Arowana: Indonesia Ornamental Fish

Type Of Arowanas

Wondering what types of Arowana are there ? There are Indonesia Arowana.
Indonesia Arowana is probably, the most expensive freshwater, ornamental fish in the World, the Indonesia Arowana is indeed a beauty to withhold. It is viewed as sort of reincarnation of the Dragon due to its hugh, brightly coloured scales and barbels at the tip of it’s mouth. It’s slow but elegant swimming posture and ferocious eating style are also reasons for its popularity. Businessman, especially the Chinese, keep this fish for geomancy purposes. That is, to guard one’s house/office and to ward off evil. It is believed that the Gold variety is good for a business premise while that of the Red, for the home. Another reason for its high price is due to its late maturity (3-5 years on the average) period and most likely, the Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The CITES, based in Geneva, listed this species, Scleropages Formosus, under its Appendix 1 protection. Under this scheme, it will only allow trade of such young fishes if they are of captive bred, F2 and beyond generation. When the fries reaches 5-6 inches, a microchip will be implanted on to their back for identification purposes. This too, promoted the status of the fish as very rarely, fishes are tagged with microchips.Hence, owning one or more of such Indonesia Arowanas is in itself, a status symbol!
Indonesia Arowana – are the most expensive of all because they are near-extinct . They are protected species and mainly from Indonesia . Indonesia Arowana have three main colors – Red , Gold and Green . Most businessman prefer Gold Arowana as they believe that it will bring wealth and luck .

Indonesia Arowana is the most famous and expensive Arowana in the world . They are currently Red , Gold , Green and a mixture of both types of Asian Arowana . All the Asian Arowana is protected species because they are near extinct except for Yellow-Tail and Green Arowana .

Red Arowana is by far the most beautiful and famous Arowana among all the other Arowana . The scales and fins are totally red in color and it is very expensive . There are also ruby-red and Chili-red Arowana .The red arrowana is very popular among the chinese and is believed to bring prosperity and wealth to the owner. It is considered an endangered and protected species . There are 1st Grade and 1 1/2 Grade Red Arowana .

Gold Arowana is also one of the expensive Arowanas around and it is sought after by many chinese businessman .This Arowana is believed to bring good wealth and prosperity to the owner bacause of its beautiful gold color which look like gold bar .
Indonesia Arowana is a difficult fish to breed, more so under glass tank orfibre glass pond conditions. It will only breed in natural, earth pondswhen they reaches maturity between ages 3-5, depending on colour variationand water conditions. Sexing them is difficult. However, the male’s mouthis wider and deeper as the Asian Arowana is a male mouth brooder! Eachspawn will only yield 30-80 eggs and stays in the male’s mouth for about5 weeks. Each egg is orange-red in colour and is very fragile. Pre-pawningbehavoir lasts 2-3 months, with both parents swim around the perimeterof the pond day and night.

What grade?

RED Arowana is divided to 1st grade and 2nd grade due to where they come from but they are still the same fish . There have been cases where some buyers are cheated when they bought Red Arowana . They paid for a 1st grade but got a 2nd grade instead . This is because when the Red Arowana is small , it is hard to tell the differences . But I will give a few small points to look out when buying a Red Arowana .

1stm & 2nd grade Arowana

1st Grade Arowana when matured will turn to red or chili-red with shiny scales . But it is hard to see it when it is only 4 to 5 inches big . 1st Grade Red Arowana’s mouth is longer and more sharper than a 2nd Grade . Its scales is more shiny and the head portion is more sharp and pointed . The black-colored scales portion on top of the body is more in line and straight . The tail and fin portion is more reddish . When it matured to about more than 10 inches , the body color will start to turn red and its scales will turn to fully red or chili red
2nd Grade Arowana is more cheaper but less beautiful . When it matured ,the body will turn to orange-red or pinkish-red with less shiny scales . Its mouth is shorter and not so curved out like a 1st grade Red Arowana . The scales when it is young is dull-colored and uneven , the head portion is not so sharp and pointed . The black-color scale portion on its back is not so straight and sometimes out of place . When finally matured more than 10 inches , the whole body wil turn orange to orange-red and it scales is orange-red or even worse , no color at all . Its tail and fin portion will stay orange-red .

