Hey guys, thanks for all your help on the other thread. I picked up my black aro today. Ill post some pics later. I just got done acclimating him. He's in my 180 by himself. The tank is filtered by 2 fx5's, temp is about 78 and nitrates are about 5. He was a little costly ($220 and 7") but the place that I got him from is the only place that I really know of that can get them and they only get about 2 a year. I bought some guppies they were feeding him and some grasshoppers. I just put 10 guppies in the tank and figured he could eat them whenever he got hungry. Just wondering if you guys could give me any advice. I think I got it pretty much covered but any more input will be great.
So I bought a black aro..
- Thread starter creepyoldguy
- Start date
Welcome to the club 
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Atm they are all seperated til they get 10".
They are such graceful swimmers. I love mine.
Try to offer different types of non living food early. I am lucky and got mine to eat everything.
. Atm they are all seperated til they get 10".
They are such graceful swimmers. I love mine.
Try to offer different types of non living food early. I am lucky and got mine to eat everything.
Thanks bomber! I love the little guy and I can't wait for him to get comfy at his new home. I do love watching him swim around. As far as food...I have the guppies, crickets, market shrimp and various floating hikari cichlid pellets. What are some specialty aro foods that make their colors look bright and amazing? Also, should I have started him out in a smaller tank? I have a 55 and 150, I would just have to do a lot of rearranging fish
Congrats on the pick up!!! Welcome to the wonderful world of aro ownership. A 180 is perfect for a few years 
. Try to feed other than live..I use hikari aro sticks..
Keep us posted--pics plz,
Chris
. A 180 is perfect for a few years . Try to feed other than live..I use hikari aro sticks..Keep us posted--pics plz,
Chris
Congrats on the pick up. If you don't want to spend too much $$ all the time on food, try to get it on pellets. I'd also give it a mixed diet of pellets, shrimp, crickets, worms etc. Good luck with it and post some pics 
EDIT: Sorry i just read that you're already doing this LOL. Just keep up with what you're doing and keep up with WC and you'll be fine.
EDIT: Sorry i just read that you're already doing this LOL. Just keep up with what you're doing and keep up with WC and you'll be fine.
yup! good thread aside from one thing.. pics!
no seriously, it doesn't have to be harder than this. you do your research and then you report "I have an aro", we go like "well, keep up what you're doing! I LOVE RESEARCH!
no seriously, it doesn't have to be harder than this. you do your research and then you report "I have an aro", we go like "well, keep up what you're doing! I LOVE RESEARCH!
THanks for the help guys. To zfishes. This 180 wont last for life, but from the knowledge of other black aro keepers it could last up to 3-4 yrs depending on growth rate and personal aro. I gotta leave and I had to set up my 55 once I got home to put some of my other cichlids in. The water is a little hazy from the sand but both fx5's had established media from my other tanks.
I would move him to a smaller tank so he can easely find his food although if he is eating fine then the 180 should be great..
My aro's are still young so I do not know what specialty foods they eat to gain color.....
You should try giving him everything you can now and then see what other aro keepers are saying about color.
***photos please even if its blurry like mine.
@Zfishes, not sure where you came up with a 180g tank for life
. It sure was not from this thread.
My aro's are still young so I do not know what specialty foods they eat to gain color.....
You should try giving him everything you can now and then see what other aro keepers are saying about color.
***photos please even if its blurry like mine.
@Zfishes, not sure where you came up with a 180g tank for life
. It sure was not from this thread.