PetMD spotlights the high-stakes basics of arowana care

PetMD has published an arowana care sheet by Maria Zayas, DVM, outlining the husbandry demands of one of the aquarium trade’s largest and most challenging freshwater fish. The guidance emphasizes that arowanas are best suited to experienced keepers, need very large enclosures, stable water quality, strong filtration, and are often best housed alone because of their territorial behavior. PetMD says adults require tanks of at least 250 gallons, while other retail care guidance, including Petco’s, describes 150 gallons as a minimum starting point, underscoring how quickly these fish outgrow many home setups. The care sheet also highlights routine water testing, temperature control, a high-protein carnivorous diet, and early veterinary assessment after the fish arrives in the home. (petmd.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the sheet is a reminder that many arowana health complaints are husbandry cases first. PetMD recommends veterinary evaluation of both the fish and tank setup within the first week, and notes common red flags including appetite loss, abnormal swimming, gill changes, cloudy eyes, bloating, parasites, ich, bacterial disease, and swim bladder disorders. The article also touches on legality: Asian arowanas are banned in the U.S. under endangered species protections, and silver arowanas may face state-level restrictions, including Florida rules that exempt silver arowana while restricting other arowana species. That means clinicians working with aquatic patients may need to think about housing, transport stress, water chemistry, and species-specific legal status alongside medical care. (petmd.com)

What to watch: Expect continued demand for practical aquatic medicine guidance as more pet parents seek care for large, long-lived ornamental fish that often present only after preventable husbandry problems are well advanced. (petmd.com)