Minimum tank size for Aro
- Thread starter Tahn
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Tank foot print is more important than overall size. most arowana need a minimum of 2.5 feet of swimming space width wise (front to back of the tank). Jardini, Leichardti, African, and all Asian arowanas species can live their whole lives in tank that is at least 6' long by 2.5 feet wide. Height isn't really important but note that a 6'x2.5' tank is the bare minimum. This means no decorations at all that can reach the upper part of the water column.
Silvers and Blacks require a hard minimum of 3 feet width (no negotiations) simply because they have the capacity to grow 3 feet or larger. These two species do much better in a ponds compare to the other species, but they still can live full lives in a large enough aquarium.
However, do note that arowanas are active swimmers so get the widest tank you can.
Silvers and Blacks require a hard minimum of 3 feet width (no negotiations) simply because they have the capacity to grow 3 feet or larger. These two species do much better in a ponds compare to the other species, but they still can live full lives in a large enough aquarium.
However, do note that arowanas are active swimmers so get the widest tank you can.
I agree with most of the above, having kept multiple silver aros and a jardini. However, I believe that a 24 inch wide tank is the absolute minimum, with 30 inches or more being better. However, 6 feet long it too short in my opinion. South American arowanas grow to 3ish feet in most aquariums (though there are reports of fish up to 4 ft). They are very limber and can turn around in a tight space but if you keep them in a 6 foot tank they will not swim very far before having to turn around again. 7 or even 8 feet long is much better. I have a 240 (8x2x2) for my male dovii but once he is gone I will be putting an aro in that tank. I'm thinking I want a black this time.
+1. Only thing I don't agree with is blacks growing to 3'. Still have yet to see a claim with proof. Biggest I've seen was 7+ years old and 30" in a 450g. And I feel silvers should have atleast 8' for length.
So your telling me jardini being the absolute smallest species of aro in length, who grow upwards of 2' and is a sticky fish that isn't very flexible can be kept in a 2' tank? Now what if someone, and people have, get it past 2'? Think the biggest specimen I can think of without doing research again is 26". Then leis who are known to grow past 2' can be kept in a 2' wide tank? And asians, I feel like I've seen a video of one in a zoo claimed to be 3'. Now you have to take their potential into consideration. So asians in a 2' wide tank?. No. 30" minimum imo. For asians I'd say 3'+ in case it is true of them getting over 30".
My bad for not being clear, I didn't mean a minimum of 6' long for silvers and blacks. I forgot to write that 8'x3.5' is the minimum I would keep a silver or black for life. Also while Blacks tend to grow smaller than Silvers in most home aquariums, they still have the potential to grow almost 3'. Never seen one over 30" from private owners either, but studies say they grow to 3' so I believe some exceptional individuals can grow that large and live that long in the home aquarium.
I have no experience with African or Asian arowana. Having never kept either, I did not mean to imply that my suggested minimum tank dimensions applied to them. As for Jardini, silvers and blacks, I stand by my original statement that 24inch wide is the absolute minimum with wider being better (with monster fish larger tanks are always better). For the average single specimen, this is likely minimally sufficient for life. Sure, if a person owned an exceptional individual that grew to a tremendous size then my suggested minimum/rule of thumb might not fit that fish's needs and a wider tank may be required. A person may also not want to give their prized fish a minimally sufficient aquarium. But the OP did not ask what is the ideal size tank. He asked what is the minimum size tank.
Arowana, jardini included, do not turn like a boat oar. SIlvers and Blacks, especially, are quite limber and turn in a very tight space much like ribbon tied to a stick waived by a child. Once the head turns, the body bends sharply and follows that same path. In my opinion, once minimum width is established, length is far more important. You may disagree but this is my opinion.
Lol I'd let you pass on the jar. Maybe even black because I agree, they are very flexible and slim and only grow to 30" from what I've seen. Leis I do not agree with again as they aren't as flexible as a black, get thicker ought slimmer than a jar, and grow over 24". But you're saying a silver can be kept in 24" when there are so many specimens you can find that are 3'+?
And we are talking average here. Can't say silvers don't get to three feet which by then they become pretty thick and tall bodied. And again I've heard of multiple blacks at 30" which is very believable having seen one and their potential being said to be quite a bit larger. Leis have been seen over 2' many times. Every jar in my belief has the potential to get to 24" I've not seen one not grow to 20"+ in the first 5 years that was properly kept. Above that is where the exception comes in. I sure wouldn't like to be in a room as wide as my shoulders are. I'd hate to turn around.
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You can lol and "let me pass" if you like on whatever you like. You can keep your fish in whatever size tank you like. But you have not changed my mind as to minimum tank size. Also, I haven't once mentioned Scleropages leichardti. Black arowana are generally smaller and less massive than silvers so I am comfortable opining on a minimum tank size for them even though I have not kept one. My opinion above is based on my own personal experiences keeping silver and jardini arowana. I am not regurgitating group think or quoting someone else's recommendations or imagining what size tank might be best based on the lengths of fish other people have kept. If the fish were not so flexible, it would likely not be possible to keep them in a tank that is not as wide as their OAL. But because they are so extremely flexible, I would not and have not had any trouble doing so. You can have the last word again if that is important to you as I am done with this "long arowana contest."