smallest arowana

[PoopSmart]

What is the smallest breed of arowana? I am doing some research on them because I am contemplating the pool/pond idea that everyone seems to have fun with, but I want to keep it in an aquarium for a while first.

the only ones I ever see are the silver aros, which if I am not mistaken are the only legal ones in the US? Liveaquaria sells jardini, but i hear those are primo aggressive.

Someone told me those silvers get 4 feet though, I don't think I want one that big. So I figure you all would know the facts and what to look for.

 

[frnchjeep]

Jardinis are the shortest, but they are the least flexable. They still need the same space as a silver to turn around comfortably. Blacks stay shorter than a silver, but are much more expensive.

 

[davo]

Jars are prob the smallest.
Silvers, blacks, gigas, african or leichardti (which I believe are similar sized to jars but also weigh less, and are slimmer) are all available in the US, it is only the asians you can't have.

 

[PoopSmart]

Oh by flexible do you mean when they turn how much they can bend? they need the same depth of the silver aros then regardless of them being smaller? So a silver needs a tank depth of like 2 or 3 feet?

thanks for the info

 

[frnchjeep]

Oh by flexible do you mean when they turn how much they can bend? they need the same depth of the silver aros then regardless of them being smaller? So a silver needs a tank depth of like 2 or 3 feet?

thanks for the info

Yes, Jardinis are less snake-like than a silver or black. They are also very aggressive. Chose tankmates (if any) with care! Any of them would be ok in a 180 for a while. That would give them 2 feet front to back to turn around in. Once full grown, though, any of them would appreciate at least 3 to 4 feet to turn around.

The other breeds, I don't know too much about. Gigas get HUGE. 10 feet, so not what you are looking for. To be honest, I've never even seen an African or Lei for sale.

 

[PoopSmart]

Yeah I know arapaima gigas are in the same family as arowanas but I didnt know they were arowanas.

I guess the same family is the same fish.

Could you keep like a midas/red devil with a jardini? or a midas/red devil with a silver? Those are one of the most aggro cichlids I can think of besides like breeding doviis which would just be stupid.

 

[frnchjeep]

Yeah I know arapaima gigas are in the same family as arowanas but I didnt know they were arowanas.

I guess the same family is the same fish.

Could you keep like a midas/red devil with a jardini? or a midas/red devil with a silver? Those are one of the most aggro cichlids I can think of besides like breeding doviis which would just be stupid.

You would probably be going through a lot of stresscoat

Here is a little more info http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=36281

 

[hansoi_888]

better go for a silver, although they tend to grow alot faster than u expect.. i have one jar now, but all alone in the tank,, they tend to be the most agressive ones in the aro world.. hir in the Philippines, LFS sell Asians and it comes with papers... (most expensive ones hir)

 

[PoopSmart]

YES! this is the list I found earlier, thank you frnchjeep...I believe I am going to get a silver aro, but why is it bad that its captive bred? is it captive inbred?

Those are the only ones I have seen around here and you can get babies for about 20 and 7 inchers for about 40.

 

[frnchjeep]

YES! this is the list I found earlier, thank you frnchjeep...I believe I am going to get a silver aro, but why is it bad that its captive bred? is it captive inbred?

Those are the only ones I have seen around here and you can get babies for about 20 and 7 inchers for about 40.

I dunno. That post is a little contradicting. They say the silvers are no good because they are captive bread. They say the blacks are no good because they are wild caught. I think they are implying that the silver aro gene pool is getting a little shallow. It hasen't been proven, but one theory is that drop eye is linked to captive breeding.

Personally, I would save the extra money and get a black (just my opinion). They are very similar to silvers. They have a MUCH less chance of getting D.E. (it is rare in blacks, and common in silvers). They have great coloration. Same as silvers, if not better. A few pics of a black. http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=87814 Plus, they stay shorter, which you were looking for.

I'm not trying to talk you out of the silver. If that is what you want, then go for it. I just didn't want you to overlook the black.