Unpopular Opinions - Arowanas

[xenacanth9]

What are your unpopular opinions on arowanas, arapaimas, and African butterfly fish? Here's one of mine to kick off the thread:

It's kind of annoying when people in the US beg for Asian aros, especially when we have saratogas. (S. jardinii & S. leichardti)

 

[Rojo1991]

I think jardini have better genetics than Asian aros since they’re not so overly bred. Notice how every other Asian aro has dropeye but you never see a jardini with it. I personally think jardini/leis are the “slept on” species when it comes to arowana

 

[tlindsey]

The #1 for me is when people buy Silver Arowana knowing how large they can grow without having a proper size aquarium to house one for life.

 

[kno4te]

The #1 for me is when people buy Silver Arowana knowing how large they can grow without having a proper size aquarium to house one for life.

+1. Don’t have a prob with the African butteryfly fish.

 

[xenacanth9]

I think jardini have better genetics than Asian aros since they’re not so overly bred. Notice how every other Asian aro has dropeye but you never see a jardini with it. I personally think jardini/leis are the “slept on” species when it comes to arowana

Agreed. Leis especially, because despite being common in their native range, and being listed as least concern on IUCN's red list, they are still nearly impossible to find in the aquarium trade.

 

[xenacanth9]

The #1 for me is when people buy Silver Arowana knowing how large they can grow without having a proper size aquarium to house one for life.

Oh, totally.

 

[xenacanth9]

+1. Don’t have a prob with the African butteryfly fish.

Yeah. I know ABFs aren't exactly the most polarizing fish in the world, but I figured that since I included paimas, I may as well include them, too

 

[Deadeye]

I like the colors on Asians, but yeah having the others is fine…it’s channa I wish I could get…

I hate that google says they need 180 gallons, the fish literally gets longer than that is wide…

 

[xenacanth9]

it’s channa I wish I could get…

Totally, closest we have is bowfin but they frankly aren't as cool. Plus they're closer to gars anyway-- not even that closely related to snakeheads

 

[Deadeye]

Totally, closest we have is bowfin but they frankly aren't as cool. Plus they're closer to gars anyway-- not even that closely related to snakeheads

We have wild bettas…but “betta” just doesn’t have the same ring lol