We should start a sticky on Gigas...I'm starting to get a bit of a fascination with them, but pics and info seem to be very rare. Zoodiver? Can you help? I'm hooked and I need help...
Arapaima Gigas
- Thread starter bmxer4ever
- Start date
The Legend
Pirarucu was an indian who belonged to the Uaiás tribe that lived around the Lábrean plains in the Southwestern Amazon. He was a brave, but heartless warrior, even though Pindarô, his father and chief of the tribe, was a good man.
Pirarucu was full of vanities, egoism and excessively proud of his power. While his father visited with friendly neighboring tribes, Pirarucu took advantage of his absence to take village people hostage and execute them for any reason. He also criticized the gods.
Tupã, the god of the gods, observed Pirarucu for a long time, until, tired of the man's behavior, he decided to punish Pirarucu. Tupã called Polo and demanded that he spread his most powerful lightening in the whole area. He also called Iururaruaçú, the goddess of torrents, and demanded that she provoke the strongest torrents of rain over Pirarucú, who was fishing along with other indians on the margins of the Tocantins river, not so far from the longhouse.
The fires of Tupã were seen throughout the forest. When Pirarucu saw the wild waters of the river, and heard the voice and felt the hate of Tupã, he just ignored them with a laugh and crazy words. Then, Tupã sent Xandoré, the demon that hates men, who threw lightenings and thunder that filled the air and cut it with sparks. Pirarucu tried to escape, but while he ran among the falling branches and trees, a lightening bolt sent by Xandoré, struck into the heart of the warrior who refused to ask for forgiviness.
All of those who were with Pirarucu ran from the jungle in total fright, while the body of Pirarucu, still alive, was taken to the depths of the Tocantins river and transformed into a giant and dark fish. Pirarucu remained there and for a long time he was the terror of the region.
Pirarucu was an indian who belonged to the Uaiás tribe that lived around the Lábrean plains in the Southwestern Amazon. He was a brave, but heartless warrior, even though Pindarô, his father and chief of the tribe, was a good man.
Pirarucu was full of vanities, egoism and excessively proud of his power. While his father visited with friendly neighboring tribes, Pirarucu took advantage of his absence to take village people hostage and execute them for any reason. He also criticized the gods.
Tupã, the god of the gods, observed Pirarucu for a long time, until, tired of the man's behavior, he decided to punish Pirarucu. Tupã called Polo and demanded that he spread his most powerful lightening in the whole area. He also called Iururaruaçú, the goddess of torrents, and demanded that she provoke the strongest torrents of rain over Pirarucú, who was fishing along with other indians on the margins of the Tocantins river, not so far from the longhouse.
The fires of Tupã were seen throughout the forest. When Pirarucu saw the wild waters of the river, and heard the voice and felt the hate of Tupã, he just ignored them with a laugh and crazy words. Then, Tupã sent Xandoré, the demon that hates men, who threw lightenings and thunder that filled the air and cut it with sparks. Pirarucu tried to escape, but while he ran among the falling branches and trees, a lightening bolt sent by Xandoré, struck into the heart of the warrior who refused to ask for forgiviness.
All of those who were with Pirarucu ran from the jungle in total fright, while the body of Pirarucu, still alive, was taken to the depths of the Tocantins river and transformed into a giant and dark fish. Pirarucu remained there and for a long time he was the terror of the region.
If you havn't seen this already, check it out in the articles forum...
(all photos used with permission)
(all photos used with permission)
what is your Itenaraire?
what are you going for? what are wanting to do? where are you headed with this idea?
But i didn't think that there was a real legendary story behind it like the Asian dragon arrowana. But i really like that story! (reminds me somthing sort of like, Aladdin.)
what are you going for? what are wanting to do? where are you headed with this idea?
But i didn't think that there was a real legendary story behind it like the Asian dragon arrowana. But i really like that story! (reminds me somthing sort of like, Aladdin.)
Hi Redtail, I think you just answered your own question....Redtail_Watcher;482050; said:
I just wanted to start a thread to bring together as many pics and as much info as possible about Arapaimas. I'm fascinated by them, but so few people have had the opportunity to keep them. That's why it would be a good sticky - a place where other MFKers could go to find out more about these amazing fish.
There wasn't a forum and no-one else seemed to be up for it, so I thought I'd start it myself...and as you said yourself - "I didn't think there was a real legendary story behind it.." You just fulfilled the purpose of this thread - learned somethin interesting about Arapaimas that you didn't know before....
