CheckMyFishTank

Silver Arowana care

Osteoglossum bicirrhosum · Freshwater · Advanced level care

Silver Arowana, painted illustration

A huge surface fish that leaps and grows past three feet.

Smallest tank300 gallons
Adult size36 inches
Temperature75 to 82°F
pH6 to 7.5
GroupOne per tank
TemperamentAggressive
SwimsTop of the tank
Lives10 to 15 years
Watch for: It outgrows nearly every home tank and is for very experienced keepers only.

Feeding

Twice a day. A modest portion of pellets they finish in about 3 minutes. Pellets, shrimp, krill, earthworms, insects.

Eats fish small enough to fit in its mouth.

Jumps. Keep a tight lid on the tank.

Good tank mates

Fish that pass every check with Silver Arowana in a 600 gallon tank: same water, overlapping temperature, nobody gets eaten and no bullies.

Do not mix with

  • Neon Tetra: Silver Arowana grows big enough to eat Neon Tetra.
  • Cardinal Tetra: Silver Arowana grows big enough to eat Cardinal Tetra.
  • Green Neon Tetra: Silver Arowana grows big enough to eat Green Neon Tetra.
  • Black Neon Tetra: Silver Arowana grows big enough to eat Black Neon Tetra.
  • Ember Tetra: Silver Arowana grows big enough to eat Ember Tetra.
  • Lemon Tetra: Silver Arowana grows big enough to eat Lemon Tetra.
  • Glowlight Tetra: Silver Arowana grows big enough to eat Glowlight Tetra.
  • Black Skirt Tetra: Silver Arowana grows big enough to eat Black Skirt Tetra.

Questions

What size tank does a Silver Arowana need?

At least 300 gallons. Adults grow to about 36 inches, so plan for the adult size, not the size at the store.

What temperature does a Silver Arowana like?

75 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH of about 6 to 7.5. A steady temperature matters more than hitting one exact number.

How many Silver Arowana should I keep together?

Keep only one. Silver Arowana fight their own kind.

What do Silver Arowana eat?

Pellets, shrimp, krill, earthworms, insects. Feed twice a day: a modest portion of pellets they finish in about 3 minutes.

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-11-10. When sources disagree we use the safer number.