Can I add an Arowana to this setup?

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Well now that we have come full circle, this is from about 100 posts back. lol

This is just another example of an exercise in futility, stupidity, whatever one wants to call it. The difference that some seem not able to grasp, is that silvers have been seen in the 40"+ range, probably the 4ft+ range, in captivity - be it in a pond, or a public aquarium, etc. That's why polyaddict wanted larger systems such as ponds etc removed from the equation, when he/she said:

Polyaddict86 said:
Just a quick question, have anyone here ever seen a 4’ silver arowana? Not in a pond or public aquarium but in a fish tank? Or better yet has anyone ever seen or grew a 4’ silver aro in a 240g tank?
Because most know, that in larger systems, such as ponds, large public aquariums etc, a silver aro can easily reach the 40+" range - in captivity. That clearly removes poor genes from the equation, and points directly to the fact that in larger systems, silvers can reach those kinds of sizes.

The genus that was then referred to and injected into the conversation, Asian aros, have not ever reached that kind of size, in captivity. In fact, an Asian aro over 30" is a rarity, although I'm sure 36" is definitely possible, in captivity. Other than some bogus fisherman photos, please show me a 4ft Asian aro. lol I don't recall ever seeing pictures or videos of an Asian aro in any of the large breeding ponds in Singapore in the 4ft range.

That's the difference.


Many fish kept in tight quarters fail to reach their full potential. Unfortunately good genetics won't trump piss poor conditions.
 
I can't be arsed any more, it getting embarrassing mate.

No need to elaborate, you hit the nail on the head with your last 2 posts -- it doesn't matter how much evidence we post, it would still be an exercise in futility given that some people like to act all innocent and continually live in denial -- "No name calling on my part just facts :thumbsup:" lol.
 
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That's what comes at the end of the rainy season. It gets dry. :)
......unless trapped in a puddle at the end of the rainy season

Lots of fish, probably millions across the continents, get trapped in small bodies of water, and ultimately get picked off by predators, or die from starvation and/or lack of 02.

Youre right. I was thinking of waterways drying up so much they get cut off.
 
While on the subject, the myth of fish only growing to the size of a tank.
Is it the actually square footage?

While on the topic...I once had 8 female platies in a 30G tank that spent there around 2 years. I decided I'd move them to my 115 G tank. In a matter of months they exhibited a massive growth spurt. It was the first time I had seen platies of that size and the first time I realized that the average suggested tank sizes for fish are skewed big time. I thought my 8 platies had it cozy in their 30G tank, lol...

Additionally, when I started upgrading all my small fish to much larger quarters than it is the accepted norm, I noticed behavioral changes, in terms of happy fish....They acted like kids in Disney land when given that much more space....I will not mention how much healthier they are....

So if I think that a 3 inch fish is better off in a 100G tank, guess what I think about an arowana in a 240G tank, even short term....My point is, personally I will never own a monster fish because of my views, which have come through experience trying to better my fish's lives...

If I follow the logic of minimum tank size requirements, I should keep a 3 inch fish in a 6 inch wide tank, so it has enough room to turn? Seriously?

Personally, I would have been kicked out of the forum if I expressed my opinion every time I see an overstocked tank on here..I just read and ignore as much as I can, trying not to think about the impeding premature death of those fish....

To sum it up, my advise is never buy a fish you don't own a tank for, big enough already to house it for life. Most folks would have owned a larger tank had they been able to afford it/house it.....And in spite of general opinions, raise the fish in the tank it is destined to live for life. It will grow faster and bigger. Putting a potentially large fish in a "grow out" tank will stunt it from get go, blame genetics, the fish shop, etc.. for that then. And never overstock a tank. If you can't control the buying impulse, don't get into fish, unless you want to kill many....or unless you have a lot of space and money. This hobby isn't cheap...

As Duanes said above, the only person to blame is always yourself but it is a hard pill to swallow....You get humble when you kill enough fish and get real with yourself then....too late for the fish.

