DragonFish

Dragonfish live in the deep sea at depths of 1500~4500m and have teeth stronger than great white sharks or piranhas. It is a deep-sea animal belonging to the Stomiidae family in the animal classification and lives by eating small squid fish. Dragonfish have jaws called ‘loose jaws.’

Dragonfish are famous for their large, strong fangs. Their teeth and gums are larger than their jaws and visible outside. However, deep-sea fish teeth are transparent, making them difficult to see.

Meyers’ research team closely observed dragonfish teeth’ structure, composition, and mechanical properties.

Black Dragonfish

Another weapon of this deep-sea fish, the Black Dragonfish, is its skin color. As it grows, it acquires black skin similar to Vantaa Black, a pure artificial black color that absorbs 99.9% of visible light, almost like a black hole. This allows it to hunt in a form similar to stealth in the deep sea.

Of course, it is not like that from birth, but as it grows past the larval stage. It acquires pure black colored skin. It is even rather cute during the larval stage.

This fish develops from a larva into a growth stage and from the growth stage into an adult. As it enters the growth stage, its bulging eyes disappear. Its internal organs are sucked into its body. Its skin begins to turn black. At this time, its body swells up to four times its size. Its skin takes on a pure black color that can be transformed into a weapon in the deep sea. In other words, the deep sea dragonfish is equipped with two weapons.

1. Nanocrystal structured teeth

2. pure black skin with stealth capabilities

But their appearance is more frightening than these practical and powerful survival weapons.
However, among the fish that use the name dragonfish. There are not only deep-sea fish called black dragons but also dragonfish called sea moths.

Diseases in dragonfish and how to treat them

Next is about diseases or defects that often occur in dragonfish, including treatment methods and things to be aware of and be careful about.

•  Gill disease

 Gill disease is a common disease that can occur in dragonfish. There are four types: gill disease or gill expansion, gill recess disease, gill folding disease, and gill dimple disease. The cause of this disease is uncertain. It is often caused by water with a pH that is too high or too low, as well as not taking care of the fish tank, resulting in a lot of waste, not changing the water, not oxygen in the tank, and the water temperature is too high or too low.

•  Treatment method

if dragonfish has gill disease, it is difficult to treat because it can only be treated in the initial stages. it is severe, surgery may be required. it cannot be treated, it will leave a permanent mark.

Ptosis

Ptosis is when too much fat is in the eye socket, causing the eyeball to drop. The cause of the disease is assumed to be.

1. Feeding foods that are too fatty.
2. Feeding them “small shrimp” as bait is not caused by eating small shrimp but by the fish looking for small shrimp on the bottom of the tank for a long time, which causes their eyes to droop.
3. Raising fish in a bare tank.  There is nothing in the tank at all may cause the bottom of the tank to reflect the fish’s reflection. When the fish look at it frequently, it will cause their eyes to droop.
4. They are caused by genetics. Most Arowanas with hereditary ptosis will have symptoms when they are very small, with a body size of about 6 inches.

• Treatment method

One doctor has treated a dragonfish for ptosis by pulling the eyelids up, like treating inward-rolling eyelid disease in dogs. This treatment causes the least amount of injury to the fish. The doctor also said that the most important thing to prevent the fish from developing ptosis is to keep the fish in a closed tank for some time so that the fish’s eye muscles can rest.

Squid tentacle disease

Squid tentacle disease is another popular disease. Arowanas with this disease will have curled tentacles and bumps, looking like “squid tentacles.” The causes of the disease are water temperatures that are too hot and dirty tanks with many stains. It occurs in fish that frequently play in front of the tank by rubbing their mouths against it.

• Treatment method

Treatment for this disease is not difficult. Just take care of cleanliness and change the water as needed. The fish will get better. But if the fish are in serious condition, wash the whiskers with “potassium permanganate.” However, this method is quite dangerous.

The fish must be anesthetized and the water must be mixed with potassium permanganate, not too strong. Otherwise, the potassium permanganate will eat away at the whiskers. Therefore, treatment should be done in the early stages, which is easiest and best.

• Hemorrhoids

This disease is produced by a “reddish-pink lump” protruding from the anus. When this occurs, it makes it difficult for the fish to defecate. The cause of this disease is usually due to the dragonfish’s poor defecation system. When eating large pieces of food that is difficult to digest in large amounts, it causes problems with defecation.

• Treatment method

It is not a very dangerous disease. It can be cured by changing to small, easily digestible food such as mealworms, shrimp, or crickets. If changing these foods does not improve the symptoms, use mealworm larvae, or what is called “white worms.” Eat them and the hemorrhoids will disappear in no time. However, they can recur. If the fish is very sick, they will need to be anesthetized and the hemorrhoids will be cut off. Using a method of continuously feeding easily digestible food will improve the symptoms.

• White spot disease

It is a disease that is transmitted by fish in the same tank. Symptoms include white spots on the fins. If your dragonfish has this symptom, separate the other fish as soon as possible.

• Treatment Method

Use concentrated amounts of “salt” and change the water frequently. If the condition is critical then use antibiotics.

• Scale blister disease

mostly occurs in small Arowana fish no more than 8 inches. The cause is dirty water with a lot of waste in the water, including sudden changes in water temperature. The symptom is “scales will open open”. This disease is quite dangerous and can cause the fish to die. Therefore, it should be treated quickly.

• Treatment Method

Use antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory drug called “Amoxicil”, the same one used by humans. Before using the drug, change 30% of the water and use 10 milligrams per 1 liter of water. Do this every day. The fish will improve within 1 week.

How to raise a dragon fish beautiful and healthy

Next, raising beautiful, high-quality, and healthy Dragonfish.  There are some easy, non-secret tips. First, we need to prepare the necessary equipment for raising quality dragonfish, such as

Prepare equipment

• Aquarium

Aquarium Preparation of the Dragon tank should have a minimum size of 60 inches long, 24 inches wide, 24 inches deep, and a thickness of at least 3 millimeters. The reason for using a large tank is that the dragon grows quickly. The average growth rate is about 1 inch per month until the fish is about 1 to 1 year and six months old. The growth will then slow down.

Buying a new aquarium should be washed with clean water 2-3 times. This is to clean and check that the glue or silicone in the tank will not dissolve. In addition, the aquarium should have a good filtration system.

• Water

Water is very important for raising dragons. Therefore, if tap water is used, it must be filtered with a chlorine filter or carbon filter (only coconut shell charcoal) for at least 24 hours or three days to remove chlorine from the water. If groundwater is used, it should be filtered with both carbon and resin to kill germs. Water that should not be used for raising Arowanas is water with low oxygen content, such as highly alkaline water, rainwater, groundwater (unfiltered), and dirty water. In addition, there should be a water and oxygen pump for water circulation and treatment. And 20-30% of the water should be changed every month to help the fish stay fresh.

• Water temperature

Dragons are tropical freshwater fish, and the water temperature for raising them should be the same as natural water, around 28-31 degrees Celsius. However, the water temperature should not be too low, as this will cause the fish to eat less and become uncomfortable. If raising fish in an air-conditioned room, a heater should be adjusted to the water temperature so it does not drop too low.
A power backup system is another essential item for raising Arowana fish that should be installed at home. If an unexpected event occurs, it will not threaten the fish’s life.

• Environment:

The aquarium’s environment should be as close to nature as possible. The fish are not frightened and can eat normally. However, large rocks should be avoided because they can injure the dragonfish.