Questions after visit to LFS

[dvs]

Went to the asian tropical fish store yesterday to see some arownanas, and have some questions regarding the experience. The biggest tank was a 6ft x something smaller than 2 feet. Looked way too thin. It had a big silver, big jar, big clown knife, and big GG. It looked way cramped, was not very clean, and didn't seem to have good circulation. The fish all seemed much more lethargic than what I would want in a pet fish. The clown knife was laying on the bottom mostly, and the other 3 were slowly moving back and forth. There was apparently no aggression amongst the tankmates, and the owner said it was because they all grew up together from a small size.

Questions:

1. the smaller aros all seemed to move around quicker. They were more active. Do they naturally get slower as they grow?

2. I like the look of a wider tank. Why is it so hard to find a tank wider than 24"?

 

[turbid]

1. the small ones might be more active because they can turn better since the tank is narrow for the large fish as you said. i dont think aros lose activity as they grow older... they would seem slower because they have grown and the tank will look smaller..IMO

2. most manufactureres use standard lenghts when making tanks, to keep costs a little down because standard size tanks will sell fast since they would suit most households... so if you want a wider tank they have to buy the glass especially for you so it will increase a little in cost... it will also be heavier so would need more people to carry the glass around.. this is my opinion of course... we dont have many tank manufacturers in malta..we get ready made tanks from abroad...

i used the generic term glass... it could be any material of course.

 

[95Harley]

"There was apparently no aggression amongst the tankmates..."

They were too cramped and sick to fight is my guess.

 

[headbanger_jib]

1) that normally happens when there is too less space to move around the fish get real sluggish
2)get it custom made, or do what i did, make it yourself, not too much work though

 

[Delhezi222]

"There was apparently no aggression amongst the tankmates..."

They were too cramped and sick to fight is my guess.

Either that or they were a really rare happening, but I doubt that in those conditions.

 

[STONEDFISH]

I don't know if all Asian fish shops are the same, but that sounds like the one here. When you walk in there, about the same size tank (6'x18") with the same fish you saw, is directly in front of you. Take a right and you see a bunch of small silvers crammed into a couple tanks. There are some flowerhorn and discus right there too. They have TONS of fish crammed into small dirty tanks...Gars that can't even move. It's crazy.
They have some hard to find fish though, Datnoids, big Frontosa, Jardini, big Knifefish. I even saw a Red Tail Golden Arowana there. It was way in the back corner in a tank on the bottom, it was SWEET.
Even though the conditions are lack luster, no fish I have got from them has been ill. The Dats were crappy looking at the store, but turned out to be nice once I got them home.

stndfsh

 

[dvs]

thanks for the answers guys!

I was a little discouraged after seeing arowanas in person for the first time because they look and move much better on the videos here. I am pretty sure those fish weren't as healthy as they should be, and the tank was gross. When I asked the owner what kind of filter his tanks came with he replied "I have no idea, they pick one out and send them together"

What I noticed about the jardini was that it was fat, had cloudy eyes, dull scales, and sluggish. Poor thing didn't seem like he could turn around with ease. I really don't want a tank that is not comfortable for the fish, and don't think one like that looks good.

Im thinking if I do get a jar I will want either a 6x3x2, or a 300g wide. I wish I could see both of these setups in person, but can't find one anywhere.