Can you eat dead silver arowana?
Theoretically, yes. The silver arowana we currently keep in southern China is originally a food fish, a dish in itself. An experienced fish vendor once told me that true silver arowana have red eyes, while ours have black eyes—they're not particularly valuable fish. That said,When I first started keeping fish just a few months ago, three silver arowanas and one fortune fish in my tank all died one after another. The first silver arowana was lying flat in the tank, while the last two stood upright like trees. I did consider eating them, but in the end, I buried them instead. I guess I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It's hard for us northerners to get used to this, especially when we've raised them ourselves.
Can silver arowanas be eaten?
Actually, arowanas are considered edible fish in their native habitats. We keep them as ornamental fish mainly for their graceful swimming patterns.In the past, people would buy fry from their native habitats, raise them, and then sell them—and yes, they were edible. But in recent years, arowanas have become reproducible domestically. To ensure survival rates, fry are heavily medicated, just like other goldfish.As for how much medication residue remains in their bodies, no one has conducted tests, and there are no definitive data. Personally, I think it's best not to eat them!
Silver arowanas are wild in the Amazon region. Buying arowanas in markets there is like buying carp in our markets—they are for eating, not ornamental fish.In local Taiwanese-run restaurants, one dish is braised silver arowana. Those who've tasted it say it resembles carp in flavor. How to Care for Silver Arowana Introducing New Fish When bringing home a new silver arowana, run the aquarium air pump for at least 24 hours to completely eliminate chlorine from the water.If using a biological filter, maintain water pH between 6-7 and temperature at 25°C (77°F). Add a small amount of table salt (approximately 1-2 teaspoons per 5 gallons/20 liters of water) to reduce fungal attack risk, promote fish health, and enhance appetite.
If possible, transfer one-third of the water from the new fish's original tank (provided it is healthy) into your aquarium to minimize environmental shock. It is recommended to start with juvenile arowanas.
As arowanas are large fish, the aquarium should measure at least 1.5 meters long, 0.5 meters wide, and 0.7 meters tall.The tank must be securely covered. As top-swimming fish prone to jumping, covering prevents them from escaping and drowning when unattended.
Note: Silver arowanas are robust, grow rapidly, and have voracious appetites. Aggressive by nature, they may consume smaller fish and should not be kept with other species.
Daily Care
Water Changes: Perform water changes of at least 20%-30% weekly. Avoid sudden changes in temperature or pH, as abrupt shifts can cause sudden death.
Proceed with caution during water changes to prevent startling the fish. Never replace all water at once, as this can harm the fish.
If you notice fin or scale loss, it indicates excessive water changes. Temporarily halt water changes, and recovery will occur naturally. However, water changes should not be too infrequent either, as insufficient changes can cause fins to become opaque, eyes to cloud over, and in severe cases, gill covers to invert.
Lighting: Red arowanas require ample light, ideally 4 hours daily.Other arowana species should ideally receive 8 hours of light. Some enthusiasts, particularly those keeping red arowana, prefer using red lighting to enhance their coloration. However, the optimal lighting for arowana is natural daylight. Prolonged use of artificial lighting can darken the fish's back.As the tank size increases, filtration becomes a critical consideration. Suitable filtration systems for arowana include top-mounted filters, external filters, top-mounted + submersible sand-bed filters, and overflow filters. However, when setting up an arowana tank, it is essential to incorporate a water circulation pump (surge pump). This offers significant benefits:1. It creates strong water currents. 2. It increases dissolved oxygen levels in the water. 3. Crucially, it encourages sufficient exercise for the arowana to maintain its elegant body shape. 4. Equally important, it prevents gill flipper damage. If flippers are damaged, they can be trimmed; during recovery, the pump promotes smooth regrowth of the gill flaps.