[tanto]

sedikit info "basi" tentang hal2 yang berkenaan dengan aro sebelum diangkat ke rumah.....


There are many fancy names used by shops or farms to grade their fish. These are just marketing strategies to net them higher profits. Choose the fish based on the fish's potential and not to be swayed by fancy brands. There are numerous examples of normal grade arowanas surpassing in quality over those branded ones. However, since those branded fish have gone through selection, they're probably of higher quality. As those juveniles that satisfies good criteria are rare, they would also be priced higher... sometimes, you really pay what you get.
In conclusion, there are really too many criteria to judge good fish, I would say it is a true beauty as long as you like it. As the saying goes "beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder", there is no need to always compare for better grades arowana. It is truly a beauty in each and everyone of them. Shower them with your love and they'll bloom for you!

General Selection.
It is VERY IMPORTANT to select a fish of good health before anything else.
signs of good health :
Eyes must be clear and sharp
Swimming Posture must be upright and stable, no downward pointing head
Scales must be full, no chippings, fully dropped scales can recover back
Finnages must be full with no parasites, slight torns is easy to heal
Barbells straight and upward pointing
Jaws tightly shut with no rapid breathing, no protruding upper or lower jaws
Gills breathing must be regular and not rapid, gill plate fix close to the body, look out against gill curl
Look out for protruding anus, it looks reddish with infection near anal fin area
Look out against open wounds, it might easily get infected. If needed quarantine at the fish shop first before collection.

Things to beware of!!!

• Shops feeding their arowana with colour enhancers. This can be seen when young reds showing pink colour in the tummy area which is obviously not colour development. Such colour enhancers would only harm the health in long run.
• Be careful of con-sellers trying to sell you unknown breeds of arowana or coaxing you into buying an arowana which is not the breed that he promised. Always go for certified arowana with tag number and preferably from reputable shops and farms if possible.
• Be careful of overage arowana that is deliberately underfed so that its colours stands out amongst the rest. We can tell this by the size of the eyes in relative to the body, and also undernourished skinny body. If the eyes is too big for its age, the arowana is overaged. If possible always ask for the certificate to check tagging date, however this may not be always possible as not all dates are stated in the certificate and the date only specifies the date of tagging but not the DOB! In all, I guess it is better to ask more experienced arowana hobbyist to help you tell the difference.
  

Below are guides to select better quality juveniles. It's hard to find one that fully satisfies all the criterias and if it does, it fetches along high price as well.

Selection of Reds

• long and straight barbells
• red lips
• signs of redness on gill plate. early development is preferred
• choose the base colour of preferance if possible
• intensive shine
• dark body
• red and big finnages
• tightly shut jaws, preferably upward pointing
• spoon head (personal preferance)
• skin colour (personal preferance)
• deep red eyes
• look for broader body
• tones of colour is even on finnages
• If possible trace it's bloodline, however some superior bloodlines command very high price

Selection of Crossback Goldens

• long and straight barbells
• high level of shine, 5th level.
• high intensity of shine
• golden specks at head area
• choose the base colour of preferance if possible
• look for broader body
• lighter body shine for higher chance of thin frame
• look for more majestic swimming posture
• redder eyes are preferred
• dark lines on finnages is evenly toned
• high shine at lower chin
• If possible trace it's bloodline, however some superior bloodlines command very high price

Selection of Red Tail Goldens

• choose lighter top for potential of higher development
• more obvious rims development
• perfect jaw bite with no protruding jaws
• high level shine. 4th level at least
• long and straight barbells
• broader body
• more active ones, good swimming posture
• dark lines evenly toned on finnages
• deeper red and big finnages