African Arowana. Availability?

I would love to own one, does anyone here know anything with regard to their availability here localy in SA?

 

Is that the same thing as a nile arowana? And don't they get like super big? If you get one please post pics.

 

The biggest Arowana is the silver from South America. Asian Arowanas are very expensive, besides my water will suit the African Arowana. You can Google for pic's, there are plenty. I have never seen any available, therefore my query. They're not very pretty, so that's maybe why?

 

Jardini is from Australia

 

I've seen only one with my own eyes, here in Durban. Came in heavily infested with white spot, died in the shop the day after arrival.

There was a shipment of two or three at another shop, years before that. I didn't see them because they all sold out nearly immediately.

Long story short, they are available in SA. Not too expensive either - the latest one I saw (old white spot) went for just shy of R500, but was pretty small (less than 10cm). I believe that these are farmed to some extent in West Africa? I may be mistaken.

Ask your favourite stores. They should be on the wholesale lists.

 

Must admit that i have never seen one at any LFS on our side of the world

Being wild caught there is, as @SalmonAfrica has mentioned, a probability of them arriving infested with parasites

I have also read that they are extremely difficult to feed and keep alive when small ( first nine months or so)as they are filter feeders and need a constant food supply and a good supply of algae when small
They grow to 3ft

 

Very interesting, thanks guys! Arowanas are a very special and ancient species distributed all over the world and survived the cataclysm which destroyed the dinasaurs! I only want to keep African fish species now because of my water chemistry, therefore my hope to get an African Arowana. If any of you see one for sale; please let me know!

 

I have a 2500 litre tank, so size shouldn't be an issue

 

Not sure if that will be big enough, just did a Google search and apparently they can get to 1 m and I'm guessing would not be good tank mates for guppies.

 

The silver also gets to 1m in the wild, yes natural predators! In captivity it's doubtful to ever reach that size.

 

Silvers can get bigger than 1m in aquariums...... @Cesar's was nearly 1.1m....
2500l should be fine but most important are the dimensions that make up that literage

 

2.5k l should be perfect for an African aro. They have a small throat and can't put on fat reserves easily when they're young which requires the constant feeding. I doubt many would get imported here due to lack of demand..

 

I would go for a silver if your tank is wide enough at 800cm or wider. Very majestic beasts and plenty of personality. Oh yes and weigh down those lids haha.

 

80 or 800?

 

sorry 80cm. They turn on a dime.

 

Yes, maybe not,:Aro's are not the easiest to feed

 

Sorry read the 2500 l as 2500 mm , what are the dimensions on a 2500 l tank?

 

It's just over 3m long and 80 X 80 cm. The tank itself is just under 2000 litres, but the sump is over 600 litres.

 

Unless you got a constant supply of daphnia don't bother with african Aros also water not really a problem you need them swimming in a shallow tank full of live daphnia for the first year .Very susceptible to eye damage as well .