Common Tear Causes
1) Jumping during transfer or startle. 2) Aggression from tank mates (especially other arowana). 3) Sharp decor or broken heater guards.
Inspect tank for sharp edges weekly. Round-off any heater guards with filter foam.
First Aid
Water change 50% immediately. Add melafix at label rate for 7-10 days. Maintain 0.1% salinity (1 tsp per 10L).
Do not attempt to trim ragged edges with scissors — infection risk is too high. Let it heal naturally.
Healing Timeline
Week 1: tear edges seal with new skin. Week 2-3: fin rays start regrowing. Week 4-6: full regeneration in most cases.
Thicker sections of fin (near body) heal slower. Fin tip healing is usually fastest.
Preventing Recurrence
Secure all tank covers — arowana are jumpers. 100% of the top must be closed.
If keeping multiple arowana, provide 1000L+ with visual dividers. Most single-tank arowana colonies fail within 2 years due to escalating aggression.