Am totally pissed PART 2.. Always observe possible Arowana tank mates

Had an interesting development after I cleaned my pond.. As the pond water stank, I had to practically clear the entire pond and wash all the filters, chambers, etc.. What this meant was I had to 'season' new water for about a week before I can consider putting new kois in.

Anyway, I had 3 small plecostomus (only about 0.75 foot each) in the pond which I had to take out and the only place I could put them was in my arowana tank. Did not think that this would be a problem as these sucker fishes stay at the bottom and would not get in the way of my 2 foot red arowana. I was even worried that my arowana would not take too kindly to these new additions! Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised that they got along fine in the tank! …

That was what I thought anyway! I thought nothing of it until about 2am in the morning as I was going to bed. I always pass by my arowana tank when I goto bed and saw that my arowana was practically being chased around the tank by 2 of the plecostomus. What I noticed was that they were trying to 'latch' on to the arowana's body to sucker on it! Healthy fishes always have a layer of protective mucoprotein slime coating that covers it's entire body and the these jokers were trying to get to it! And to think that I was scared that they would get whacked by my arowana!

My poor arowana must have been trying to avoid them for hours as it was really stressed and gasping. So what did I do? At 2am in the morning, I had to remove these jokers from my arowana tank. Took me about 20 minutes to catch them with a net and ofcourse got myself wet doing that. So instead of going to bed, I had to take another shower after that saga! Man!.. as if I had not had enough excitement after cleaning my pond!

Ok ok what is the moral of the story?

Do not assume that all the tank mates will get along with your arowana. Always observe to see what happens! This is the first time I am seeing a plecostomus giving my arowana a hard time. And mind you.. this was just a little fish and I would have expected my arowana to really whack it once to warned it BUT IT DIDN'T! Don't ask me why because my arowana has always been aggressive towards other tank mates but not this particular plecostomus! (I have had others before in the same tank and none of them ever bothered my arowana. FYI, I have taken out the 2 that was trying to 'suck' my arowana and left the bigger one in there. This last one does not bother my arowana at all…

I guess fishes are like people eh.. some of us get along but some dun!

Steven