Arowana Fish And Arapaima – The Ultimate Guide To Thriving Giants

Written ByHoward Parker

Ever dreamt of owning an aquarium that truly stands out, housing magnificent, prehistoric-looking fish that command attention? If you’re an aquarium enthusiast looking to elevate your hobby, you’ve likely considered the majestic arowana fish and arapaima.

These freshwater giants are among the most impressive inhabitants a large aquarium can host, offering an unparalleled spectacle of grace and power. But the thought of caring for such magnificent creatures can feel a little daunting, right?

Don’t worry! You’re in the right place. At Aquifarm, we understand the thrill and the challenge. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about keeping arowana fish and arapaima, transforming potential worries into confident care. We’ll cover tank setup, feeding, maintenance, and even address common problems with arowana fish and arapaima, ensuring your journey is as rewarding as possible.

By the end of this article, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to create a thriving, beautiful habitat for these incredible fish, bringing a piece of the Amazon rainforest right into your home. Let’s dive in!

Understanding the Giants: Arowana Fish and Arapaima Species Spotlight

Before we delve into the practicalities of their care, let’s truly appreciate the unique characteristics that make arowana fish and arapaima such captivating aquarium residents. Knowing their natural behaviors and origins is the first step in providing the best care.

Understanding these fish means recognizing their needs. This section serves as your initial arowana fish and arapaima guide, laying the groundwork for successful husbandry.

The Majestic Arowana: A Glimpse into Ancient Waters

Arowanas, often called “dragon fish” due to their large, metallic scales and barbels, are truly ancient. They belong to the Osteoglossidae family, with species found across South America, Asia, and Australia.

These fish are known for their predatory nature and incredible jumping ability. In the wild, they often snatch prey from the water’s surface, a behavior that aquarists must always keep in mind.

Popular species include the Silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) from South America and various Asian Arowana species (e.g., Red, Gold, Green), though many Asian varieties are CITES-protected and require special permits.

The Ancient Arapaima: A Living Fossil

The arapaima (Arapaima gigas) is one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, native to the Amazon and Essequibo basins. These magnificent creatures possess a unique ability to breathe air, thanks to a modified swim bladder that acts like a lung.

Their armored scales and powerful bodies make them formidable predators. Observing an arapaima glide through the water is like watching a living dinosaur—a truly awe-inspiring experience.

Due to their immense size, keeping arapaima is a commitment that requires significant space and resources, but the rewards are truly extraordinary for the dedicated aquarist.

Tank Setup Essentials for Arowana Fish and Arapaima

The single most critical factor for successfully keeping arowana fish and arapaima is providing an appropriately sized and well-equipped habitat. There’s no cutting corners here; these fish grow *big*.

This section is your comprehensive arowana fish and arapaima care guide, focusing on creating a thriving environment. Getting this right from the start will prevent many common problems with arowana fish and arapaima later on.

The Colossal Aquarium: Size Matters

For a single adult Silver Arowana, a tank of at least 250 gallons (950 liters) is the absolute minimum, with 300-400 gallons (1135-1514 liters) being much better. Asian Arowanas may require similar or even larger tanks depending on species.

For an arapaima, even a juvenile will quickly outgrow standard large tanks. An adult arapaima requires an aquarium measured in *thousands* of gallons—think custom-built, public aquarium-sized tanks, often 1000-3000 gallons (3785-11356 liters) or more, with dimensions allowing it to turn comfortably.

Remember, a longer and wider footprint is always more beneficial than just height. These fish need swimming room.

Filtration: The Lifeblood of Your Aquarium

Given the sheer bioload of these large predators, robust filtration is non-negotiable. You’ll need a multi-stage filtration system, far exceeding what’s typical for smaller tanks.

  • Mechanical Filtration: Essential for removing particulate matter and keeping the water crystal clear. Large canister filters, sumps with filter socks, and even fluidized bed filters are excellent choices.
  • Biological Filtration: Crucial for breaking down ammonia and nitrites. Massive amounts of bio-media in a sump system are ideal. Wet/dry filters are also very effective.
  • Chemical Filtration: Activated carbon can help remove odors and discoloration, while specialized resins can target nitrates or phosphates.

