Arowana Care – Important Rearing Practices For Asian Arowanas

If there is one very popular breed among Arowanas, it is probably the Asian Arowana. This extraordinary fish belongs to the Scleropages family and it is one of the varieties of large freshwater fish found in some rivers and lakes of Southeast Asia. While there are different classifications and species of Asian Arowanas, they are also called by other Asian names like bonytongue and dragon fish.

Asian Arowanas thrive in the black water rivers and swamped areas of Indonesia but unlike when they are in captivity, they are very active food hunters and can be able to spot insects and small animals several meters away from their spot. They are agile predators and they can approach their preys undetected. It can leap out very high from the water just to have that insect clinging on a tree branch. They prefer the slow-moving waters that are flowing through wetlands and forested swamps where most of their foods are found. While young, the young Asian Arowana prefer to eat insects while the adult will eat other fish, small animals like frogs, shrimps and any insects.

Since Asian Arowanas prefer moving waters, the proper Arowana care conditions are to rear them in big aquariums with slow moving water and powerful water pumps. They prefer good light as well. Experts say part of proper Arowana care is that lighting is very important to Arowanas in maintaining and enhancing their natural colors. If they lack the proper lighting, their colors tend to fade and may even dampen their energy. When it comes to Arowana food for the Asian Arowanas, the amount and type of foods that should be given must only be right and of course must come only from reliable breeding farms. Worms, small frogs or small fishes that are caught outdoors should not be given to them because small wild animals are prone to parasites.

Avoid feeding your Asian Arowana with sick fishes as well because sick fishes may have parasites in their bodies. Feed only live animals that appear to be very much healthy and with no scars or missing scales. Feeding Arowanas that are still young require special Arowana care so it is recommended that crickets or any insect with hard shells must be removed of their shells before feeding to them to the fries. If you want healthier Arowanas, inject them with vitamins when they are already matured or you can also feed them granulated vitamins. You can also feed them fruits that are sliced into small pieces but do not overfeed them because fruits that remain in their water for hours can bring about pollution to the water. It is also recommended that the water in their aquarium must be changed at least once a week to prevent algae from forming and dispense any possible development of water borne diseases.