Wheres the best place to get a smallish Arowana? WGN

[Zayne]

where's the best place in Wellington to get a smallish Arowana at a decent price?

[phoenix44]

what sort of arowana?

[Zayne]

im not too fussed about which type, I can include up to P North for my search.

[DennisP]

I've seen some silver ones at animates for $150...

[Stella]

Just out of random interest, are all Arowana in NZ the same species just different colour types, or are there different species?

[DennisP]

Different species, although pretty sure the majority are just different colours.

Captively bred and farmed so I would assume they are like bettas. Originated from the same types but over the years have created new types.

[N1CK]

Just out of random interest, are all Arowana in NZ the same species just different colour types, or are there different species?

Silvers are from the Amazon and grow a bit bigger than the Asian aro (about 4ft). Most Asian aros are more 'colourful' and grow a bit smaller than Silvers. Pearl Arowanas are the Australian ones and grow a similar size to the Asian aros (about 3ft).

Wouldn't have a clue where to get an Arowana in Wellington though

[snookie]

Also African Aro

Is their a smallish Arowana ?

[David R]

im not too fussed about which type

You're buying a potentially 3' fish that should be with you for 10+ years and you're not fussed about which type? :-?

Just out of random interest, are all Arowana in NZ the same species just different colour types, or are there different species?

There are 4 species of arowana allowed into NZ. Osteoglossum ferrari [black] and O. bichirrosum [silver] from the amazon, Scleropages formosus [asian, although some would say it has now been split into several different species], and S. jardini from Australia. Not on the list are S. leichardti from Australia, and Heterotis niloticus from Africa.

Different species, although pretty sure the majority are just different colours.

Captively bred and farmed so I would assume they are like bettas. Originated from the same types but over the years have created new types.

Rather than being "pretty sure" and just "assuming", how about actually doing some research and posting up FACTS rather than just dribble that you think might be true. All you had to do is put "arowana" into wikipedia and you can read all about the different species, and the different colour morphs within those species. Arowana are nothing like betta, given that the name 'arowana' covers fish of three different genera [four if you include Arapaima] from 3 different continents. The species Scleropages formosus [asian arowana] has been selectively bred to produce different colour strains, although they do not differ from the wild types anywhere near as much as captive bred betta do. The three basic colours of the asian aro [green, red, gold] are from different populations, which are now being classified as individual species. S. formosus = green, S. aureus = gold/rtg, S. legenderi = red. So no they haven't really "originated from the same types".

Snookie the closest thing to a "small arowana" would be a pantadon butterfly, similar looking mouth and also very prehistoric, but completely lacking in the motion of a true arowana. Any aro will/should get to 2' at the very least, so not really small...

[Fruju]

oh snap

[henward]

David: have mercy! :evil: lol

lol

yes, davids post is as involved as you would have it.

Gold and reds and greens are from asia, but from different parts of asia.

some in similar systems, but they evolved to be different colours over millions of years.

Asian arowanas can however cross with each other...

while the south american variants, wether it be the silver and black to arapaima as far asi know cannot cross with asian species.

Asian species are crossed to create different scale base colours and scale rim colours.

The rims thicken depending on care and selectively chosen animals.

Out of 2 parents, 3 grades can come out.

and bottom to top grade can differ 3k to 4k in price NZD difference.

This is chosen by the breeder, and selectors....in turn they determine, well predict that the fish will more so be redder and scales are fuller in red, and maybe more scales actually turn red, as opposd to only a few scales and some scales are not fully red, jsut rims....

the fuller the colour, of course the more expensive.

same kinda goes with Gold variants.

but gold variants are more measured on how many rows of scales turn full gold.

In my post, My RTG is a '4th level' Gold. meaning up to the 4th row of scales are gold.

Then you get 5th level whcih is 1 to 1.5k NZD more than mine.

And you get a 'crossback' whcih means the gold crosses the top. Thats about 4k to 5k i believe.

Then y ou get a FULL GOLDEN HEAD, everything is just gold - and the scales are so shiny it can actually make you squint! thats about 7k

appetite, strength and aggressiveness even is apparently bred into the fish. to ensrue they liek to eat.

some arowanas fast often.... i found that my RTG does nto fast much, eats consistently. grew better. my grade 2 jsut didnt eat as nicely, and didnt grow as nicely.

it fasted mroe frequently than the RTG. The grade 2 is a cross with a cheap red and a wild green arowana.

There is only one person in NZ that i know of that imports and specialises in this fish.

He has a wealth of knowledge......and he appreciates and imports only the top fish you can get. so dont bother asking him to bring in cheapies. He jsut wont. (i tried 8) ) but then again, why bother wtih cheapies....they look like nothign special.

I had a grade 2 red arowana, sold it now, but really wasnt that impressive!

I am not advertising for him - but i do believe he does good by bringing these animals in! we need more people that privately import fish intio NZ.

www.arowana.co.nz

Hope he sees thsi post and WHEN the time comes to bring in fish for me, he 'may' give me special consideration or discount hahaha :bounce: ok maybe not...........anyways.

that website showspictures of asian arowanas

asian arowana's colours and good looks are msotly from genetics.

Then diet, water comes in to it.

you can even TAN your fish, LITERALLY by putting a bulb wtih the right UVA and UVB output, it deepends colours and widens the colour spread!

I have tanned my RTG.... with good food, growth, and good genetics from PANG LONG FARM in singapore.... my rtg has almost full gold scales, soemthing that some people have told me was not possible with cheaper gold arowanas:)

but ins aying that, coul be luck too patially.

but yes, aroawnas no matter what get big, big filters are needed, and big tanks a must.

so really need to see what you want out of your arowana or if you want it at all...........its hard getting rid of large dilver arowanas. They are easy to mov when little, but when big - really somewhat cumbersome for most.

[henward]

also

be aware, alot of photos you see in the internet is taken wtih a red or enhanced light above the tank. some are even photoshopped.

you can alawys tell, same fish with white light versus red light.

Golds are harder to fake. because golds wills hine in white light, and in red light it doesnt work.

but red arowanas, if ind that in red light, the arowana can look unbelievably red, but really in white light, its not as red.

still beautiful fish and nice fish, but the red light makes a difference.

so i judge a red arowana by the looks under white light.

to see hwo red the scales are.

[land_lubber]

David R FNZAS's Oscar the grouch :lol: