Day 1-30: Pristine Water
Water changes 50% 2x weekly. Test daily: ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate under 20ppm. Any stress at this stage delays color development.
Add driftwood and Indian almond leaves to provide natural tannins — these buffer pH and reduce stress.
Day 30-60: Color Diet
High-astaxanthin feeding 3x daily: shrimp with shells, high-quality color pellets (Hikari Saki Red, Aqua Dragon Red Gem).
Supplement with cricket and mealworm 2x weekly for protein variety. No goldfish feeders — disease risk too high.
Day 60-90: Lighting Intensification
Switch to red/pink LED for red arowana, cool white for crossbacks. Run 10 hours daily.
Place mirror outside tank briefly (15 min daily) to trigger display behavior. Stops after show, or fish becomes aggressive.
Show Day Logistics
Transport in oxygenated bag with tank water. Never starve before travel — fish may refuse to display from stress.
Once placed in show tank, give 2 hours to settle before judging. Turn on correct lighting for the category.