Practical notes from the tank room: the things worth getting right in the first week. General guidance; the care envelope in your box has the exact numbers for your fish.
Arrival day
How to introduce a new arowana to an aquarium
The first forty-eight hours decide how a dragon settles for the next ten years. Go slowly. There is nothing to gain from speed.
Dim the room. Switch off the tank light and the room lights. A stressed arowana spooks easily.
Float the sealed bag for 15 to 20 minutes so the temperature matches your tank.
Mix slowly. Open the bag and add a little tank water every few minutes for about half an hour.
Net, don't pour. Move the fish across with a net. Do not tip the bag water into your tank.
Leave it be. Keep the lights off for the first few hours and the lid shut.
Feed when it is calm. Often the next day. Small prawns or good pellets.
For two days, keep the room quiet, don't tap on the glass, and keep the new fish on its own.
Before it comes home
Basic requirements for keeping an Asian arowana
Tank volume, lid weight, water parameters and tank mates: the groundwork before the fish arrives.
A long tank. Length matters more than height. A young fish can start smaller, but plan for 6 ft or more for an adult.
A heavy lid. Arowana jump. Close every gap.
Warm, soft, clean water. Around 26 to 30 °C, pH near neutral, with weekly partial changes.
Strong filtration. Big fish, big filter. Keep the flow gentle.
Quiet company. Large, peaceful tank mates only, or none. Many keepers prefer a single fish.
