The Arowana fish, which others refer to as dragonfish, is a freshwater fish with exciting features and qualities. The fish is iconic and renowned for its large size and hunting skills. It is a prized possession of many hobby aquarists.
The Arowana fish is a good breeder that exhibits good parenting behavior. You can breed the Arowana at home by improvising and using an incubator to incubate the eggs. After hatching, you will have to nurture the larvae until they can swim on their own.
Process of Breeding an Arowana Fish
It takes a lot of strategies and procedures to breed and nurture an Arowana fish successfully. These steps and procedures are professional but straightforward, so you should follow the steps below.
- Separate the male and female from the other fishes: You should separate the male and female Arowana fish from the other fishes in the tank. It will give the fish space and privilege to lay and fertilize the egg correctly. Separating them will also allow you to keep an eye on them. You will be able to notice the female when she lays eggs and even when the male fertilizes the eggs. You might want to make use of a crystal transparent tank to see when the male swallows the eggs.
- Collect the egg from the male: In the wild, male Arowana fish swallows the eggs into its mouth to incubate them. Watch the fish when it takes in the egg into its mouth for incubation so you will be able to collect the eggs from the mouth. Collect the eggs from the male fish and place them in an incubator till the fish hatches.
- Ensure movement in the incubator: When the fishes hatch, they don’t emerge directly to an Arowana. The egg hatches into a larva stage where the fishes cannot swim on their own. They also have a yolk of food attached to their body through their nutritional cord. The movement in the tank allows the liquid in the yolk to remain liquid. If the fishes do not move, the yolk will solidify, and the newly hatched fishes will not be able to feed and die of starvation. After nurturing the larvae to a well-grown stage, remove them from the incubator and place them in a tank.
Water Conditions for Breeding Arowana Fish
Breeding is a vital part of fish keeping. To breed a fish, you will need to take note of some factors that suit the fish’s breeding process. These factors will aid the fish’s health and growth; in the absence of these factors, the fishes might not grow well.
- Water temperature: The water temperature is an essential factor to pay attention to and take note of. You should maintain the right temperature of water to support the growth of the fishes. Keep the water stable around 75°F to 82°F. Any temperature aside this range, might deter the growth of the fishes starting from their hatching stage.
- pH: Another essential factor to consider is the pH of the water. The pH of the water defines its level of acidity or alkalinity. Always take note of the acidity and alkalinity of the water to keep your fish in good shape. The pH of the water should be neutral. If by chance, the pH goes beyond being neutral, it shouldn’t exceed some values. It can either be slightly acidic or slightly alkaline but shouldn’t be extreme. The pH value of the water should be around 6.5 to 7.5. The pH should not exceed this value to ensure the good health of your fishes.
- The hardness of the water: You should also consider the water’s hardness to ensure the healthy and perfect growth of your fish. Some fishes prefer challenging waters to soft waters; some prefer soft waters, while others prefer moderately hard waters. You have to know the type of water your fishes choose to be able to satisfy their water needs. You should provide soft or moderately hard water for your Arowana baby fishes.
Tank Conditions for Breeding Arowana Fish
As much as you should consider your fishes’ water conditions, you should also consider the tank conditions. The tank conditions should meet the tank needs of your fish. It will help them have a good growing experience, in turn helping their health.
The size of the tank is the first tank condition you should consider. The tank must be large enough to accommodate the fishes and for them to swim freely and interact with one another. Get at least a 250-gallon tank for your fishes.
The 250-gallon tank will accommodate them till they get to their juvenile stage and beyond. It will also allow the presence of decorations, substrate, and plants. If you are using a tank smaller than 250 gallons, you should reduce the number of fishes that will grow in the tank.
Another tank condition that you should consider is the water filter system of the tank. The filter system should be appropriate for the tank as an under-efficient filter system might not be suitable for your fish.
The best filter for your tank should be able to process its water capacity five times in one hour. It implies that a 20-gallon filter should be able to process 100 gallons of water in one hour. You shouldn’t get a filter with lower efficiency.
The decorations in the tank should be well-placed. Place the ornament in a position where there would be enough space for the fishes to swim. Consider that the fishes will become massive when putting your decorations in the tank; it will save you the stress of removing the decorations to create space.
Conclusion
Arowanas breed naturally, so if you want to grow your Arowana fish in your home successfully, you must replicate its natural breeding environment in your home. Once you can successfully copy the natural breeding environment and follow due procedures, you will be able to successfully breed your Arowanas. You should also provide the fish with adequate water and tank conditions to help their breeding process.
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