unexplained black arowana death

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keepinfish

keepinfish

Potamotrygon
MFK Member
Jun 29, 2007
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I lost a 20" black arowana today. Not sure what went wrong. Tank is on a drip and is always perfect. Tank mates are rays and just added 4 black bar silver dollars. The dollars were in Q for about 8 weeks. They all seem to be healthy.

The silver dollars were put into the tank Tuesday and the Black aro stopped eating Monday. I Noticed the black aro was starting to hang his tail end real low. I noticed last night he was breathing real heavy. I knew something wasnt right when he showed no interest in food. I feed him mostly smelt and he will eat some cichlid gold occasionally. I am not sure if maybe he choked on some of the food, or if something else went wrong. Maybe he smashed into the lid. I pulled him out this morning and did not notice any damage on his head though. Any suggestions on mysterious aro deaths?
 
Unlikely, but do you think one of the rays might have managed to sting it? Like in the mentioned tail area, I don't know exactly what happens to fish after it's been stung, but loss of appetite and immobility to some extent seem suspicious. Just my opinion, doesn't mean I'm right.
 
the only thing i have done differently is i have left the light on for 3 days straight. I just added these silver dollars and wanted them to get settled in and if i turned the lights off and they got near the bottom i was afraid the tigrinus would pick them off. When the lights go off the tigrinus is a mean SOB.
 
JC_P;4619537; said:
Unlikely, but do you think one of the rays might have managed to sting it? Like in the mentioned tail area, I don't know exactly what happens to fish after it's been stung, but loss of appetite and immobility to some extent seem suspicious. Just my opinion, doesn't mean I'm right.
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i wondered the same thing. i did not look the arowana over real good this morning. I will check him out better tonight.. It is possible, but he rarely goes down to the bottom near the rays.
 
keepinfish;4619543; said:
i wondered the same thing. i did not look the arowana over real good this morning. I will check him out better tonight.. It is possible, but he rarely goes down to the bottom near the rays.
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That's what I was thinking. Aro's like to stay near the top, I have heard of a situation where an aro attacked a ray and a simmilar thing happened though. Also check your rays visually from the glass to see if the sheath has been peeled away from the barb, usually indicates it has stung something.
 
I'm sorry for your loss.
 
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