Arrow look alike fish

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viejafish

Piranha
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2013
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Northeast
Due to tank size, I am looking for arrow look alike fish as an alternative. I know Arros are unique ancient fish, so I am not looking for genically closed substitute, just resemblance in look and demeaner. Gars and Arapaima will be close, but they get even bigger. I can think of one fish, Red Tail Chalceus, that has some resemblance and don't get big: long body, large scales, predatory, and upper water column swimmer.

Are there other arrow like fish out there that don't grow into giant?

pink-tailed-chalceus.jpg
 
How big you lookin' for in a fish? Check out african butterfly fish. They look like small, brown, fancy as all hell aros in my opinion.
 
if you are looking for small size prehistorics , then you can try , senegal bichir , black ghost knife ,florida gar or short nose gar ,ropefish , elephant nose fish
for small top water predator , red tail barracuda , needlenose gar , halfbeaks
 
African butterfly fish looks cool, prehistoric and top water swimmer. But they max out at 5", little small for my cichlid tank, and their long fins may invite nipping. No good.

Bichir are cool, prehistoric, but bottom deweller. No good.

Gars are the closest to Arros, but they all get too big. I am looking for fish under 14" to house with my CA/SA. No good.
 
what the size of your tank and what cichlids do you own ?

Good questions,Apollo sharks look like aros if you can find them but not sure if they'd be safe with what you have.
 
I have 125 and 75 g and keep CA/SA up to 14". Arros needs 24" wide tank to be able turn around.

Apple sharks are really nice especially in a large school. Live aquaria has some right now on their site I believe. However they will get nipped on by the cichlids likely. Their fins get a bit long as they grow and are hard to resist to get nipped at.


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That might be true but I was thinking they'd be too fast moving for most fin nippers to keep an interest in.
 
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