Why a Silver Arowana Won’t Eat

1 Causes and Fixes for a Silver Arowana That Won’t Eat

Indigestion. Arowana have a stomach sac and don’t feel hungry when digestion is impaired, so indigestion shows up as refusal to eat. Fix: raise the temperature to about 30 C to speed up metabolism and digestion, then feed again once appetite returns – no medication is needed in most cases.

Environment change or new-tank stress. Arowana are timid; a change in surroundings easily leads to glass-surfing and stopped feeding. Fix: stop feeding and let it rest. Watch its behavior; once glass-surfing stops, it has adjusted and you can feed again.

Low oxygen. Poor oxygen in the tank hurts appetite, especially in hot, stuffy summer weather when tanks easily become oxygen-starved. Fix: use an air pump to add oxygen right away. Once the fish is moving normally with no other issues, resume feeding.