Look at Bderiks 450g tank, his silvers (and blacks) are as well housed as any I've seen. Yeah bigger would be better, but the silvers certainly don't look uncomfortable.
Aro tank size?
- Thread starter vanillaxtiffy
- Start date
I have a 10 x 4 x 2.5 and have kept 2 large silvers in the past and currently have 2 smaller ones. I certainly don't think they would be comfortable in anything smaller. It sounds like a huge tank but they grow very quickly and move constantly.
The problem issue with housing a large silver is practicability. There is only so large a tank most can afford or have room for. IMO no arowana should be kept in a tank that is less then 3x their own length(maybe give a couple inches). So 8' tank would be good for upto a 32-34" long arowana.
Width is a little more debatable, because turning is not really an issue(my two 30" silvers can turn within a 12" radius). I do believe that a narrow tank will lead to both gill curl and over curved pectoral fins. The gill curl differs from that in the commonly known condition, what I've seen is the gills trend to develop the tendency to "flip" inside out. The pectoral of my silvers(which were kept in a 24" wide tank until 27") have much more of a curve to them then what my two black have.
Another benefit to extra width is the arowana feel more secure. They seem to be much less skittish when they can retreat farther to the back of tank. There was an very noticeable difference with my two silver once moved from the 180g to the 450g. So IMO no arowana should be kept with a width that is not at least equal to their own length. A 36" width would be idea for up to a 36-38" arowana.
Tank height should be 24" minimum. If you plan to house multiple aro or other larger fish with the aro, I would recommend a 30" tank height.
Considering all factors, including how big and fast arowana will grow. I would not recommend anything smaller then 8' x 30" x 24" for a single arowana. I feel that this size tank (300g wide) is still practical. This size tank may last the aro's entire life or at least up until the aro approaches the 36" mark. I have not seen many arowana grow above 30-32", but over time they may keep slowly growing, and a decision will have to be made if the aro does grow past the 30-32" mark.
My opinion has been formed while keeping my 2 silver and 2 black arowana over the past 5 years. My arowana are approx. 5.5, 5, 4,5 and 1.5 years of age and are 30, 30, 26, and 24" long.
Thanks. Problem is as a keeper I am not satisfied. I want bigger
Actually I think my tank was great for 3 arowana but a little cramped for the four of them. Hoping in the future to be able to split the two pairs into two separate tanks, plus add a third black aro.
A 8x3x2' tank is 360 gallons
Width is a little more debatable, because turning is not really an issue(my two 30" silvers can turn within a 12" radius). I do believe that a narrow tank will lead to both gill curl and over curved pectoral fins. The gill curl differs from that in the commonly known condition, what I've seen is the gills trend to develop the tendency to "flip" inside out. The pectoral of my silvers(which were kept in a 24" wide tank until 27") have much more of a curve to them then what my two black have.
Another benefit to extra width is the arowana feel more secure. They seem to be much less skittish when they can retreat farther to the back of tank. There was an very noticeable difference with my two silver once moved from the 180g to the 450g. So IMO no arowana should be kept with a width that is not at least equal to their own length. A 36" width would be idea for up to a 36-38" arowana.
Tank height should be 24" minimum. If you plan to house multiple aro or other larger fish with the aro, I would recommend a 30" tank height.
Considering all factors, including how big and fast arowana will grow. I would not recommend anything smaller then 8' x 30" x 24" for a single arowana. I feel that this size tank (300g wide) is still practical. This size tank may last the aro's entire life or at least up until the aro approaches the 36" mark. I have not seen many arowana grow above 30-32", but over time they may keep slowly growing, and a decision will have to be made if the aro does grow past the 30-32" mark.
My opinion has been formed while keeping my 2 silver and 2 black arowana over the past 5 years. My arowana are approx. 5.5, 5, 4,5 and 1.5 years of age and are 30, 30, 26, and 24" long.
David R;4809968; said:
Thanks. Problem is as a keeper I am not satisfied. I want bigger Actually I think my tank was great for 3 arowana but a little cramped for the four of them. Hoping in the future to be able to split the two pairs into two separate tanks, plus add a third black aro.HungDang;4809411; said:
A 8x3x2' tank is 360 gallons
Thanks Bderick! Problem solved, I can get up to an 800g tank when we get a house. I got permission. Probably have to keep it in the basement though since I don't know how many houses have floors that were built to hold that much water. Now I just need to win that lottery! Basically I just want an arowana, if I had a tank big enough for other fish I would think about it, but if not one silver will do me just fine.
Juxtaroberto;4809460; said:
That's funny. In a perfect world you need a lake, if you don't have a lake forget it!! LOL
i would say just make sure the aro could swim freely and his movement is unstricted, if its jar of gold fish bowl but his movement unstricted, goldfish bowl it is LOL.
on serious note 150 i think is the minumum for grown up single aro, but make sure u have the right tank foot print.
on serious note 150 i think is the minumum for grown up single aro, but make sure u have the right tank foot print.
HungDang;4809411; said:
8x3x2 is a 360 not a 250. A 8x2x2 is a 240. There is alot of varied opinions of this subject which gets asked all the time on what size tank for adult arowanas. im surprised there isnt a sticky on this subject yet. I would say a 480 8x4x4. I got rid of my Silver that was 3 feet if not a little more. And he was in a 360 and had plenty of room in there and is a big enough home for them. just felt bad for it feeling it needed a bigger home. I gave it to the boston aquirium when i lived in that area.
classic-chassis;4813603; said:
I don't understand... are you saying that because we cannot provide lakes, we should give up and keep them in a 180 or so, since no matter what we provide, it's still smaller than what they'd experience in nature?
Or are you saying that I exaggerated my tank size? Have you seen an aro in a tank only twice its size? It looks really cramped.
Well if all the tank sizes stated are correct I don't think anyone would be keeping SA aros
All the experts who have said 12x4x3 or even 10x4x3 how many of the experts actually have tanks that size
In Asia most Asian aro keepers keep them in 4x2x2 for me this is to small but it works for them I think a Asianaro or a jar would be ok in a 7x30x30 for some time
All the experts who have said 12x4x3 or even 10x4x3 how many of the experts actually have tanks that size
In Asia most Asian aro keepers keep them in 4x2x2 for me this is to small but it works for them I think a Asianaro or a jar would be ok in a 7x30x30 for some time