Aim for a turnover rate of at least 8-10 times the tank volume per hour. Over-filtration is impossible with these fish.

Aquascaping for Giants: Safety and Comfort

When aquascaping for arowana fish and arapaima, prioritize safety and open swimming space. These fish are powerful and can easily rearrange or damage decor.

  • Substrate: Fine sand or smooth, large river rocks are suitable. Avoid sharp gravel that could injure them.
  • Decor: Use large, smooth driftwood pieces or robust, well-secured rocks. Ensure all decor is heavy and stable enough not to be toppled. Minimalistic decor is often best.
  • Lighting: Standard aquarium lighting is fine. Arowanas appreciate subdued lighting, so floating plants can help diffuse intense light.
  • Lid: A very sturdy, weighted lid is absolutely essential for arowanas, as they are expert jumpers. Arapaima also appreciate a secure lid, though their jumping is less frequent once settled.

When thinking about how to arowana fish and arapaima, remember that their environment directly impacts their health and longevity.

Diet and Nutrition: Feeding Your Arowana Fish and Arapaima for Optimal Health

Providing a balanced and varied diet is paramount for the health, growth, and vibrant coloration of your arowana fish and arapaima. These are carnivores, and their diet should reflect that.

This section offers essential arowana fish and arapaima tips for feeding, ensuring your giants receive the best possible nutrition.

Arowana Diet Specifics: Surface Hunters

Arowanas are primarily surface feeders. Their diet should consist of a variety of high-quality, meaty foods.

  • Staple Foods: High-quality arowana pellets or sticks should form the base of their diet, providing essential vitamins and minerals.
  • Live/Frozen Foods: Offer a variety of feeder insects (crickets, mealworms, superworms – ensure they are gut-loaded), shrimp, krill, and occasional small feeder fish (only from reputable, disease-free sources, or better yet, avoid due to disease risk).
  • Frequency: Juveniles should be fed 2-3 times a day, while adults can be fed once a day or every other day. Avoid overfeeding.

Always ensure food items are appropriately sized to prevent choking or digestive issues.

Arapaima’s Hearty Appetite: Bottom and Mid-Water Feeders

Arapaima are voracious eaters and will consume a wide variety of protein-rich foods. They are less picky than arowanas and will often take food from the surface, mid-water, or bottom.

  • Staple Foods: Large, high-quality sinking pellets formulated for predatory fish are a good base.
  • Meaty Foods: Offer substantial portions of shrimp, squid, fish fillets (tilapia, cod, salmon – avoid oily fish too frequently), and occasional earthworms.
  • Frequency: Juveniles should be fed daily, while adults can be fed every other day or even a few times a week, depending on their size and activity level.

Due to their size, large pieces of food are necessary. Monitor their girth to avoid overfeeding, which can lead to health issues.

Supplementation and Variety: A Key to Health

Variety is key to ensuring a complete nutritional profile. Rotate different food types to prevent deficiencies.

Some aquarists lightly supplement foods with vitamin mixes, especially for younger fish or those recovering from stress. Always research and use supplements sparingly, following product instructions carefully.

Good feeding practices are part of arowana fish and arapaima best practices for long-term health.

Water Parameters and Maintenance: Sustainable Arowana Fish and Arapaima Care

Maintaining stable and pristine water conditions is crucial for the health and longevity of your arowana fish and arapaima. These fish come from environments with very consistent water quality, and replicating that is key to their success.

Adopting sustainable arowana fish and arapaima practices means diligent water management.

The Perfect Water Chemistry

Both arowanas and arapaima generally thrive in warm, soft, and slightly acidic to neutral water. Replicating their natural habitat is always the goal.

  • Temperature: Keep the water temperature stable between 78-82°F (25.5-27.8°C). A reliable heater (or multiple heaters for very large tanks) is essential.
  • pH: Aim for a pH range of 6.0-7.5. Sudden fluctuations can be very stressful.
  • Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water (GH 2-10 dGH) is preferred.
  • Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate: Ammonia and nitrite should always be undetectable (0 ppm). Nitrates should be kept as low as possible, ideally below 20 ppm, and certainly below 40 ppm.

