Super Red Arowana, also known as the dragon fish are elegant species and are largely bigger than most other fish in the aquarium.
Super Red Arowanas are largely predatory; hence, most aquarists consider them as a bigger challenge after they get more comfortable with aquarium processes.
To have this fish species in your aquarium is not business as usual because they require extra care and considerations.
Quick Facts
| Temperament : | Semi-aggressive |
| Freshwater / Saltwater Fish : | Freshwater |
| Care Level : | Intermediate |
| Colour : | Red |
| Diet : | Fish Flakes, Blood Worm, Java Moss |
| Adult Size : | 35” |
| Lifespan : | 20years+ |
| Water Temperature : | 75-860F |
| Water Ph : | 6-6.5 |
| Tank Size : | Min 5 Gallon |
Overview
Super Red Arowana is a gigantic freshwater fish. It is gigantic and relatively bigger than most other freshwater fish. However, Super Red Arowana is beautiful and rarity; hence, it will certainly worth its stress.
It is quite expensive to trade; therefore, you can make a huge fortune by making a business out of it. The major reasons why the Arowana is so expensive is because it is on the endangered species list and in high demand. In Asian culture, the Arowana is believed to bring good luck and prosperity.
Typical Behaviour
Super Red Arowana spends most of their time in the middle of the tank but will often move up or dive down the tank. They are highly territorial and will fight away any nearby fish or other members of the tank.
Nevertheless, Super Red Arowanas are very hardy and will tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. You might have to keep them in their own tank to ensure proper monitoring and limit fights
Appearance
One of the trademarks of Super Red Arowanas is that their body is covered with large scales arranged in 5 horizontal roles. They are beautifully colored with their red rims that cover their gold base color.
This fish species can grow up to 35 inches at full maturity with many teeth and bone in their mouth. Super Red Arowana has large black eyes that are located close to their mouth. They also have long pectoral fins behind their head, tail, dorsal, and anal fin.
Life Span
Super Red Arowanas live very long in captivity and in the wild. They can live up to 20 years or more under the right conditions.
This longevity means that they can outlive most other members of the tank and you can keep them for as long as you want.
Size
Super Red Arowana is one of the biggest freshwater fish. They can grow up to 35” in a suitable tank.
However, you should optimize various factors like diet, tank conditions, tank mates, feeding habits, and diet regulations to favor their growth.
Sexing
How can you tell if a Super Red Arowana is male or female? It is very difficult to differentiate between male and female Super Red Arowana. In most cases, you might not be able to distinguish between them until they grow to full maturity.
The major difference between the two sexes is that the female Arowana will have a single ovary that contains 20-30 large ova. The males, on the other hand, have a single thread-like testis.
Compatible Tank Mates
Due to the Super Red Arowana calm and peaceful nature they can mix with many different fish.
Compatible tank mates for Super Red Arowana fish include
- Oscars
- Discus
- Angelfish
- Large Plecostomus
- Catfish
Water Conditions
Although Super Red Arowanas are hardy, you also need to stabilize their water condition. They are not very strict about their water demands and water conditions.
Keeping Super Red Arowana in the right water conditioner will make them grow healthy and stay happy.
Temperature
Super Red Arowana often prefers warm water. They thrive best in water between the range of 75-86F.
It is recommended to use an aquarium heater to keep the water temperature at the recommended setting. If you are after a heater check out the ones available on amazon
PH Level
Super Red Arowanas are freshwater fish; they prefer near neutral but slightly acidic pH. They thrive best in pH within the ranges of 6-6.5.
You can monitor your aquariums water using a PH water tester kit available on amazon
Oxygen level
As with most fish it is important for these fish to live in well oxygenated water, For this I recommend to install an air pump in to your aquarium as this will insure that the water is well oxygenated. You can pickup an air pump online from amazon.
Tank Setup
There are certain things we need to consider when we are selecting a tank, we know the needs of this fish are
- Prefers a lot of space as they are active and love to swim around
- Super Red Arowana thrives better in tanks with heater and filter
- Requires tight fitting tops to prefer them from jumping out of the tank
- Prefers fine grained substrate
- Sparing but deep rooted plants
With this information we can now select a tank.
Tank Size
Super Red Arowana is very big; hence, they need a gigantic tank to accommodate them. If you keep them in a tank that is relatively smaller to their body size, they can grow deformed and have shorter lifespan.
