I currently have a 72x30x30 on order, this works out to 280 gallons without including the sump volume. It should be here within the next 10 weeks, is this tank size good enough for an asian aro? the tank will be shared with an oscar, flagtail, datnoid, severum and a jack dempsey. Will probably ship the severum and dempsey off anyway, but just didnt want to put an aro in something thats too small, will also be ran off a sump and an fx6 together
Asian arowana tank size
- Thread starter Lkeizm
- Start date
Your tank dimension is more than enough for one arowana, very generous tank space IMO. Most arowana keepers keep them in 47x24x24. My biggest tank is 171 gallon and there is still plenty of space for my 45cm size arowana.
This is a fairly subjective topic. While there is little doubt that a tank that small could be maintained with adequate water quality, it comes down to how comfortable you are with how uncomfortable the animal may be. If you are not bothered by the sight of a large, more-or-less constantly active fish circling endlessly in a tank that is only 2 or even 3 times as long as the fish, then you certainly can keep the fish in that tank. Many people do; many others simply can't accept it.
I've kept both Silver and Asian Arowanas in 360-gallon tanks in the past (8-long, 3-wide, 2-deep) and once they achieve 2 feet...which means only a couple of years...I felt they were cramped. This was keeping them alone, or with at most one or two smaller tankmates.
Not saying that I or anyone else is right or wrong; this is, again, subjective.
I've kept both Silver and Asian Arowanas in 360-gallon tanks in the past (8-long, 3-wide, 2-deep) and once they achieve 2 feet...which means only a couple of years...I felt they were cramped. This was keeping them alone, or with at most one or two smaller tankmates.
Not saying that I or anyone else is right or wrong; this is, again, subjective.
When a lot of hobbyists are keeping big fish the first problem they envisage is water quality. Is my bio load going to be too high? As long as you're willing to put the effort in regarding water changes and sensible feeding etc, then water quality is easy to manage. But a lot of hobbyists are happy addressing the potential water quality issue and leaving it at that.
But that's just part of the issue. More importantly, especially with big fish, is the hobbyist providing the best care regarding tank size, and this is the subjective aspect which John alluded to. I believe the accepted minimum tank size for arowanas on the forum is around the 7x3 mark (footprint), the 3' width being the key element, wider the better, along with a decent length of course.
But that's just part of the issue. More importantly, especially with big fish, is the hobbyist providing the best care regarding tank size, and this is the subjective aspect which John alluded to. I believe the accepted minimum tank size for arowanas on the forum is around the 7x3 mark (footprint), the 3' width being the key element, wider the better, along with a decent length of course.
IMO 4 feet is too small for an aro. I find for asians and Australian arowanas the tank size should be at least 6 x 2.5 x 2. For silvers it should be 8 x 3 x 2. Just my 2 cents