[Dan]

Okay, I've decided to finally get into aros, and I'm wondering which would be best for me to start with, a leichardti or a jardini. Either one (3" fish, I believe) would be in a 10 gallon grow out to start with, and then moved to an 80 as a slightly larger grow out, then to one of my 300 gallons. Would 3" be a reasonable size to start with? I know that some species of aros don't absorb their yolk sacs until they're around 6", but are the aussies any different? Overall, I guess, I'm asking which is more hardy, because I would definetly prefer the leichardti (particularly now while the prices are reasonable), mainly because they aren't so aggressive (which leads to another question, are jardinis, for the most part, as bad as their reputation sugests?). In the 10 gallon, whichever ever aro that I end up chosing would be in there alone, to be sure that they don't get eaten. If the chances are good that the leichardti will survive while it's small (during the yolk-sac absorbtion, if present in this species), then I think that'll I'll go with it, but if not, I think that I'll go with a jardini or a black.
Thanks in advance for any help,
Dan

[DiXoN]

personally i would get the leichardti and get it as big as poss 5'' + and tes most jardini aro owners say they are terrible at larger sizes.
dixon

[alfon76]

I just received 4 Leichardtis and they are housed together in a 30 gallon tank until they grow a bit bigger. I do not have any tankmates yet but plan to put some loaches for cleanup crew when I place blackworms and pellets in there.
I think you will like the Leichardti better as Jardinis are traditionally intolerant of other fishes.

Ivan

[Gsc]

I say Jardini becasue of the HUGE price difference.... we talking well over $100 difference at the 3"-4" size. Jardinis can be reallymean when/as they mature.... The larger on I had would beat up any fish that was put in the tank with him... but hey...a single BIG Jardini in a tank looks great. The leichardtis are susposed to be much more "community style" fish. Jardini get a more c;assic body style look to them while leichardtis get a more elongated body look.... & leichardtis have better coloration form what I have heard.....

I only suggest a jardini as a first arowana because if you screw up and kill it, it will not hit your wallet as hard... If you raise a jardini with no probs, then DEFINTELY get a leichardtis...

Good luck! Aros are great

[Dan]

Thanks guys, and it looks like Gsc has the same thoughts that I do. I was mostly worried about the price thing, and I was thinking the pricise thing that Graham was, that if I screw up and kill it I'll be out $200, and with jardini I'd only be out around $70. I think that I will go with a jardini, and I've already got a large tank ready for it only, and nothing else... I've heard WAY too many jardini horror stories.