The ideal tank to keep Super Red Arowana is at least 250 gallon. If you intend to keep more than one of this freshwater fish species, you should add 100gallon for every fish you add to the tank.
How many Super Red Arowana to keep in a 5 gallon tank? You cannot keep a single Super Red Arowana in a 5 gallon tank, not even juveniles nor fry. A 5 gallon tank will be too small to accommodate a Super Red Arowana.
If you are looking to purchase a fish aquarium I recommend you check out the aquariums on amazon
Filtration
The cleaner your tank water is the more chance your fish have of thriving and living a happier and healthier life. I have always used a fluval aquarium filter which I highly recommend, Check them out here
Heater
It is recommended to use an aquarium heater to keep the water temperature at the recommended setting. If you are after a heater check out the ones available on amazon
I also recommend that you monitor your aquariums water temperature by using an aquarium digital thermometer. Check out these ones from amazon
Tank Decorations
Super Red Arowana might not be comfortable if they have too many decorations in their tank because they are big and these decorations can cause obstruction when they are swimming.
They prefer sparing but deep rooted plants. The plants must be deep rooted to avoid uprooting the plant with their body as they swim along.
Likewise, they are big and bold; therefore, they don’t need to hide. They prefer open spaces where they can easily swim around.
Diet
How often do Super Red Arowana fish need to be fed? Super Red Arowanas are surface feeders that are always gliding around the surface when it is time to eat. You can feed adult fish once a day with the appropriate diet.
Feed young fish about 2 to 3 times daily to provide enough diet to match their rapid growth. Feed them only food they can finish in 1 or 2 minutes and get rid of leftovers immediately.
What should I feed my Super Red Arowana? Super Red Arowanas are largely carnivorous and they largely prefer meaty foods. You can feed them with varieties of live foods, including bloodworms, crickets, frogs, flies, mealworms, shrimps and other similar live foods.
It is best to vary the food of your fish to ensure they have adequate supply of every diet. Super Red Arowana needs high carotenoid foods to ensure they maintain their bright coloration.
How long can Super Red Arowana live without food? Super Red Arowanas can survive up to 15-21 days without food if they have no underlying health complications and their water conditions are right.
Nevertheless, it is never advisable to starve your fish except it becomes extremely unavoidable.
Breeding
The breeding pattern of Super Red Arowanas is quite unique. They will only start breeding when they reach full maturity after 3-4 years. The female fish will lay about 130-100 eggs which are fertilized and carried around in the mouth of males.
Both the larvae and the fertilized eggs are brooded in the male’s mouth.
How to tell if Super Red Arowanas is pregnant? Super Red Arowanas does not literally get pregnant because they are not live bearers. They lay eggs which are externally fertilized by the males.
The obvious sign that your Super Red Arowanas is ready to lay eggs is the projection of their ovary. It becomes very visible and pronounced.
Diseases
The last thing I want to go through is the common diseases these fish could suffer from.
Fin Rot
Just like most freshwater fish, Super Red Arowanas are susceptible to fin rot. This disease will cause the redness in the base of their fins and disintegration of their fins. They are more prone to this disease when you keep them in a poor water condition. You can manage the situation by maintaining the right water quality and getting the help of a veterinarian.
Ich
Ich is another disease that affects Super Red Arowanas. This disease will cause white spots on the fins and body which subsequently cause the fish to aggressively rub their body on various surfaces in the tank. Once you discover this, quarantine the fish immediately and get the appropriate Ich remedy.
Eye Droop
Super Red Arowanas are also prone to a disease called eye droop that causes the eyes of the fish to point downwards. The disease is largely as a result of the buildup of fat in the eyes. You can manage the disease by ensuring proper diet and proper water conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the frequently asked questions about this fish
What is the best substrate for Super Red Arowanas? Super Red Arowanas prefer to have fine grained substrate in their tank. This makes them feel comfortable and safe in their tank.
How do I choose super red arowana? One of the principal considerations for choosing Super Red Arowanas is their present health conditions. Ensure you are purchasing healthy fish from the right pedigree.
Why are arowana fish so expensive? Super Red Arowanas are expensive because they are a rare species. Another reason for the expensive cost of Super Red Arowanas is because of the wide belief that the fish brings good luck and prosperity.
Is The Red Arowana Illegal To Keep? The simple answer to this question is no. The only type of Arowana banned in the United States is the Asian Arowana.
Will arowana bite humans? Arowanas are aggressive and are known to bite their owners on a few occasions, particularly during feeding.
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