silver arowana tank size opinions please?

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aznboivuong

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Jan 1, 2012
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my friend has a silver arowana currently in a 4 x 1.5 x 1.5 tank, its about a foot long and hes looking to upgrade to a larger tank? should he get a 6 x 3 x 3 or a 8 x 2 x 2? just want some opinions please. thanks in advance
 
Slvers grow very fast and can spook when they feel cramped so just recommend the largest tank he can afford/accommodate. I had 2 silvers that were over 30" in a 4' wide tank and I honestly couldn't imagine them in anything smaller.
 
Really, what is the point of a 3' wide tank for an aro if it is only 6' long? By the time the fish is big enough to justify the extra width will the 6' length will be adequate...

:duh:


Regardless, both options (6x3x3 or 8x2x2) are both only going to be temporary tanks for a silver aro, the 8x2x2 would be a little more long-term IMO but both will be inadequate once the fish starts getting to the 2' mark. If he can stretch to 8'x3'x2' (LxWxH) then that would make the difference between lasting another 12-18 months to lasting several years. Obviously bigger again would be better, 2' depth isn't that much for a large silver.

And just a reminder of what we're talking about here, I snapped this at the Berlin Aquarium a couple of years ago, my wifes arm is about 30" from shoulder to fingertip, and that was by no means the biggest silver in there, a couple that were close to a metre in length and a good 10" top to bottom...

IMG_0582Small.jpg


*edit*

here's a better pic of one of the really big silvers, and some massive bass

bigbass.jpg


click to view full size, and look for the tail of the 3' armartus in the bottom left corner!
 
Really, what is the point of a 3' wide tank for an aro if it is only 6' long? By the time the fish is big enough to justify the extra width will the 6' length will be adequate...

:duh:


Regardless, both options (6x3x3 or 8x2x2) are both only going to be temporary tanks for a silver aro, the 8x2x2 would be a little more long-term IMO but both will be inadequate once the fish starts getting to the 2' mark. If he can stretch to 8'x3'x2' (LxWxH) then that would make the difference between lasting another 12-18 months to lasting several years. Obviously bigger again would be better, 2' depth isn't that much for a large silver.

And just a reminder of what we're talking about here, I snapped this at the Berlin Aquarium a couple of years ago, my wifes arm is about 30" from shoulder to fingertip, and that was by no means the biggest silver in there, a couple that were close to a metre in length and a good 10" top to bottom...

IMG_0582Small.jpg


*edit*

here's a better pic of one of the really big silvers, and some massive bass

bigbass.jpg


click to view full size, and look for the tail of the 3' armartus in the bottom left corner!
Wow!!! what a tank!!
 
Minimum tank recommendations a tank with a length at least 3x that of the aro's and a width/depth at least equal to that of the aro's length. Figure on the aro getting to at least 32-33". So minimum footprint your gonna need is a 8'x3' I wouldn't go with any less then 24" height though 30" is more beneficial for communities. Your aro could get bigger then 32-33" and if that is the case you will then have to decide if a bigger tank is proper.

David R, nice pics, got any more?
 
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