Arowana fish or Asian Arowana (Scleropages formosus) is one of the most favorite fish in the world. Great endurance, price and million lovers are little many reasons that make Arowana will be the legend.
Actually, Arowana cannot be spared from the commodity business. Collectors or lovers would buy little Arowana and then sell it when reaching specific size ("..I heard their profits reached up to 10x only in a year..").
Lets start the tips and ways how to maintain and grow Arowana fish. In addition, I hope you also share other information about Arowana fish.
1. Check your aquarium equipment
Many factors in aquarium you should know when caring for ArowanaThe successful of aquarium to be a comfortable place for Arowana fish is really influenced by the completeness of supporting facilities, such as:
Aerator
Function of aerator or air pump is to supply air into the aquarium and simultaneously vaporize or push unused materials out from the aquarium. Aerator is quite good if it has small voltage but enough high in blowing air.
Heater & Thermometer
Heater is necessary especially when the aquarium water temperature is dropped dramatically, while thermometer installed is used to control temperature in the aquarium. In cold areas, heater and thermometer is very necessary.
Filter
Filter has a function to filter water in the aquarium. Its work includes: suck up, filter and return the water into aquarium in the clean condition.
Fluorescent lamp
The function of fluorescent lamp is to emit light. Besides that, it can also enhance the appearance of aquarium. However, don't let it to produce heat excessively. Ideally, an area of 80x40 cm aquarium requires 20 watts power fluorescent lamps.
2. Be diligent to maintain your aquarium, please!
Five points we should know about the water condition of Arowana aquariumAgree or disagree, you should be diligent to care for Arowana if you already love it. Why? Because the healthy, fresh and fun appearance of your Arowana depends on you. Well, it is your consequence when caring for Arowana.
Feeding
The main food menu for Arowana is centipedes. However, I recommend you to not give it constantly. It should be feed other foods, such as: shrimp, cockroaches, frogs, lizards and crickets.
Controlling and changing water
Controlling water temperature and pH should be done every day. The ideal water temperature for Arowana is about 25 to27 Celsius. If the water temperature is cold, turn on heater immediately until reaching ideal temperature.
Ideally, desired pH for Arowana is about 6 to 8.5. If too low, then add any limes into the aquarium. In addition, water sanitation should also be noted. You can give malachite green, once in three weeks, into the aquarium.
Don't forget, the water should also be replaced. It can be shared into two ways, namely:
(a) Regular water change done every two days with 10% of the total aquarium water volume.
(b) Total water change done every 3 months.
If you use plumbing water, let it for 24 hours to make chlorine contained in that water is settled. After that, the water can be put into the aquarium.
3. Aquarium interior
We should provide aquarium as natural as their original environmentAquarium is a living replica in its wild environment. Therefore, it is necessary to arrange the aquarium interior. This means that aquarium interior design demands appreciations of aesthetics, so that the combination between the beauty of aquarium and the elegant of Arowana can show harmonious environment.
Aquatic plants
Considering the origin of Arowana that likes to hide under water plants, then we are ready to provide those plants. There are several types of aquatic plants to choose, such as: Vallisneria spiralis, Hidrilla verticillata, Riccia fluiutana, Higrophila polisperma, Pistia stratiotes, Najas indica and so forth.
Sand and rocks
Sand is used as the foundation of stone placing. It's better to use river sand, which is still mixed with humus. In addition, we can also give rocks and corals. Ideally, the diameter size of stone is 3 mm. These rocks should have a variety of patterns and colors but still beautiful.
4. Disease
Causes of disease can be shared into two categories namely non-parasitic and parasitic organisms.Parasitic organisms are originally comes from: viruses, bacteria, fungi, worms or protozoa; whereas non-parasitic medium such as: environmental factors, diet and heredity. But in reality, both of them are difficult to distinguish.
There are many characteristics of Arowana fish attacked by kinds of diseases, either due to parasitic or non-parasitic. It would be seen passive, weak, tending to swim in the water surface, decreased appetite, hard to breath, fish's body that was not slippery. Because of reduced mucous membranes so that fish is easily caught. Other signs, such as: bleeding in the chest , broken scales and cracked dorsal fins.
Environmental factors that cause illnesses are: water pH. Fluctuations of water pH are affected by various things such as: the presence of CO2. Besides that, sudden changes of water temperature also greatly affect Arowana's health.
Decreased oxygen level occurring in the water and the presence of toxic gases, such as: CO2, ammonia and water pollution, will harm Arowana's health. Food factors, such as: feeding fresh fishes, will be a risk factor because they can be a carrier of disease.
Hereditary factors also lead to make health trouble at the Arowana, like as: unwell fish scales, didn't have straight back, albino and conjoined twins.
