Beginners’ Guide on Arowana

Hopefully you’ve better understanding on arowana after reading my earlier post on Getting to Know More About Arowana. Today, we’re going to take a closer look on this magnificent fish.

The arowana seems to be the favorite fish of the season, as more and more aquariums retailing this species are popping up all over.

With its regal bearing and powerful demeanor, it’s easy to see why many have fallen for the arowana. Also known as the dragon fish, the arowana is popularly believed to bring good luck and business success to its owner, as well as ward of evil.

If you have forked out a rather princely sum for these fish, learn more about their behavior to ensure their long-term well-being and good health.

Keeping your Arowana Happy

Arowanas normally grow up to approximately 90 cm long. The minimum length of the aquarium should thus be at least 150cm. It should also be sufficiently wide for the fish to turn around easily.

Maintaining good water quality is important, so a powerful filter is essential. Reasonably strong water currents and good aeration are welcome to these fish, but the amount of water movement must not be too great.

Keeping your Arowana Safe

Arowanas may look majestic and aggressive, but they are actually quite timid. Sudden movements in the tank, even slight ones, can provoke violent reactions from them.

Blackwater extract can help calm arowana down. But in the long run, it’s advisable to relocate the tank to a place where human traffic and activity are minimal, to ensure the fish doesn’t get frequent nasty surprises.

These fish are active and good jumpers. In the wild, they can leap up to two meters in the air to catch terrestrial insects. As jumping out of tanks is the most common cause of arowana fatalities, you should always keep the tank properly covered.

Feeding your Arowana

Don’t worry if you observe that the fish is not eating as it is common for arowanas to practice cyclical fasting. There are a few reasons why arowanas fast for periods of time before recovering their appetites again.

Arowanas fast if they undergo stress, like adapting to a new environment or coping with poor water quality. Sudden fright can also send them into a fast for a few days or weeks!

Another reason is that they may have filled their stomachs to the brim. As their digestion is slow, they will not need any more food, so they fast. This can occur after a period of heavy feeding by over-zealous owners.

Arowanas are mouth-brooding fish. This means that they carry their eggs and fry in the mouth, usually for up to two mouths. During this period, they do not eat. Thus, periodic fasting can be a sign of mouth-brooding to come.

Your arowana will eventually get hungry and start feeding again. If the fish doesn’t show signs of stress or disease, and is still behaving normally, it is all right to leave it to its business of periodic fasting.

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