Question about tank size for Arow, please advise

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PDRed302

PDRed302

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Aug 4, 2011
1,521
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Fort Worth Texas
I've been debating upgrading my show tank pretty soon and would really love to throw a water monkey into the mix.

My current 125 is all SA (except one little golden gourami which will be moved soon) and I would really love to add either a silver or black Arowana to my new setup. The tank would be a 240 wide: 72x30x25 tall This is the max size I can go up to at the moment to fit in the space I have for the tank to go.

In the future I would really love to have a 36 inch deep (or deeper) tank to allow for more turning room, for Arow's as well as a few other fish I have my eye on; but I won't be upgrading to that tank any time really soon, simply for the fact that I won't step up to that size until my family (Wife and Son) move into a new house... Not sure when that's in our cards.

So the question is: Will the 72x30x25 work for either a Black or Silver Arowana? Like I said I'd love to have one but if that tank (240) won't work for one, then I'll just keep the 125 running until we move and I build a tank myself.

I also debated a 72x24x31 but figured the added depth would be better for an Arow, if I am mistaken, please correct me, as I would love to have a taller tank.

Thanks a bunch for any input.
 
The 72x30x25" would work for quit some time, but eventually will become too short in length. We should strive to do better then give the arowana a swimming length that is barely double it's own length.
 
Bderick67 said:
The 72x30x25" would work for quit some time, but eventually will become too short in length. We should strive to do better then give the arowana a swimming length that is barely double it's own length.
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That's one of the reason's I ask...

I haven't taken care of an Arowana before and even though it's basic logic; I still have a hard time wrapping my head around keeping a 3 foot long fish. I mean, the biggest thing I have length wise now is a 14" Pleco, lol :)

I did think about this, as well as the fact that in reality, I could end up with a fish that is 36" long and only has 30" inches of turn around room; I ended up concentrating on that, more than length of tank.

I may just end up working out a deal with my lfs to grow one out from 12" to 24" and then just accept the loss for a guaranteed trade in for another 12 down the road. That way I could continue to keep one in a new setup and never let him outgrow the tank. When I finally do move, I can just keep my current Arow and move it to my new tank.

Or... I could just say forget it and wait for a larger upgrade.
 
Personally I don't endorse the "renting" of fish until they outgrow the tank. I guess it depends on how one views the fish, either as just objects of possession or something ya really care about.
 
Well all of my current fish are lifers, so I probably wouldn't be able to give him/her up. Guess I'll either just wait on the arow a while, or give up on the idea.

The condescending tone can be dropped though, I was only asking about tank size, not personal views.
 
PDRed302 said:
Well all of my current fish are lifers, so I probably wouldn't be able to give him/her up. Guess I'll either just wait on the arow a while, or give up on the idea.

The condescending tone can be dropped though, I was only asking about tank size, not personal views.
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As I did not ask for a reply to the info I gave. When you reply you open yourself up to my feelings regarding that. If you don't care to converse on the matter then don't reply to my post.:duh:
 
He was thinking of another option.... imo there is nothing wrong with switching things up when your fish is too big so long as you make it a happy fish for as long as you have it. It has nothing to do with viewing the fish as a piece of property if he did he would even bother to give it back to the lfs he would just let it survive its whole life in the 240 as it probably could. so to say that people who return fish that are too big for there current set-up is ignorant because if they are keeping the fish to the best of there ability in a tank appropriate for its current size then why is there anything wrong with it? I know people who loved there fish so much that they cried when they gave it away because it got too big for there set-up! And I'm talking big burly men! So I really can't agree with what your saying... plus he'd be making his lfs a bunch of money by giving them back a 24 inch black in an even trade for a 12 inch black.
 
Thank you Ryan.

bderick; What you and I are doing is not "conversing" so lets just leave it at that and be done with it.

Of course I want to know if my fish will outgrow the tank; of course I want whats best for it. At the same time I am interested in one so I will be asking what questions do come to mind.

I am interested to know if anyone has kept or is keeping an Arowana in a tank with a similar foot print. How long did it take for it to reach a size that was inappropriate for the tank? I will be moving at some point (within 3 or 4 years before my son starts attending school) I would have to assume that it would be full grown by that point but if not please let me know.
 
I have seen it done in 72x30 footprint tanks. So, it can be done. Their fish looks no different than mines who leaves in a much wider and somewhat longer set-up... actually i observed back home that the fish in the smaller tanks tend to be more friendly and interactive.

My silvers were much more friendly and interactive when they were in the smaller set-ups - now they totally ignore people in front of the tank (exception only if you open the top then their attention is caught)
 
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