Beginner Care Guide of Arowana

Common Name: Arowana

Scientific Name: Scleropages formosus

Average Size: Up to 60 - 100cm, varies with breed

Life Span: 8 - 15 years with proper care

pH: 6.5 - 7.5

Temperature: 24°C - 28°C

Water Hardness: 8 - 12 dH

TRAITS & BEHAVIOR

Diet:

Arowanas are carnivores.  Provide them with live frozen insects, krills, worms or shrimp with soft shell.

Feeding Habit:

Arowanas is surface feeder and they often glide below the water surface.

Communal:

May live in communal but becareful when introduce new fish.

Jumper:

Arowanas is an active jumper, so please keep the tank covered.

ENVIRONMENT

Aquarium Placement:

Keep away the aquarium from direct sunlight and electronic goods.

Aquarium Size:

Juvenile Arowana needs at least a 90 liters of aquarium tank where as a full grown Arowana needs 500 liters as minimum.

Decoration:

Do not require any driftwood or substrate as the sharp edge may hurt their body, and they need wide space to swim.

Lighting:

6 - 8 hours of lighting is recommended. Avoid extended exposure of lighting to prevent the growth of algae.

Water Temperature:

Maintain the water temperature to between 24°C - 28°C by using cooling fan such as ISTA cooling fan.

 

Water Change:

Advised weekly change 10 - 25% of your aquarium water, at least 40% of aquarium water monthly by using cleaning tools.

NUTRITION

Staple diet:

Tetra Arowana is formulated with live dried food like krill, shrimps and crabs is highly acceptant by Arowanas.

Supplement:

Tetra ArowanaVital and JBL Atvitol can be given twice a week to strengthen their immune system.

 

ISTA Mineral Salt Arowana is formulated with a special blend of iodine and B - complex vitamins which stimulates the vitality, appetite, breeding and overall activeness.

Treats:

Live insects such as crickets, mealworms, waxworms or frozen food can be fed occasionally.

Feeding:

Feeding young fish 1 - 2 times a day and only one time for adult Arowana. Remove any uneaten fish after 2 - 3 minutes with Nirox Fish Net.

HEALTH

Sign of healthy:

- Clear eyes

- Smooth and clean in appearance

- Healthy appetite

- Calm and steady gill movement

- Bright and even body coloration

Sign of illness:

- Loss of body coloration

- Lying on the bottom of aquarium

- Poor growth or weight loss

- Fins clamped to side

- Scraping body on rock

IMPORTANCE

- Avoid fish tank from being overcrowded as it may cause stress to fish and higher chance for them to get sick.

- Regular water change and an appropriate filtration is needed to maintain a good water quality.

- Check water quality by using JBL Test Kit at least once a week.