Arapaima gigas
From The Aquarium Wiki
(Redirected from Piracucu)
 |
You can contribute to the Aquarium Wiki by expanding this article. Dont be shy!. |
| Arapaima | |
| |
| Arapaima | |
| Species | Arapaima Gigas |
| Difficulty | Very Difficult |
| Min. Tank Size | 3,785.412 liters 3,785,411.78 mL 1000 US Gallons (3785.4L) |
| Size | 457.2 cm
60-180 " (152.4-457.2cm) |
| pH | 5.8 - 7.2 |
| Temp. | 297.039 K 23.889 °C 534.67 °R 300.928 K |
| Water Hardness |
5-12 |
| Stocking Ratio | 1:1 M:F |
| Availability | Rare |
| Diet | |
| Life Span |
15-20 years |
Contents |
[edit] Alternative names
- Arapaima, Piracucu, Pirarucu, Paiche
[edit] Sexing
- Males have a more red colour during spawning season. Have been bred in captivity, being farmed in thier native range and again in public aquaria.
- In nature they are nest builders in sandy substrate and will guard the eggs and young.
[edit] Tank compatibility
- Should only be kept with other large fish, lower-swimming than the Arapaima. This fish is highly aggressive and carnivorous.
[edit] Diet
- Carnivorous, will eat fish, chopped meat, frogs and crustaceans.
[edit] Feeding regime
- Young Arapaima should not be overfed. Some aquarists report that they can develop Drop Eye.
[edit] Environment Specifics
- The Arapaima Gigas needs to swim up to the surface to breath air. This would imply that there needs to be space between the surface of the water and any other fixture.
- This fish should not be kept by the amateur aquarist unless they truely know what they are getting themselves in for and have a very large tank/tropical pond prepared for this fish.
[edit] Behaviour
- A keen hunter, will prey on smaller fish. In the wild they inhabit floodplains in the Amazon, where the waters are low on oxygen, and gulp air from the surface, quite loudly that can be heard from a fair distance away. Here they prey on fish that are trapped by the floods.
[edit] Identification
- This is one of the largest known freshwater fish. It is possible for the fish to reach up to 15' (4.5M) in the wild.
- These are large prehistoric-looking fish, with an elongated body, sloping forehead and small head with protruding eyes and large upward-turning mouth. The body is covered with large thick scales, black-grey in colour with blue hints. They have a small rounded tail that is edged with red colouring.
[edit] Pictures
 Arapaima |
 Arapaima |