Majority of arguments on here root deep down to tank size requirements, polys carsheets, oscars in 55G tanks, bettas in a cup etc.... Some people have a hard time understanding that there is a much better way to keep fish, which will limit the type of fish they can keep, hence it starts getting personal as they are not interested in that opinion prevailing....It will eventually though, early or later...with or without me or the likes of those that think like me...It's a matter of time and experience and the internet solidifying the knowledge for future generations.
 
No need to elaborate, you hit the nail on the head with your last 2 posts -- it doesn't matter how much evidence we post,
for that to be accurate you would have had to provide something.
 
Back in philippines i grew a silver aro in a 150g and it lived 11 yrs, yeah silver didnt grow 3’ but it was 26”-28” and it live healthy. So i dont see why you cant have a silver in a 8x2x2. Like other ppl said some house them in bigger tank but that does not meant it will reach its potential 3’-4’ size, i know ppl that have them in a 3’ wide tank for 5 over yrs and still only under 30”.
 
Not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but hardly many will buy a tank around 500 gallons or whatever. To house a damn fish that's merely 3-5 inches max starter size. As for cost, maybe that dream tank will come at a later time. When it doe's that's not really a big problem, because the fish will need time to grow. Do i recommend constantly flipping fish no, but one time isn't a huge stress move. I mean look at all the time's aquatic life has been handled, before it reaches it's destination. Especially if someone is planing on buying a wild type fish. Some are just to chaotic when it come's to conversation. Then things turn for the worst then enemy's are made. From something simple in the first place. Hell! why not go to a Japanese restaurant say something there, just to see you're self out the door. Helping someone to understand things is very helpful indeed. That's all you should provide to them, mainly that's what this forum is for. Once again if he's planning to buy a fish at a small size, i say go for it. Might have to re-home a few fish, but worth it in the end.
 
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i know ppl that have them in a 3’ wide tank for 5 over yrs and still only under 30”.

I don't think an extra foot in width would make much of a difference mate. It's like me increasing the width of the tank for a platy from 6 to 9 inch. One has to think bigger than that. Sadly few of us can house large fish in natural like environments. It's a controversial topic and it will always be because we have different views on "animal rights" and in a way I respect that. It is what makes us human beings and diversity in opinions matters. But I don't have to agree...It is my right and it is yours too.

And I don't blame anyone for keeping fish the way they do as most of us have been there done that.....the point is the conclusions we make and what steps we take to move on.

I think considering our human constrains when it comes to housing fish, all we can give is the max we can and then try to always strive for the better, but there should be some common sense when making decisions on what fish to house.

I don't know the life span of an arowana but considering that a guppy can live 5 years in a large tank I'd think arowana can live way longer than 11 years. A fast google search suggest they can live decades. Having said that, the determination to keep a fish the best one can for 11 years is still a massive progress considering most of the fish die within the first few years of purchase.

I mean look at all the time's aquatic life has been handled, before it reaches it's destination.

And you do realize yourself about the high death rate many of those fish endure before some reach your tank?

but hardly many will buy a tank around 500 gallons

Correct.
But many will buy fish that need bigger tanks than that.

Then things turn for the worst then enemy's are made.

Yes, and it is sad because we all have pretty much the same goal but believe in different ways of achieving it, fish or not fish related.
 
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A reasonable expectation of a silver aro, is 24" in 2 years, or less. Not all low cost fish are easy flips once they begin to mature and outgrow smaller tanks, many LFS refuse them (1,000 Oscars later) and many hobbyists prefer to grow them out themselves. It's not as simplistic as it sounds on paper.
 
Back in philippines i grew a silver aro in a 150g and it lived 11 yrs, yeah silver didnt grow 3’ but it was 26”-28” and it live healthy.

Well there you go, now the OP knows how successful this can be - because someone else has done it in an even smaller tank. I'm sure that someone that has raised one in a 125 will be along shortly .........
 
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