It's about that time, need advice

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sweeTang21

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 10, 2007
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Wisconsin
Hey all, as the title suggests its time to move my silver arowana from its 55 grow out to its second stage tank. It will be a standard 120. 48x24x24 platform. The aro is about 12 inches. Takes pellets and live foods just fine. I know it's a subject that's been talked about before, but its one thing to read about there issues and another for mine. The subject is the tank currently houses oscars. Big oscars lol. I'd say 10 inches. I know the fish are to big to be seen as food, but I don't want the aro to get starved. What are the risks to watch out for to make sure there's no major fighting happening? I have two jack's that I don't think make good tank mates to the arrow so I am planning on removing them. Any suggestions for me at this juncture? The other concern I have is the introduction. Should I separate the tank so each fish has its own area for a while, or just place the aro and let it be? It was mentioned before that putting a slow eating aro with aggressive eating oscars can sometimes cause the aro to become more of an aggressive eater. Thoughts?


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I haven't much experience with oscars, but the ones I have kept are absolute pigs, and I'd be a little concerned with them out-competeing the aro while it settles in after the move. I'd try chucking in a bunch of sinking pellets to distract the oscars to give the aro a chance to get some floating sticks. Give it a couple of weeks and hopefully the aro will be hungry and feeding aggressively again.
 
Oscars are pigs.. Yeah i would try a sinking pellet to free up the surface for you aro to eat. Depending on the oscar's temperment.. they could pick on the arowana. I would not seperate them with a divider in a 120 gallon. The aro needs all of that space and eventually will need more space. I would eitheter keep your eyes peeled for a bigger tank, get rid of the oscars or the aro. IMO
 
Recommendation would be to only mix silver aro with big cichlids as long as the aro in at least 2x the length of the cichlids. Sell the Os and get some 5-6"ers. That tank you are moving the aro into is only good for up to a bout a 16" arowana. You'll be needing new housing for it in just a couple months.

Maybe best to find a 180g 6x2x2' as your next grow out and then you could just leave the Os alone.
 
Besides those feeding suggestions, I would rearrange any tank decor. This will upset any territories that the other fish have set up so nobody "owns" any real estate.
 
I considered a 180 but im not wasting money on that when i want his real home to be atleast and 8 foot tank. Im in the process of buying a house, and that will dictate the direction i go in. I will not settle for anything less then 210 standard, and thats as a last resort. But for now, a 120 is what i have and will be the beat suited. I will purchase some sinking pellets and hope the o's dont bother the aro. They usually only mess with the jacks and thats only during the night. If it doesnt work ill just need to do some restocking....im hoping it doesnt come to that.

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The aro should be fine in that tank for however long it takes you to get a house and upgrade your tank. It'll get a little cramped with on 4' length but still has plenty of room to turn and swim around. If you're really concerned about the Oscars picking on it I'd wait even longer to move it out of the 55 and into the 120. It's not ideal but it will work as long as you don't spook the fish into damaging itself.
 
It all depends on the Ar's temperament, really.

Mine ( although 2 feet now ) has never given anybody any chance in what concerns feeding. So does my 2 footer CK. and they are with large and agressive CA cichlids.

So your test must be on your aro's personality, first and foremost.

Move it in the weekend, so as to be able to keep watching the events non stop.

The aro either imposes itself quickly or not. If it does not, remove aro or Oscars, because the aro, once humiliated and afraid will quickly enter into a downward spiral.

Again, as in most cases, I have to agree with Brian above. If the Aro is your fav fish, start by removing the O's, and problem solved without hassle.

M
 
I have a an aro in with a large oscar and jack dempsey and there's never been any competition for food. I throw in some 7mm NLS pellets and the oscar is happy with them. I then put a few prawns stuffed with pellets just in front of the aro, one at a time and he eats these happily. The oscar usually gets any missed prawns then
 
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