New to Arowanas

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kokosnood

Gambusia
MFK Member
Feb 3, 2009
156
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Santa Ynez, CA
I've kept a lot of fish over the last 25 years; but never an arowana. I am very interested in both the silver and black arowana, and I think the time might be right. One of my setups right now is a 140g with 2 large tinfoil barbs, a Jack Dempsey, a bunch of convicts, 2 plecos, and some cory cats. I've been thinking about moving the cory cats out, they seem too small and gentle for this tank; but they are doing OK. There is a much larger tank in the planning stages.
I have some arowana questions:
1. What are the main differences between the silver and black arowanas? Can they be kept together? Do they reach the same size? Is it just a matter of aesthetics which one to choose?
2. If I got say 3 baby arowanas, how long could they live in a 6 foot tank?
3. When is the best (most affordable) time to order baby arowana?
4. What is a good price in CA for baby arowana?
5. How do you train them on to pellets?
6. How do you think baby arowana would fare with the tankmates I described above? I really don't care if they eventually ate any of the convicts, but I don't want any of my existing fish to harass the arowanas.
7. I know the top of the tank needs to be secured--any other advice?

Thanks in advance,
S
 

My answers/opinions in red;
kokosnood;3650367; said:
I've kept a lot of fish over the last 25 years; but never an arowana. I am very interested in both the silver and black arowana, and I think the time might be right. One of my setups right now is a 140g with 2 large tinfoil barbs, a Jack Dempsey, a bunch of convicts, 2 plecos, and some cory cats. I've been thinking about moving the cory cats out, they seem too small and gentle for this tank; but they are doing OK. There is a much larger tank in the planning stages.
I have some arowana questions:
1. What are the main differences between the silver and black arowanas?

They look very similar, with the adult silvers being silver and the adult black being grey. Biggest difference is drop eye, seems that most adult silvers have it, while very few blacks ever get it.

Can they be kept together?

Yes, but more often then not it does not work. Pairs work about 33% and trios are about a 50-60% chance of working. When trying to build an aro community iy is good to have multiple tanks as options.

Do they reach the same size? Is it just a matter of aesthetics which one to choose?

Hard to say as there are not alot of adult blacks to compare. I would say the black will still get to 30" but is not as bulky as a silver aro.

2. If I got say 3 baby arowanas, how long could they live in a 6 foot tank?

Lots of factors here, may be only a year. Could be longer, but not likely much over two years.

3. When is the best (most affordable) time to order baby arowana?

Silvers babies are generally available year round, best time for blacks babies is spring.

4. What is a good price in CA for baby arowana?

Last June Baby blacks were available for as little as $35 in SoCal, but generally blacks are more expensive(BTW I am in Colo.)

5. How do you train them on to pellets?

Easier to do the younger they are, larger they get the more stubborn they become.

6. How do you think baby arowana would fare with the tankmates I described above? I really don't care if they eventually ate any of the convicts, but I don't want any of my existing fish to harass the arowanas.

IMO baby aro should be kept solitary until they are 5-6". Don't mix with large cichlids until 10" long and the aro's length should be 2x that of the cichlid.

7. I know the top of the tank needs to be secured--any other advice?

Realize that in 18-24 months the arowana will be at least 24" long. They should be housed in a tank that is 3 times their length and have a depth/ width at least equal to the aro's length. For a trio of adults, your are going to need a huge tank.

Thanks in advance,
S
Click to expand...
 
they could grow faster the stated my silver is 8 months and 22" in a 180gal, 72x24x24...i have not owned blacks yet but from my exp with silvers is that the smaller ones can be kept with small bottom dwellers but they are very skidish and best to be kept solo as stated...i tried an oscar when the aro was 9-12" and the oscar was 7" but the oscar was too agressive...now at 22" i have 3 tsns, a gar, a jd, a rbpacu with it and i am growing out oscars to go with it...
 
kokosnood;3650859; said:
Thanks a lot for the answers. About the tankmates...How about the lg tinfoil barbs, any compatibility problems with baby aros?
Click to expand...

i had a school of 10 5"+ tinfoils with my aro when it was 10" imo they are to fast and jumpy for a small aro...with a larger aro it is fine...
 
kokosnood;3650859; said:
Thanks a lot for the answers. About the tankmates...How about the lg tinfoil barbs, any compatibility problems with baby aros?
Click to expand...

Within reason, all tankmates are potential problems for baby aros.
 
Silvers will grow a lot faster than blacks and in the long run will get bigger. You can keep blacks together a lot easier than silvers as they tend to get a bit aggressive toward other arowana. I would shoot for a minimum width on your tank of 24". This will keep them happy for a while. I had a 28" in a 24" wide tank and he was fine. Black aros are a lot more money to buy and I was told from a wholesaler that they are becoming a bit harder to get into the country from Peru and Columbia.
I have both species and I prefer the silvers for a large tank just because of the size and body mass thats just my 2 cents
 
since your from CA, go and look at PetZone in San Diego. Petzonesd.com. They have silvers right now, jardini, and maybe some blacks left.
 
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