Arowanas IMO are much more appealing, the big G's in HFF stores are ugly as hell, especially that one in Roskill. If you keep them together I would say have the aro a little bigger than the G, I have seen them get quite aggressive - big tank needed too.
As juveniles they have been found in brackish, which has led to people acclimatising JUVENILES ONLY into freshwater, but it severely reduces their lifespan and they get a whole load of health problems = not proper husbandry for a SALTWATER shark.
I am no expert whatsoever, but with a little reading and asking the guys that know their stuff on MFK you can easily find out about them.
No we cant. And no you cannot keep them with goldfish, misinformation. Go on MFK, most of the guys there know how to care for them properly. Did a little reading on them too at one stage; 400gallon tank recommended, not a freshwater species.
Anyone have experience on overall growth rates on these fish?
I picked up a 20cm specimen in January I think? I would now say it is 25-30cm, I thought these guys grew slow? However, the tank conditions dramatically increased in quality when I received it + it got a healthy wholesome diet
They are also probably the least cool fish to have in a massive pond IMO, best thing would be large catfish, gars, bass, rays - since we have none, no point.
Weight it down underwater, the saturation of the wood occurs faster. Boiling kills the bacteria, should be ok in your tank, be aware though that it will leach tannins (not a bad thing), and the water may turn yellowish.