5cm Small Golden Arowana Fry Price, Quality Standards and Rearing Methods

The goldenarowanais scientifically named “Scleropages formosus”, a very ancient freshwater fish. Because its body shape closely resembles a dragon, it is also called “dragon fish” in mainland China. Taxonomically, it belongs to the family Osteoglossidae (also called bony-tongued fish family). Arowanas are now widely kept as feng shui fish and have great ornamental value. So, how much does a 5cm small golden arowana fry usually cost per fish? What are its quality standards? How should it be raised?

Arowana prices vary by region, so it is hard to give a standard answer. It also depends on the species. Arowanas can be divided into crossback golden arowana, silver arowana, black arowana, red arowana and green arowana, etc. Generally speaking, golden arowanas are much more expensive than silver arowanas. The most expensive ones cost over 100,000, while the cheapest cost several hundred yuan.

Moreover, 5-10cm arowanas are basically not seen on the market now; they are all small fry that still have yolk sacs on their bodies. What is basically available on the market is around 20cm. For first-time arowana keepers, it is recommended to choose green arowana or pearl arowana. A 20cm green arowana costs 400-600 yuan depending on the region, while a pearl arowana costs about 1,200 yuan.

Of course, arowana prices also depend on quality. Arowanas of different quality can differ enormously in price. For example, a red arowana with good quality can cost over 100,000 or even several hundred thousand. Below, using a medium-sized arowana of 25 cm in length as the standard, let us briefly introduce the quality standards for arowanas.

1. Color: Appreciate the color it should have according to the arowana variety. Of course, the brighter and more brilliant, the better.

2. Body shape: The proportions of all parts should be well balanced and have a majestic presence.

3. Scales: They should be neat, bright, smooth and flat, not deformed, and match the color that the variety should have.

4. Barbels: They should be long and straight.

5. Fins: The fins on all parts should be large and spread out, and the fin rays should be smooth, without twisting or deformation.

6. Gills: They should match the curvature of the fish body. The soft part at the edge of the gill cover should lie flat against the fish body, and the gill cover should have the color and brightness it should have.

7. Eyes: They should be bright and spirited, without a downward-looking condition.

8. Mouth: It should close tightly, and the lower jaw should not protrude or have excess flesh (flesh lumps formed by rubbing against the aquarium glass).

9. Teeth: They should be neat and fine, without defects or discoloration.

10. Anus: It should lie flat against the fish belly and must not protrude.

11. Swimming posture: When swimming, it should be slow and dignified, and turns should be smooth.

How to raise arowanas?

When raising arowanas, you can tell whether they are healthy from their shiny scales. Scientific rearing methods and lighting that helps them obtain natural light are also very important points in arowana care. The editor will briefly introduce some methods for raising arowanas.

Research shows that the coloration of arowanas is produced by pigment cells (chromatophores) in the dermis beneath the scales and by guanine on the outermost surface. Various cells are scattered in the dermis and can expand or contract according to the intensity of light or changes in the environment. Various pigment cells have the function of absorbing and reflecting light wavelengths, so under different lighting environments, various different colors will appear.

Moreover, in environments with different light intensity, the coloration of arowanas will also change somewhat. For example, if an arowana is in an environment with strong light, the pigment cells expand. When the pigment cells expand, the pigment radiates outward with the cells and spreads, the area of the pigment cells increases, and the color deepens noticeably as well. Wherever there is more red pigment, the color becomes deeper and redder.

In the opposite case, if an arowana is in a dimly lit environment, the pigment cells contract, the pigment cells shrink, the pigment molecules become smaller, and the color fades noticeably as well. At the same time, the pigment concentrates as the cells contract, sometimes even shrinking into extremely small spots, and its color will naturally become lighter or less obvious.

First, persist in changing the water for the arowana every week. When changing water, note that you need to age the water in advance and adjust the temperature, PH value and other standards of the new water to be consistent with the old water, meeting the standards for arowana survival. It is not advisable to replace all the water each week; each change should replace only 20%-30% of the total. When changing water, first siphon out the old water, then slowly pour in the new water along the aquarium wall.

Second, arowanas need sufficient lighting. When raising arowanas, it is best to choose a suitable light tube and give the arowana 6-8 hours of light every day. It is worth noting that the best light for arowanas is still daytime sunlight. If artificial light is used for a long time, it will darken the arowana's back. So if conditions permit, you should still let the arowana get more sunlight.

Finally, feed the arowana at fixed times and in fixed amounts. When feeding arowanas, you should also choose suitable food according to its actual condition. Simply put, for immature silver arowana juveniles, when choosing food, you should choose some small breadworms, bloodworms and other foods. After the arowana grows up, it can eat some meat chunks, shrimp and other foods. Of course, when feeding arowanas, you should also pay attention to diversification in food selection. An organic combination of professional bait and live bait meets the arowana's needs for growth and diet.