Food for Arowana

Wondering what food did the Arowana eat ? The Arowana normally prefer live food like insects , small fish , frogs , worms and even live birds in the wild . ^_^: But it can be trained to take prepared or frozen food like frozen shrimps or pellets . I usually feed my Pearl Arowana with small frogs , prawns , feeder fish and sometimes goldfish ., I start feeding it with crickets and even grasshoppers . It eat about 10 crickets or grasshoppers each time
Crickets – are good for your Arowana , it will enhance its color and simulate growth . Most Arowana love crickets , so u can feed it with lots of cricket . But one bad point is that the Arowana might reject other food
Grasshoppers – some Arowana would eat grasshoppers but I am not sure if it does any good to the Arowana . Feeding of grasshoppers will most likely to dirty the water because of the leftover wings and legs
Shrimp – shrimp is good for your Arowana as it contains very good protein , simulate growth and enhance its color ( red ) . When feeding the shrimp to a young Arowana , you need to remove the head and tail as it might hurt its small stomach . You can feed the whole shrimp as the Arowana gets bigger
Beefheart – feeding beefheart to the Arowana will ensure that it grow faster and bigger . Fats content must be removed or it will dirty and make the water oily . You can also feed it with chickenheart which is lower in fats content
Mealworms – you can feed the Arowana with mealworms or even centipede . Mealworms are cheap and you can get it easily from pet shop
Pellets – some Arowana will eat pellets but you need to train it . Pellets contain lots of vitamins and nutritious ingredients which will make sure that the Arowana have a balanced diet . Some pellets contained color-enhancing ingredients , it will enhance gold and red color
Frogs – are the favourite food for Arowana . My Arowana can eat up to 10 frogs in one day .

Type Of Diseases

GILL CURLING
When Gill curling had occured , the covering of the fish’s gills will curl back due to excessive amounts of nitrates and ammonia in the water PH . Another facter might be the size of the tank been too small . ( Lack of swimming spaces ) To prevent Gill Curling – Firstly , check the water PH and add a little aquarium salt if needed . Secondly , change the tank to a larger size to ensure sufficient swimming spaces . If Gill Curling had occured , then you will need to do a small surgery . Firstly , asthenia the Arowana with medicine ( get it from pet shop ) , then place the Arowana on a wet cloth carefully . Secondly , use a small scissors ( heat the scissors if needed ) to cut the covering of the gill slowly . Lastly , placed the Arowana back into the water and let it rest . May take 2 – 3 weeks to recover .
BULGING EYE
Bulging eye prevents the Arowana from looking up since the upper part of the eyeball protrudes . It is caused by feeding the Arowana too much fatty food such as beefheart or prawns and even its own reflection at the bottom of the tank . There are a few possible causes for this symptom and if it worsen , the Arowana might become blind ( Eyes rot or drop off ^_^: ) . Sometimes , bulging eyes might occured only one side of the eyes but the Arowana is still able to swim and eat . Since there is no cure for bulging eyes , prevention is better than cure
HEADROT
Headrot is normally caused by using active carbon filter . Headrot will start off by a patch of white spot on the head . As time pass by , the white spot will started to rot and produced dents on the Arowana’s head . Only known cure is to add some aquarium salt until the Arowana recovers . Allow 2 – 3 weeks for the Arowana to recover
SPINAL CURVATURE
This is most commonly seen in Silver and Black Arowanas. The causes are most often malnutrition when the fish is young and injury, but since the problem usually starts when the specimen is young, they need to be carefully checked for it before a purchase is made. As was mentioned earlier, the two Australian species are not as flexible as other arowanas and have to be kept in a relatively larger tank, or they may develop this condition. Once it develops, it is difficult to treat and a full recovery is virtually impossible. But if a decent environment is provided, this will rarely lead to the fish’s death.

Care & Precaution

The health requirement of the Arowana is one important factor that we have to consider if we want the Arowana to have a long and healthy life. With proper care , a Arowana can live as long as 20 years . Wow !! Now , let me share with you some of my experiences and precautions .

TANK

Right now , One important precaution is that your tank must have a strong cover because Arowana might just jump out from the tank and die .

WATER CONDITION

Water condition such as temperature , HP and cleanliness is very important . I kept the water temperature at about 80F and the water PH at 7 . I need not worry about the water condition . Whenever I do a water change 1 or 2 times a week , I would change about 25% – 35 % of the water . I will add two spoons of aquarium salt everytime I do a water change . Sometimes , I might pour a few drops of anti-chlorine just in case . ^.^ Right now , I have a sponge-type filter but it is troublesome since I have to take out and wash .

DECORATION

Most people prefer decoration such as putting sand , gravel stone , rocks , woods and plants in the tank . But too much decoration are not good for Arowana , it will limit their swimming spaces and might hurt their scales . It is recommented to use gravel as the base instead of sand , I remember putting sands ( seaside sand ) in the tank and cause my Arowana to “cough” because of small sand particles that got into the gill . But having the base of the tank covered with gravel stone has a advantage , it will prevent bulgling eyes since the Arowana will not keep looking at its own reflection . When using woods and rocks as decoration , be sure to check for sharp edges as it might hurt the scales and EVEN the eyes . Using plant as decoration is a good choice .

PRAWN

I got this info from some old man ( Experts? ) at the pet shop , it is not recommented to feed prawn too often . Because the Arowana will keep on looking down to search for the prawns and might cause bulging eyes as the time goes . One INTERESTING thing they told me is that to prevent bulging eyes , put a small red floating ball in the water . This will cause the Arowana to look up . Hmmmmm….

SOME OF THEIR PICTURES