Smallest tank for 3 or 2 silvers?

[Bderick67]

My point was more that a 2' wide tank will only be enough for a few years, if you want to keep them for a long time you'll need a 3' wide tank. They may slow down a bit at around 2', but they will still keep growing...

I understand what you are saying and pretty much agree with you. I do believe that you could keep a silver aro in a 240g 8" x 2' x 2' until it reached the 30" mark, which could take any where from 4 to 8 years or longer(there is a 12y.o. silver on this site that is less then 28"). From what I've observed with my 3 aros, they can turn around in a space less then 1/3 thier body length. If you are provide a long tank at least 3x the fishes length, you can get away with the narrower 24" tank. This would be for only a single aro though.

In reality you should provide your arowana with as much space as you possibly can and make provision for how large they will actually grow.

 

[David R]

Do you think a longer tank would be better than a wide one? Would you go for a tank with an 8'x2' footprint over a tank with a 6'x3' footprint?
I've heard stories of spinal problems being caused by keeping lrge aros in too narrow tanks, but have never read any hard evidence/proof.

 

[Bderick67]

Do you think a longer tank would be better than a wide one? Would you go for a tank with an 8'x2' footprint over a tank with a 6'x3' footprint?
I've heard stories of spinal problems being caused by keeping lrge aros in too narrow tanks, but have never read any hard evidence/proof.

Well the 6 x 3 is actually a larger tank, but I get what your saying. I don't think either tank would really make a difference to a 30" or smaller aro. With the 6 x 3 you could possibly keep a larger aro, but in my opinion the length is to short. One thing that is a benefit with a wider tank is the added security the fish can feel by putting more distance between them and what ever is in front of the tank

The first 2 pics below are of my 24" silver, as he looks now. The last 2 pics are from when I adopted him in May. He was raised to 21-22" in a 4' x 18" 90 gallon tank. The first 2 pics are after spending 3 months in a 180g 6 foot tank. So here is some proof although the tank he was in was both too short and too narrow.

 

[filiportela]

once i bought a 90 cms silver from a guy that had it since it was small in a 1,20meter 240 liter tank... aro was healthy and well, incredible... it couldn't turn... died in a bigger tanks 5 months after...

 

[Bderick67]

once i bought a 90 cms silver from a guy that had it since it was small in a 1,20meter 240 liter tank... aro was healthy and well, incredible... it couldn't turn... died in a bigger tanks 5 months after...

a 35 inch silver aro raised in a 4 foot long 63 gallon tank

This may be the saddest thing I ever heard

 

[RUNUMHARD]

hey guys thanks for the info helped me a lot. I guess im going to start saving up for a HUGE tank unless I can find a deal down here, but its hard because everything has to be shiped to hawaii so if I do order a tank shipping is going to be a arm and a leg...well just have to wait and see....

 

[TLkmDN]

an alternative is to get those tubs that people like necrocanis have. they are cheap and large.

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Ive got a 7" Silver who is growing out in a 4x2x2 and then he's getting a 6x2x2 for a few years.

 

[T1KARMANN]

their is no point in talkingabout how many gal a tank is its pointless

for the 2-3 silver aros you need a tank thats 8ft long x 3ft wide x 2ft deep if you are wanting to keep them for life

dont fool yourself in thinking they will need anything small than the size stated above as thats the min tank size that they will need in the end

a 6x2x2ft is way to small for even 1 silver aro

hears a pic of 1 black aro in a 6x2x2ft tank black aros stay smaller than silvers and as you can see from the pic this black aro chould have done with a bigger tank so their is no way you would fit 3 x silver aros in a tank that size

 

[RUNUMHARD]

I know the tubs are cheap but...I would rather like to see my aros from the side. Puls to me if you have a big tank its just a jaw droper!