My father and I kept a black arowana in a 6x2x2 tank a few years back, before it jumped out of the tank and died during the night... at the time, it was about 3 feet long. In retrospect, I would have put in a much larger tank, and put more bricks on the canopy.
IMHO, arowanas are great fish if you're able to provide the correct tank conditions for them (like most other fish)... the problem is, the average keeper cannot do that. Silver arowanas are the ones you need to watch out... I've read that they can grow up to 8 feet long... and I've seen one that was at least 4-5 feet long. Those ones are relatively inexpensive and easy to find, but getting the correct tank for them would be the killer.

-Richer

Arrowanas are definately cool. I have kept one as well got it as a small fish and when it jumped it was 24" long. it managed to get the weight off the canopy.

There is a local store in Calgary that has expensive Arrowanas, i have seen some of the $25k ones.. very very sweet looking fish,, they are even Micro chipped as well



Jim

25k for a fish? that's crazy

In the wild, Arrowanas jump out of the water to snatch prey from low-lying branches. Yup, into the trees at the side of the river. No wonder almost everyone I know, including myself, whose ever kept these beautiful fish have lost them due to jumping/suicide. The ideal tank would probably have to be several feet in diameter & have at least 3-4 feet clearance on top to keep them from knocking off the lid. Hmmm. Now I know what's my next project :lol:

There's a Smitty's in town in Calgary where for a treat every couple of weeks or so, we'll go for breakfast (Texas skillet, yummmmm :mrgreen: ). Anyhow in the centre of the restaurant is about a 600 gallon FW tank (6' x 6' square, approx. 30" tall ... minus a 24"x24" square in the centre, making the tank a square "donut" shape). In there they have some albino oscars, some large plecs, some cats and some other fish, and one white arrowana easily some 36" in length. Very cool to watch.

What's neat is watching how he breathes, seems to draw water in quite differently from how other fish do it.

I could see that they'd jump quite easily. Man when that fish wants to move, he can move.

I donated a Tiger Oscar to that tank a few years back :cool:

He got too big for the 66G tank I had him in and of course that 66G became my first reef tank. :mrgreen:

Which Smitty's is that? I'm going!

Booker's, the Cajun place just off 4th Ave by Riverfront has a couple good sized tanks as well. Can't remember what was in them though. About time I went back.

While it is true that you need to spend an outrageous sum for a colourful asian arrowana, the silvers can be had for $12 when young. These guys will quickly grow to a 3 foot monster in 3 years and I find them just as intriguing. I actually prefer the shape of the silvers, they more resemble their prehistoric roots.

It's the one in between Rona and Walmart, at Southland & McLeod.

Oh yeah, my students in Surrey had a custom-made tank built into the wall where their dad kept a bunch of fancy arrowanas. Charly had to actually go diving in the tank to clean the glass & do other stuff. It was about 10-12 feet long & 4 feet tall. :eek: