I purchased my silver arowana a week ago and he/she was swimming around with 4 neon tetras and a plecosomous. He was always swimming on the surface of my 30 gallon fish tank and seemed to always open and close his mouth constantly. He has not eaten anything since I have bought him/her, and now he stays at the bottom of the tank, barely swimming around. He does not open and close his mouth anymore. I tried feeding him/her pellets, crickets, and blood worms. He/she has not eaten any of those items. Does anyone have any suggestions? The chemicals (nitrate,alkalinity, ph and even the water softness is fine). I have also noticed that he/she sometimes swims backwards. Can someone please give me advice to help my silver arowana? Thanks
Is my Silver Arowana Sick?
- Thread starter debbie8
- Start date
First, do you have a long term plan for this fish? A 30 is not going to cut it for long, and it WILL eat the other fish you have in there, likely soon. Aro's need at least 125's, and IMO, even that is way too small for a full grown adult.
Second, what was it eating at the store? Aro's are often fed live, meaning you might need to get some guppies that will produce lots of smaller fry for it. They can be trained to take prepared foods, but this can be challenging since you don't want to starve a juvenile for very long.
Third--what are the actual test results? "Fine" is meaningless.
Second, what was it eating at the store? Aro's are often fed live, meaning you might need to get some guppies that will produce lots of smaller fry for it. They can be trained to take prepared foods, but this can be challenging since you don't want to starve a juvenile for very long.
Third--what are the actual test results? "Fine" is meaningless.
it's not at all unusual for 'newly purchased' fish to go a week without eating. getting settled into the new environment, perhaps new/different water chemistry, new tank mates. i'd not worry yet ... another week and i'd be concerned.
find out what it was eating and feed it the same thing.
you should also know that this fish will need 200 gallons at maturity and certainly outgrow 30 gallons within 6 months if properly maintained.
find out what it was eating and feed it the same thing.
you should also know that this fish will need 200 gallons at maturity and certainly outgrow 30 gallons within 6 months if properly maintained.
Silver Arowana
My Ph level neutral (6.8-7.2), alkalinity is ideal (120-180), total hardness is very soft (0-25), nitrate safe (0). At one store they were feeding it pellets, and at another store they fed it blood worms. I am using blood worms and tried two small circkets as the store suggested. He/she has not eaten any of the two suggested items. Eventually I will have to get a bigger tank, but for right now all I had at home was the 30 gallon tank. Perhaps the arowana is not moving around too much because there is not enough room in the tank. I was told that they need lots of oxygen so I purchased an air bubble oxygen decoration-bridge- which takes up the middle of the tank. I think I will go out and get a bigger tank Friday- 125gal - 200 gal.
My Ph level neutral (6.8-7.2), alkalinity is ideal (120-180), total hardness is very soft (0-25), nitrate safe (0). At one store they were feeding it pellets, and at another store they fed it blood worms. I am using blood worms and tried two small circkets as the store suggested. He/she has not eaten any of the two suggested items. Eventually I will have to get a bigger tank, but for right now all I had at home was the 30 gallon tank. Perhaps the arowana is not moving around too much because there is not enough room in the tank. I was told that they need lots of oxygen so I purchased an air bubble oxygen decoration-bridge- which takes up the middle of the tank. I think I will go out and get a bigger tank Friday- 125gal - 200 gal.
It is possible that the move has him a bit stressed, but sitting at the bottom is not the best sign...how big is this arowana? Very small ones occasionally do not acclimate well.
Just so you know, these fish will reach a length of 36", to big for a 125g-200g, 300-400g is what it will most likely need to end up in, however,a 125g should be good enough for atleast 2-3 years, espescially if hes small enough to fit into a 30g and hasn't ate the neons yet. Also, be sure to do a fishless cycle, the last thing you would want to happen to one of these buetifull fish is for it to die from amonia posioning.
EDIT: is your plecaustumus(please excuse the spelling) a common pleco? if so, it will need the huge tank as well, also way more feeding than just algae in the tank. Look here for more info about your common pleco, if thats what it is.
EDIT: is your plecaustumus(please excuse the spelling) a common pleco? if so, it will need the huge tank as well, also way more feeding than just algae in the tank. Look here for more info about your common pleco, if thats what it is.
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dorkfish said:
Have not seen many healthy adult silvers, have you? 40"-52" as a mature adult is what you should expect, although circa 40" is more common than 50"+....and a 3" silver can, under proper conditions, exceed 28" within two years.
Tropical Fish World in Gaithersburg, MD has arrowana in their huge display tank. They are EASILY 3' in size away from the glass and that's judging them against the size of my son, who is taller than that.
I *think* they are silver arrowanas, but I'm not sure. Gorgeous fish, but even in that huge tank -- guessing it's more than 10' long easy, over twice my size, and very very deep -- they look cramped.
If I get a chance tomorrow I'll call them and ask particulars. I've been meaning to have an excuse as I've been wondering as well.
Roan
I *think* they are silver arrowanas, but I'm not sure. Gorgeous fish, but even in that huge tank -- guessing it's more than 10' long easy, over twice my size, and very very deep -- they look cramped.
If I get a chance tomorrow I'll call them and ask particulars. I've been meaning to have an excuse as I've been wondering as well.
Roan