Buying an Arowana: What to Consider?
The correct swimming stance
You want to see an Arowana that moves fluidly up and down the tank and makes elegant turns. In the water, its entire body should be horizontal; if it isn’t, it may have an issue with its swim bladder. The fish spend the vast majority of their time in the top 16 inches of the tank, so maintain that environment. Take note of the fish’s motions. The fish’s head should be completely motionless, and only its tail and body should wiggle. A sick Arowana may be manifested by abnormal swimming behavior, such as jerkiness or stiffness.
Barbels
The whiskers, or barbels, of an Arowana must be straight and of equal length. Make sure there is no breakage at the point where the whiskers meet the face. The whiskers ought to be colored similarly to the rest of the body. Long, sturdy whiskers are an indicator of a healthy fish.
Body Shape
The body of the Shape should be thick and the top of the skull should be sharp. Fish with a gentle slant between their dorsal fin and their back would be ideal. The Arowana’s girth and air of strength contribute significantly to its asking price. At times, this might be just as crucial as the age or skin tone.
Pectoral and tail fins
Keep an eye on the Arowana and see if its tail fin and frontal fins are widely spaced as it swims. Do not purchase fish with pectoral fins that are too close together. When viewed directly with even fin rays, the color of all the fins must darken. Don’t be turned off by the fact that certain Arowana (like the Cross Back) have considerably smaller fins than others.
Eyes
Make sure there is no cloudiness in the eyes by inspecting them carefully. They need to have a proportionate size to the rest of the fish, and they shouldn’t protrude too far from the head.
Scales
An Arowana fish should have large, well delineated scales. They must be flat and parallel to the body, with no skewed or twisted scales.
Protective covering for the gills
If you want to catch fish with it, it must be round and flat against the body. Make sure the fish is getting enough air by watching the gills move. They need to be so subtle that you hardly notice them.