Regular testing with a high-quality liquid test kit is non-negotiable. Don’t rely on guesswork or dip strips for these valuable fish.

Regular Maintenance Routines

Consistent maintenance is far more effective than sporadic, large interventions. This is where eco-friendly arowana fish and arapaima care truly shines, as good practices reduce waste and stress.

  • Water Changes: Large, frequent water changes are essential. For large tanks with high bioloads, 25-50% weekly water changes are often necessary. For very large custom setups, advanced filtration may allow for less frequent but still significant changes.
  • Gravel Vacuuming: Regularly vacuum the substrate to remove uneaten food and detritus, which contribute to nitrate buildup.
  • Filter Maintenance: Clean mechanical filter media regularly (weekly to bi-weekly). Rinse biological media in old tank water to preserve beneficial bacteria. Replace chemical media as directed.
  • Glass Cleaning: Keep the viewing panes clean to fully appreciate your fish.

Always use a water conditioner to neutralize chlorine and chloramines during water changes.

Monitoring for Health: Early Detection

Daily observation of your fish is one of the most important aspects of their care. Look for any changes in:

  • Behavior: Lethargy, hiding more than usual, erratic swimming, flashing against decor.
  • Appearance: Frayed fins, cloudy eyes, spots, lesions, discoloration, loss of appetite.
  • Breathing: Labored breathing or gasping at the surface can indicate poor water quality or illness.

Early detection of issues can prevent minor problems from becoming major health crises. This proactive approach is a core element of good arowana fish and arapaima care guide practices.

Common Problems with Arowana Fish and Arapaima & How to Solve Them

Even with the best intentions and meticulous care, aquarists can sometimes encounter challenges. Being prepared for common problems with arowana fish and arapaima is part of being a responsible owner.

Here, we’ll discuss some typical issues and how to address them effectively, turning potential setbacks into learning opportunities.

Health Concerns: Keeping Your Giants Robust

Like all fish, arowanas and arapaima can fall ill, often due to stress, poor water quality, or inadequate diet.

  • Fin Rot: Often caused by poor water quality or injury. Improve water quality with more frequent water changes, ensure stable parameters, and treat with appropriate medications if necessary.
  • Ich (White Spot Disease): Appears as small white spots on the body and fins. Usually triggered by stress or sudden temperature changes. Slowly raise water temperature to 82-84°F (28-29°C) (ensure adequate aeration), add aquarium salt, and use an Ich medication if needed.
  • Dropsy: A symptom of underlying organ failure, often due to internal bacterial infection. Fish appears bloated with scales protruding. Often difficult to treat successfully, but isolation, clean water, and broad-spectrum antibiotics can be attempted.
  • Eye Drop (Arowana specific): The eye points downwards. Often attributed to looking down at the tank bottom for extended periods, especially if fed sinking foods, or due to genetics. Some believe placing a ping pong ball or floating food can help, but prevention through proper feeding and environment is best.

Always quarantine new fish and research any medications thoroughly before use, as some fish are sensitive to certain treatments.

Behavioral Quirks and Challenges

These large predators also have specific behavioral traits that need managing.

  • Aggression: Both arowanas and arapaima can be aggressive, especially towards conspecifics or smaller tank mates. Careful selection of tank mates (if any) is crucial. They are best kept alone or with other very large, robust, and fast-moving fish that won’t fit in their mouths.
  • Jumping (Arowana): As mentioned, arowanas are prone to jumping. A secure, heavy lid is non-negotiable to prevent escape and injury.
  • Stress: Signs of stress include clamped fins, rapid breathing, loss of appetite, and dull coloration. Address the root cause immediately, whether it’s water quality, bullying, or an unsuitable environment.

Observing your fish’s natural behaviors helps you understand their needs and prevent stress.

Tankmate Compatibility (or Lack Thereof)

Choosing tank mates for arowana fish and arapaima is challenging. Generally, it’s best to keep them as solitary specimens, especially the arapaima.

