break them up so the aro can eat them. Older aros can eat the shell and it can improve the red tones in the fish.
krill-
Krill is a nutritious food and it is readily available. Use appropriate size krill for different size arowana. Crush the shell then soak the krill to soften the shell prior to feeding baby arowana as hard krill may cause intestinal injury. It is also kinda spendy so it can be used sparingly or to get an aro eatting.
Bloodworms-
Bloodworms are mainly used to feed baby arowana. They are nutritious food. Rinse away impurities before use. Do not feed it when frozen as it may cause intestinal upset. Avoid old age bloodworms as it is hard for baby arowana to digest. Live bloodworms are preferable but commercially available bloodworms are equally good when fresh. Freeze dry bloodworms may also used.
Tubifex worms-
Tubifex worms are collected in highly contaminated drain and should be avoid unless properly treated. Commercially breed tubifex worms claim to be cleaner but its source are sometime questionable. Remember the golden rule: "If in Doubt, Don't Use it". This goes to frozen tubifex worms too. Freeze dry tubifex worms are cleaner but possibility of germs survived through very low temperature cannot be ruled out. High heavy metal content in the source is also a worry.
Mealworms-
Mealworms are healthy and nutritious. Avoid feeding them to baby arowana as their hard shell is difficult to digest and may cause digestive problem or/and intestinal injury. Use worms that have just shed its shell. Darker color mean older shell. So choose pale looking mealworm. Drowning the worm proir to feeding is recommended if the fish accept dead worm. Head can be removed to minimize digestive problem.
Earthworms-
Earthworms are very healthy and nutritious. Risk of disease transmission is minimal. Squeezing the soil out before feeding is recommended. Or better still, feed the earthworm with nutritious food to clear the soil and transfer the nutrient. This is a highly recommended food by most aquarist.
Pellets/food sticks-
There are many commercial pellets/food sticks available. Their nutritious value varies. Choose reputable brand. Pellets/food sticks specially formulated for arowana is recommended. However, this should not be the only food of arowana.
Amphibians/Frogs-
Frogs are very nutritious food for arowana and are commonly used in Asia. You should be certain that the frogs are not poisonous before feeding them to arowana. Do not feed posinous frogs to arowanas. Frogs are believed to enhance arowana's color.
Lizard/Gecko-
Lizards and geckos are also very nutritious food for arowana and are often loved by the fish. They are usually not commercially available or demand a very high price. Geckos are found in almost every house in tropical region. Catching them is hard work but often rewarded as they enhances arowana's color. Quarantine is also recommended as they might have eaten insecticide contamination insects, even though the probability is small.
"do you want an arowana?...then read this - sbuse"
As for feeders, well your information is incomplete and generalizations can only lead to assumptions. Something to consider the next time you are giving advice.