Appropriate tank size for silvers

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A

Anchovie

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 19, 2012
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Jersey Shore
Don't have the time or space to set up another monster tank at the moment, but is like to have a silver or two in the future. Just wondering what size tank you guys feel is appropriate. And is water volume more important or tank footprint? I don't like using the term "minimum size tank", but I don't know what size you'd consider appropriate.


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Without using the traditional answer of "pond", I can tell you what has NOT worked for me: 180. Once my first one hit 24" it was only a matter of time before he jumped. He didn't seem uncomfortably cramped, but he was clearly nervous.

I believe the footprint to be the most important thing. They need lots of room to continuously swim, and they can get to 2' REALLY quickly. With a fish that could get as long as 4', what would you gauge as appropriate? This also depends on what your definition of "monster tank" is I suppose. To my, my 180 is a monster tank; however to others on this forum, it's a feeder tank :irked:

Would you have room for something bigger than 6x2x2?
 
johnnytaboo said:
Without using the traditional answer of "pond", I can tell you what has NOT worked for me: 180. Once my first one hit 24" it was only a matter of time before he jumped. He didn't seem uncomfortably cramped, but he was clearly nervous.

I believe the footprint to be the most important thing. They need lots of room to continuously swim, and they can get to 2' REALLY quickly. With a fish that could get as long as 4', what would you gauge as appropriate? This also depends on what your definition of "monster tank" is I suppose. To my, my 180 is a monster tank; however to others on this forum, it's a feeder tank :irked:

Would you have room for something bigger than 6x2x2?
Click to expand...

Could you do a 6x3x2? 3' being depth of tank.


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6X3 would certainly last much longer than my 6x2, especially considering their growth slows a lot once they hit the 24" mark. I don't think anyone would say a 6x3x2 would suffice as a tank for life, but you would likely be offering your silver(s) a larger tank than 95% of people who try to keep them as pets.
Although, if you're doing a 6x3x2, you might as well to a 6x3x2.5 :D. I'm not sure how much girth these fish gain past 24" long, but mine was getting pretty thick before he jumped.
 
The consensus has been 8'x30"x2' (lwh) for one silver aro for life. Bigger would be better of course. I have 3 black aros and other fish in a 8'x3'x2' and plan on upgrading to something much larger in a couple years.
 
silver arowana should be kept in a tank that has a length at least 3x the aro and a width/depth at least equal to the arowana's body length. No reason why with proper care the silver aro shouldn't get to be at least 30". So as stated above 96x30x24" (300g) should be the minimum considered. If you are planning multiple arowana I would suggest an increase to at least a 96x36x30" (450g) for two or three silvers. More then that are gonna need much larger.
 
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