If you must have tank mates:

  • They should be significantly larger than the arowana’s mouth, but not so large as to intimidate it.
  • They should be fast-moving and robust.
  • Examples might include large plecos, stingrays (if you have the expertise and tank size), or other large, non-aggressive cichlids.
  • Never house small fish with these predators. They will become expensive snacks.

When considering how to arowana fish and arapaima coexist, the answer is often: they don’t, unless carefully planned and with vast space.

The Benefits of Arowana Fish and Arapaima in Your Aquarium

Despite the challenges, the rewards of keeping arowana fish and arapaima are immense. There are significant benefits of arowana fish and arapaima ownership that make the dedication worthwhile.

These fish aren’t just pets; they are living works of art and fascinating natural wonders.

  • Stunning Centerpieces: An adult arowana or arapaima immediately becomes the undisputed star of any room. Their imposing size, graceful movements, and unique appearance draw all eyes.
  • Unique Personality: Both species can develop distinct personalities. Arowanas are known to recognize their owners and can be quite interactive, following movements outside the tank. Arapaima, while less overtly expressive, possess a quiet, ancient dignity.
  • Educational Value: Owning these fish provides a direct connection to some of the world’s most impressive freshwater ecosystems. It’s a constant learning experience about biology, ecology, and responsible pet ownership.
  • Sense of Accomplishment: Successfully maintaining a large, thriving aquarium for these magnificent fish is a significant achievement, a testament to your dedication and expertise as an aquarist.
  • Long Lifespan: With proper care, arowanas can live for 10-20 years, and arapaima can live even longer. They truly become long-term companions.

The experience of nurturing these incredible creatures and watching them thrive is truly unparalleled.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arowana Fish and Arapaima

Let’s address some common questions that aquarists often have when considering these amazing fish.

How big do arowana fish and arapaima get?

Silver Arowanas can reach lengths of 3-4 feet (90-120 cm) in captivity, sometimes larger in the wild. Asian Arowanas are typically 2-3 feet (60-90 cm). Arapaima are truly enormous, easily exceeding 6 feet (1.8 meters) in captivity and up to 10 feet (3 meters) or more in the wild, weighing hundreds of pounds.

Can arowana fish and arapaima live together?

While possible in *extremely* large, custom-built display tanks (think public aquarium scale), it is generally not recommended for home aquarists. Both are large predators with specific needs, and combining them requires immense space and careful management to prevent aggression, competition for food, and stress. It is an advanced undertaking.

What’s the minimum tank size for an adult arapaima?

For an adult arapaima, you’re looking at a minimum of 1000-2000 gallons (3785-7570 liters), but 3000+ gallons (11356+ liters) is truly ideal. More importantly than just volume, the tank needs significant length and width to allow the fish to turn and swim comfortably without constantly bumping into glass. These are not fish for typical home aquariums.

Are arowana fish and arapaima difficult to care for?

They are considered advanced-level fish. Their care isn’t necessarily “difficult” in terms of complex chemistry, but it requires significant commitment to tank size, filtration, diet, and consistent water maintenance. The sheer scale of their needs is the primary challenge. Beginners should gain experience with smaller, hardier species first.

Are arowana fish and arapaima legal to own?

The legality varies greatly by region. Silver Arowanas are generally legal, but Asian Arowanas are listed under CITES Appendix I, meaning international trade is highly regulated and often requires special permits. Arapaima legality also varies, and due to their size, some areas restrict their ownership. Always check your local and national laws before acquiring either species.

Conclusion: Your Journey with Giants Awaits

Caring for arowana fish and arapaima is an extraordinary journey that offers unparalleled rewards. While these magnificent creatures demand significant commitment in terms of space, resources, and diligent care, the experience of watching them thrive in your home is truly one-of-a-kind.

By following the comprehensive arowana fish and arapaima guide provided here, you’re well-equipped with the knowledge to establish a healthy, sustainable environment. Remember, consistent observation, pristine water quality, and a varied diet are the cornerstones of success.

Embrace the challenge, dedicate yourself to their well-being, and you’ll be rewarded with years of awe-inspiring beauty and a deeper connection to the aquatic world. Your incredible journey with these freshwater giants starts now!

Howard Parker
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