Hey, thanks for your PM. I'll start to add some info tonight when I get off of work. We'll try and dispell rumors and get some accurate info out there for those up to the challenge of keeping these giants correctly. We'll get into legal aquisition, water chemistry, filters, enclosure size, diet, wild and captive breeding, wild population (the direction it's heading) and as many other topics as people want to bring up.
With a little luck, maybe this coming Spring I will be converting a 125,000 Mississippi River tank into a South American tank at the aquarium. I'm going gigas for sure when (if) it happens.
With a little luck, maybe this coming Spring I will be converting a 125,000 Mississippi River tank into a South American tank at the aquarium. I'm going gigas for sure when (if) it happens.
That's the whole point......that's why this website is here .........we are MONSTER fish keepers..............Delhezi;482453; said:
Let's look at planning this first.
You've decided to buy an arapaima. First and foremost: Do your homework. Obviously, it's one of the biggest things you can buy. They grow quickly. Do not make the mistake of saying "I'll upgrade my tank as it grows." That is one of the most common errors with keeping these thigns. If you purchase a small juv fish, you won't have time to construct a proper size enclosure to house it by the time it reaches at size. Have you system up and running fully cycled PRIOR to even looking for the fish. Your best bet is to have other fish in there. Arapaima will thrive in a well established tank. They don't do well at all in a young sytem. Find out an estimated food/water/electric bill. It will add up fast. Make sure you can afford it after you purchase one. You need to make sure they are LEGAL to keep in your area. Regulations vary greatly. Just because you can get one from a legal supplier doesn't mean the fish was brought in legally or that keeping it where you live is legal. Arapaima fall under CITIES II. Several States also have specific regulations regarding them. As for other countries, I'm sure there are ways to find out, and would be more than happy to assist you with that when the time comes.
Let's talk housing: Think very, very big. I suggest no less than 30,000 gallons for an adult and 50,000 gallons for two or three. Swimming area is the key when designing a pool. Depth doesn't have to be much more than about 6 feet. I wouldn't got any narrower than about 10 feet across at any point in the pool. Corners are bad, so all edges should be rounded. Even round the side walls to the bottom. Doing that will also aide in keeping water moving as well. Substrtate should be a natural color, and fairly dark. Brown tones work best. I like to use a mix of small gravel as well as larger fist-sized stones (I'll get into why in a post about breeding.) Tank decor can be basic, but there needs to be something. I've found arapaima to be territorial during certain seasons, so having objects (like logs and boulders) aide in creating a comfortable area for the fish to live. Lighting should be from above. It's been my experience that arapaima do not like underwater lights at all. The pool should have both light and dark areas during the day. Edges fo the pool should be high. These guys are amazing jumpers, and you should consider that one might jump out of the water.
Questions? Should I go into more depth on these subjects, or move on to filters?
You've decided to buy an arapaima. First and foremost: Do your homework. Obviously, it's one of the biggest things you can buy. They grow quickly. Do not make the mistake of saying "I'll upgrade my tank as it grows." That is one of the most common errors with keeping these thigns. If you purchase a small juv fish, you won't have time to construct a proper size enclosure to house it by the time it reaches at size. Have you system up and running fully cycled PRIOR to even looking for the fish. Your best bet is to have other fish in there. Arapaima will thrive in a well established tank. They don't do well at all in a young sytem. Find out an estimated food/water/electric bill. It will add up fast. Make sure you can afford it after you purchase one. You need to make sure they are LEGAL to keep in your area. Regulations vary greatly. Just because you can get one from a legal supplier doesn't mean the fish was brought in legally or that keeping it where you live is legal. Arapaima fall under CITIES II. Several States also have specific regulations regarding them. As for other countries, I'm sure there are ways to find out, and would be more than happy to assist you with that when the time comes.
Let's talk housing: Think very, very big. I suggest no less than 30,000 gallons for an adult and 50,000 gallons for two or three. Swimming area is the key when designing a pool. Depth doesn't have to be much more than about 6 feet. I wouldn't got any narrower than about 10 feet across at any point in the pool. Corners are bad, so all edges should be rounded. Even round the side walls to the bottom. Doing that will also aide in keeping water moving as well. Substrtate should be a natural color, and fairly dark. Brown tones work best. I like to use a mix of small gravel as well as larger fist-sized stones (I'll get into why in a post about breeding.) Tank decor can be basic, but there needs to be something. I've found arapaima to be territorial during certain seasons, so having objects (like logs and boulders) aide in creating a comfortable area for the fish to live. Lighting should be from above. It's been my experience that arapaima do not like underwater lights at all. The pool should have both light and dark areas during the day. Edges fo the pool should be high. These guys are amazing jumpers, and you should consider that one might jump out of the water.
Questions? Should I go into more depth on these subjects, or move on to filters?
