What's more important, length or total bottom area?

[Snytbaggen]

Right now I'm keeping my P. Senegalus in a 180l tank with the measurements 100x40x45cm (47 gallons, 39,2x15,8x17,7 inches) but I also have an empty 140l tank that's slightly shorter, deeper and more shallow (90x45x35cm, 35,4x17,7x13,8 inches) and I'm wondering which one would be more suitable. The total bottom area of the 180l is 40dm2 and the 140l is 40,5dm2. If both tanks are unsuitable I'll deal with it when the time comes, since he's still a juvenile and will fit in either of the tanks for a few more months (or years? I don't really know how fast they grow.)

Oh, and a bonus picture of him:

 

[tokyogasmask]

It's a captive bred Senagalus, so it's unlikely to grow to wild length.
If that's all that's going to be in the tank, I would say either is OK.
Obviously the bigger one is better.

 

[lix.ma14]

30 gallon is good for a few for life

 

[dpete88]

Optimal would be that the width of the tank is a good bit more than the length of your fish. That being said a CB senegalus will take a good long while to reach its full potential length and could top out at 25 cm. So a wider tank would be preferable to a longer deeper tank because they done need a lot of depth but appreciate being able yo turn around without difficulty

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[benzjamin13]

Either tank is fine. Personally, I'd put it in the bigger tank.