Unpopular Opinions - Arowanas

[Friller2009]

I can't say I recall ever seeing any Scleropages aro with DE and I have seen tons of photos and videos of them over the years.

I've wondered why Leichardti are so scarce in the hobby compared to the jardini.

leichardti are actually quite common in the Australian hobby and I believe this is because Ausyfish are producing them quite readily. Jardini is usually a lot more expensive and a lot rarer, although if Dave Wilson is successful in breeding them they will be more common.

 

[krichardson]

leichardti are actually quite common in the Australian hobby and I believe this is because Ausyfish are producing them quite readily. Jardini is usually a lot more expensive and a lot rarer, although if Dave Wilson is successful in breeding them they will be more common.

Well that's good to know,at least they are common in the hobby over there.

 

[aroijuana]

The subjectivity of this statement is one of the reasons why I'll take, say, neons over arowanas. What draws me to fish are not their size, but their general appearance (color/color patterns, shape, etc) and activity (the more active the better, since it is more visible).
In fact, to an extent (that extent being to the point where it might get eaten by the larger fish within my favorites), the smaller the fish the better. I can have more of them, and I can have more fish in general in that tank.

But certainly, for some, that statement is true. Probably plays into arowana popularity, since few can resist seeing 70-100 cm fish.

This site is for monster fish keepers.. no?

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

This site is for monster fish keepers.. no?

Yes, and some of the fish that just ended up getting my interest are clown loaches and pictus catfish (both fairly good size and fairly commonly kept on here).
I'm saying that size is not the deciding factor for me.

 

[Caveden]

My unpopular opinion: all arowanas are waaaaaaay overrated. This opinion seems to be unpopular since arowana prices remain astronomically high.

As an example, I'd take a school of neons over any type of arowana any day. Better colors (IMO), much more compatible with many of my other favorites, won't suicidally jump out of the tank, won't get dropeye, and are ultimately much easier to care for.

One person I know had a $700 arowana jump out of its tank and die. That's $700 down the drain, and for perspective my 3 tanks put together cost less than it.

Aye, once you meet Asian arowanas you may change ur mind. Their scales shine out so much it’s clarity matches gemstones. It’s indescribable until you see a good quality one. However they can cost 2-4k SGD (my country), so I’ll forever be unable to afford one ??. Yes, Asian and Australian arowanas have same body shape, however I find asians will always be on top.
Can’t compare neons to arowanas.

arowanas are much more hyped up in Asian countries due to belief that they bring good luck and prosperity as they are similar looking to dragons. I don’t believein that logic though, I look them due to their beauty

 

[Krismo962]

This site is for monster fish keepers.. no?

Really? ?

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Aye, once you meet Asian arowanas you may change ur mind. Their scales shine out so much it’s clarity matches gemstones. It’s indescribable until you see a good quality one. However they can cost 2-4k SGD (my country), so I’ll forever be unable to afford one ??. Yes, Asian and Australian arowanas have same body shape, however I find asians will always be on top.
Can’t compare neons to arowanas.

arowanas are much more hyped up in Asian countries due to belief that they bring good luck and prosperity as they are similar looking to dragons. I don’t believein that logic though, I look them due to their beauty

Been there, done that, seen them at the zoo. I'd still take any of the non-blacklisted species I have in my signature any day.

'Can't compare neons to arowanas' is nothing more than subjective. Because:

-The color of arowanas, while by no means ugly, can't compensate for their price tag. Even ignoring that price tag, I still find, say, the bright neon red and blue of the neons more attractive.
-Dragon shapes do not (for some reason, IDK just why) appeal to me.
-I don't have $700 or more to spend on a fish that I don't find particularly attractive, will lunch on all my favorites, and then jump out of its tank leaving me at least $700 in the hole.

Arowanas are not for me.

 

[MultipleTankSyndrome]

Really? ?

The neon comparison was just to illustrate how I'd take even such a run-of-the-mill fish (to everyone else) over arowanas.
Perhaps I could instead discuss why I'd take clown loaches, pictus catfish, weather loaches, and yoyo loaches over arowanas? All of those are commonly kept on here and attain reasonable sizes, therefore I think they reasonably can be considered monster fish.

 

[xenacanth9]

My unpopular opinion: all arowanas are waaaaaaay overrated. This opinion seems to be unpopular since arowana prices remain astronomically high.

As an example, I'd take a school of neons over any type of arowana any day. Better colors (IMO), much more compatible with many of my other favorites, won't suicidally jump out of the tank, won't get dropeye, and are ultimately much easier to care for.

One person I know had a $700 arowana jump out of its tank and die. That's $700 down the drain, and for perspective my 3 tanks put together cost less than it.

Each of them is amazing in their own right (the most beautiful tanks have a mix of big and small imo).

I can understand M MultipleTankSyndrome 's point of view, but in my opinion, they each have merit in their own, respective rights.

 

[xenacanth9]

You shouldn't be able to get arapaimas at pet stores you should have to go to specialized breeders

Completely agree
As invasive as it may sound, I think they should force you to verify you have the conditions necessary. I also think they need extensive verification to prove their fish are captive-bred.