About Arowana:
Keeping of Arowana can be a tedious job, but with a little planning, you can enjoy keeping this beautiful
creature without all the unnecessary task. If you want to enjoy keeping the fish,
you need to understand the fish more. Its natural habitat, its feeding habit and many many more.
Maintenance of the dragon fish in an aquarium at home is relatively simple, if a few basic requirements are
met. A 90cm X 45cm tank for young fishes up to 40cm length and 120cm to 150cm X 75cm tank for larger
fishes is required. Ample space in the tank will prevent the fish from being stunted in growth.The tank must be
covered and the location should preferably be in a quiet area of the house, away from direct sunlight and
constant human traffic. Aeration and filtration is essential but no decoration within the tank is required as this
may cause damage to the fish when feeding. Because of its aggressive nature, this voracious but easily tamed
fish should be raised in isolation.The dragon fish is extremely sensitive to chlorinated water and water from the
tap should be aged at least a day before use. Weekly water changes are encouraged, but only partially (not more
than a 1/3) so as to avoid upsetting the fish. Never change the water's pH or hardness level suddenly because
this can be fatal to the fish.pH and hardness levels must be slowly and carefully adjusted so that the fish can
adapt comfortably. This applies also to the temperature of the water.
Favorite food are insects (e.g. meal worms, crickets, and grasshoppers), small frogs and live fishes (e.g.
guppies, mollies and goldfish), but to ensure that the fish acquires rich coloration, it should be fed live-
shrimps, cockroaches and centipedes.
Young fishes are fed up to 2 to 3 times a day, but for adult fishes daily feeding or even on alternate days is
recommended.
What to note when feeding:
1. When feeding, it is best to remove the sharp pincers of the prawn to prevent injuring the throat and stomach
of the fish.
2. Live-food for the feeding should be kept and reared in a separate tank. Small fishes and prawns should be
properly cleared of dirt and toxic matters before feeding the Dragon Fish.
3. Weight of live-food should amount to 75% of Dragon Fish's total feed.
4. Live cockroaches should be used as dead ones may have been sprayed with insecticide.
5. Tubifex Worms should be made immobile before putting into the tank to prevent causing injury to the
Dragon Fish when chasing the worms.
6. Avoid feeding young Dragon Fish with whole prawns as these may cause indigestion to the young ones,
thereby resulting in death.
Things to do and have when transferring the Dragon Fish to a new aquarium tank:
Equipment:
a. Styrofoam box (with lid) - for containing and transporting the bagged fish
b. Plastic bags to contain the fish
c. Oxygen tank or battery - operated air pump
d. Newspaper, rubber-bands, polythene bags, scotch-tape and medication (in the event of injury)
During winter, one may consider using a hot-water bag to keep the fish warm as the water-changing process
may be time-consuming, thus causing the temperature of the water to decrease too suddenly.
Two days before the moving, the feeding of the fish must stop.
It is best to use a double-layer of plastic bags to contain the fish. A lining of newspaper could be placed
between the 2 bags. This can warm and calm the fish and also prevent the fish sharp teeth from tearing the bag.
Using Plastic Bags to hold the Dragon Fish when transferring:
Dragon Fish that are smaller (12 cm and below) may be transferred with the use of a net. The bigger ones need
the use of plastic bags. Never use a net to catch the bigger Dragon Fish as it may cause injury to them.
A polythene bag is most suitable because it is transparent, so the Dragon Fish is not frightened. When catching
the Dragon Fish, let the polythene bag sink into the water with its mouth wide open and slowly lure the Dragon
Fish into the bag. After catching it, raise the bag out of the aquarium and transfer it into the new aquarium immediately.
