new african aro, need advise

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
don't forget to make sure any opening on the cover is sealed or blocked off
I learned the hard way:(
 
skylarman;1293094; said:
the sturgeon died 2 days ago, i was really sad. but as i said b4, those are old pics of that guy

hey got any captive care on sturgeons?
 
Sponge filters are best since the aro can graze off of them constantly. Here's something I posted several times already:

Basically, the only real success seems to be in providing a constant source of food until the aros reach about 8" and develop some fat storage to allow them to receive scheduled feedings like most other fish.
I raised the young in bare tanks with sponge filters. The sponge filters allow the fish to "graze" on previously missed food until the next feeding. Be sure to rinse of the sponges every other day to keep spoiled food off of them. Keep the water on the alkaline side and at 80 degrees. Also keep a good lid on their tank. They're jumpers from the get-go. They also need a cover to provide matching air and water temps while the young's air-breathing architecture is developing.
Feed them on a variety of small foods. Frozen bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, crumble food, sinking food, cyclop-eeze, flakes, and micro-pellets are all taken. Feed high protein foods since they have high metabolic rates (no cheap generic foods). Water changes of 30-50% need to be done every 2-3 days.
Af aros need to be housed either as 1 to a tank or 4 and up to a tank. With 2 or 3 you'll wind up with only one in a short time as their aggression towards each other is high.
Note: my best success was in following the above and allowing my rearing tanks to go green with algae. These are a filter-feeding species, after all, and I think they benefitted from some algae consumption in their diets.

Good luck!!
 
Oddball;1295541; said:
Sponge filters are best since the aro can graze off of them constantly. Here's something I posted several times already:

Basically, the only real success seems to be in providing a constant source of food until the aros reach about 8" and develop some fat storage to allow them to receive scheduled feedings like most other fish.
I raised the young in bare tanks with sponge filters. The sponge filters allow the fish to "graze" on previously missed food until the next feeding. Be sure to rinse of the sponges every other day to keep spoiled food off of them. Keep the water on the alkaline side and at 80 degrees. Also keep a good lid on their tank. They're jumpers from the get-go. They also need a cover to provide matching air and water temps while the young's air-breathing architecture is developing.
Feed them on a variety of small foods. Frozen bloodworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, crumble food, sinking food, cyclop-eeze, flakes, and micro-pellets are all taken. Feed high protein foods since they have high metabolic rates (no cheap generic foods). Water changes of 30-50% need to be done every 2-3 days.
Af aros need to be housed either as 1 to a tank or 4 and up to a tank. With 2 or 3 you'll wind up with only one in a short time as their aggression towards each other is high.
Note: my best success was in following the above and allowing my rearing tanks to go green with algae. These are a filter-feeding species, after all, and I think they benefitted from some algae consumption in their diets.

Good luck!!

this is very true, i folowed this rubrick and it works, just folow these instructions and ur guy will be fine.
 
skylar how about some current pics of your african. Better yet how about a thread with progressive pics of growth over the last 3 months.
 
johnptc;1293322; said:
on the other hand...........i got a small one ( 3 inches) at the aca meet in sacramento...........it has grown ALOT........now at least 10 inches. did nothing special other than normal good care and clean water.....ate sinking hikari foods with a gravel substrate.........tank feed twice a day...........

good luck !!!!

.
:)

aaa.jpg

aa2.jpg
 
very very nice. sorry all, was busy for the last few days. thanks oddball for the fantastic advise, i'm in a tropical area, so i take it a lid it not necessary for the development of it's air-breathing architecture?

PS: aro has grown a half inch since last post!
 
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