Providing a home for the Arowana

Arowana is not a fish for new enthusiasts. The rate at which this fish grows and the size it attains can be difficult to cope with.

Arowana requires a large water tank since it will spend a large part of its time swimming on the surface. The most important requirement of an arowana tank is a tight lid. These fish are famous jumpers and are in fact rumored to prey low flying bats in the wild. Once your fish attains adulthood, you might even have to lock the lid of your tank at feeding time!

Water conditions

To thrive, arowanas need a pH between 6.0 to 6.5 and a temperature range of 75 to 86 degrees. You also need to monitor the arowana water conditions, as there are good chances of water getting contaminated with fish and feed waste.

The water filter has to be of good quality and should be able to handle the large tank you will need for the arowana. It is difficult to filter arowana tank because the volume is high and you need quite a circulation. Consistent tank conditions have been found to be most helpful with arowana maintenance. You might need to change the water at least once a week to maintain this fish. Arowana can live for 20 years in a well-maintained tank.

Ten tips:

     1. Keep arowanas singly or in a community of at least six because these fishes are territorial and do not tolerate many fishes.
     2. Tank size should be large enough to accommodate your quickly growing fishes. Because of the size, it is more important to decide on the location before your purchase the aquarium. There should be least amount of bumping within the tank!
     3. Active nitrogen cycle in a clean tank is seen to help with the development.
     4. Arowanas can survive in both planted and bare tank but you do need gravel.
     5. Weekly water changes are necessary.
     6. Keep the lights low for this fish, also see that light changes are slow in the tank so that your fish are not spooked.
     7. The importance of a tight lid cannot be over emphasized.
     8. You can heat the water to improve the metabolic rate and facilitate feeding and growth.
     9. Protect the heater with a case, as arowanas are powerful fish!
     10. Do not introduce any sharp objects in the tank.

Arowanas are supposed to bring luck to the owners and you are going to need a lot of that to maintain and accommodate this beautiful fish. Giving them a home can be expensive but is immensely satisfying. These living fossils can give you immense joy.