Just got my first aro, now how to get it eating?

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J

jgentry

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Aug 22, 2008
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Gallatin, TN
Well, I just got my very first aro. I have been looking at them for years but never bit the bullet until now. It is a black aro that I got from infinate aquatics. It is about 11-12 inches and arrived in perfect health. I got it yesterday morning and it has been active but has shown zero interest in food. It is a little skittish with it's tank mates but not too bad.

What should I be doing to get it to start eating. The vendor said they were eating aro sticks. I have a very similiar stick food so I didn't bother ordering the aro sticks. Should I go ahead and order them today or should I just be patient? I can pick up crickets if you guys that that would help. I have all kinds of frozen and freeze dried foods.

So what's the secret to getting a newly shipped aro back eating?

Thanks for any help!!
 
the secret is giving it time.. he/she is probably stressed and busy getting to know its new suroundings, but if it don't eat within a week (some will say more) you can give this thread a shout. a good thing when putting up a thread is giving out;

tank size

water (nitrite/nitrate/ammonia/ph etc)

tank mates

good luck! :)

picture
 
I figured it would take a few days. I'm just a little nervous because it was not cheap and I'm new with aros.

Tank: 220g 6ft X 2ftX 2.5ft

Water: ph=7.1 ammonia=0 nitrite=0 nitrate=never above 5

Filtration: Sump rated for tanks up to 400g with a 1400g/hr pump, FX5, and XP4

Tank mates: oscar, severum, chocolate, psittacus, Geo's, flagtail, blue phantom pleco, BN plecos

I'll try to get a picture soon.

I'll try to be patient, but that is not my specialty:D!!!
 
very good filtration! I guess the cichlids are a bit smaller than the aro (mass wise), I don't like the Idea of putting relatively small aros with cichlids since they often have a temper.. if you would see any marks what so ever be ready to separate, "small" aros doesn't handle beatings all to well!

if your cichlids are playing nicely you have nothing to worry about, as long as aros don't get beat up they are pretty hardy and with that filtration you won't have to worry about the water quality. I can almost guarantee you he will start eating within 3 days, maybe even tonight.. and btw matem stay away from the crickets, they are like candy and your aro may get hooked on those..

best of luck, and btw, cover ALL holes/glitches you can find, even those that look to small. Aros have PERFECT aim when jumping and will if even a little stressed jump, and we don't like stiff, dryed aros on the floor.. you loose to many that way.
 
ettfettbranamn;3027211; said:
very good filtration! I guess the cichlids are a bit smaller than the aro (mass wise), I don't like the Idea of putting relatively small aros with cichlids since they often have a temper.. if you would see any marks what so ever be ready to separate, "small" aros doesn't handle beatings all to well!

if your cichlids are playing nicely you have nothing to worry about, as long as aros don't get beat up they are pretty hardy and with that filtration you won't have to worry about the water quality. I can almost guarantee you he will start eating within 3 days, maybe even tonight.. and btw matem stay away from the crickets, they are like candy and your aro may get hooked on those..

best of luck, and btw, cover ALL holes/glitches you can find, even those that look to small. Aros have PERFECT aim when jumping and will if even a little stressed jump, and we don't like stiff, dryed aros on the floor.. you loose to many that way.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for your help!! I had planned to put the aro in my discus tank because my oscar is fairly large, but the aro arrived several inches bigger then I expected and the discus tank is narrow. I watched them like a hawk yesterday and some of the cichlids went up to check the aro out but didn't show any aggression. The aro also had no marks this morning. If I see anything on him or any issues I'll move him immediately. Thanks for the tank cover warning and the crickets. I'll hold off on crickets for a last resort if it has not eaten in a week or so.

Great info ettfettbranamn, thanks again for your help.
 
I'm sure more experienced keepers will chime in later and fill the info holes (if any) for you! I'm just glad to contribute, everyone was extremely helpful when I joined here and when I can I return the favour..
 
ettfettbranamn gives good advise. Hopefully you will have no problems with the cichlids. Watch during feeding time your aro may be prompted to eat from seeing the other fish eat. It could also become stressed at feeding do to all the added activity. Patience will be your best tool in getting your aro to eat. I myself had a new silver(21") go 3 weeks before eating and my black aro (11") took about a month before eating on a regular basis.
 
I just got my aro on friday, and he didn't start eating til yesterday, I got him to eat some small pieces of krill, and this morning he seems to be eating just fine, so I can only suggest patience
 
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