Minimum tank size for a silver?

[Eric A]

Hi Guys.

Here in Australia, Silver Arowanas are the only/most common Arowana available, so if I were to get an Arowana it would have to be one of these. But since they are one of the bigger species, what is the minimum tank size for these fellas? I was thinking of an 8'x3'?

 

[bitteraspects]

depends how big the aro is.

8' is more then enough for life

 

[Eric A]

Yeah i'm talking about life. Aros are pretty rare here so I wouldn't want to give it up that easy LOL.

It's not really the length i'm worried about it's the width. The forum I used to (still do) visit insist on tanks 6x their length long and 2x their length wide, a bit of overkill IMO.

 

[ettfettbranamn]

If you are already thinking of 8x3 then what the heck are you asking us for? very good footprint! guess not many on that forum own aros? and if they do keep aros in tanks 6x their length we should give up the name mfk to them..

and welcome btw!

 

[Tom500]

8x3 would be about right although as with any fish of any size the bigger the better.

 

[bitteraspects]

the width is more important for jars, leis, ect, which all have stiffer bodie types and dont turn as easy. silvers and like aros ar much sleeker and can turn just fine in a 75g footprint. ive even seen them in 55s for long periods of time. they can fold their bodies almost in half with no problem

 

[selki]

8x3 is good enough for any aros cept arapima...COUGH**COUGH

 

[djarmstrong]

8X3.5X3 Foot

or even better

8x4x3 Foot

 

[David R]

I'd say 8x3x2 would be the bare minimum, and if you can make it 2.5 high that would be better as they can get pretty thick. It might be possible for them to turn in less width than their length, but not good long-term.

 

[bitteraspects]

they spend half their day folded in half anyway, watch a silver swim for about 20 minutes. its not sitting completely straight very often