How big does Silver Arowana get?

Silver Arowana reaches an adult standard length of 60–90 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.

What water does Silver Arowana need?

24–30 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH. At 6 °C wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.

What is the smallest tank for Silver Arowana?

At least 500 L, and no shorter than 180 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.

What is Silver Arowana like to keep?

Temperament: predator. Difficulty: moderate. It occupies the top and is carnivore. With plants it is "Leaves plants alone".

Can Silver Arowana be kept with its most common tank mate?

The checker returns "Not recommended together". Silver Arowana and Guppy is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.

G-01 / 43Freshwater

Silver Arowana银龙

Osteoglossum bicirrhosum · Osteoglossidae

A giant surface-swimming osteoglossid needing a 180 cm tank that swallows anything fitting its mouth.

Illustration to come

G-01 / 43 · Silver Arowana Osteoglossum bicirrhosum

SpecificationsFish atlas

Name: 银龙
Scientific name: Osteoglossum bicirrhosum
Family: Osteoglossidae
Origin: Amazon basin, South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia)
Adult size: 60–90 cm
Temperament: Predator
Diet: Carnivore
Water level: Top
Level: Moderate
Min. tank: 500 L
Min. length: 180 cm
Plant safe: Leaves plants alone

Water requirementsFreshwater

Temp.24–30 °C

pH6–7.5

Hardness2–12 dGH

Units: temperature in °C, hardness in German degrees (dGH / dKH), marine salinity as specific gravity at 25 °C, volume in litres. These are the values recorded for the species and do not follow the site unit switcher.

Keeping notes

1Adults reach 60-90 cm: use a tank at least 180 cm long with a tight lid, since it jumps powerfully.
2A predator that treats any fish fitting its mouth as food, so no small fish or shrimp as tankmates.
3Needs 24-30 °C soft, acidic water; as a juvenile it reacts to swings with drooping eyes and food refusal.
4Carnivorous on prawn, fish chunks and large pellets: twice daily for juveniles, every other day for adults.
5House only with silver dollars or large plecos it cannot swallow, and size filtration for the adult fish.

Check a tank mate

Jump straight to the verdict for Silver Arowana against this one — no need to pick it again.

Frequently asked questions

How big does Silver Arowana get?: Silver Arowana reaches an adult standard length of 60–90 cm (excluding the caudal fin). Size the tank for that, not for the juvenile you bring home — the difference is often several times over, and upgrading later costs more than buying once.
What water does Silver Arowana need?: 24–30 °C, pH 6–7.5, 2–12 dGH. At 6 °C wide it is one of the more forgiving ranges.
What is the smallest tank for Silver Arowana?: At least 500 L, and no shorter than 180 cm. That is the floor for long-term keeping, not for short-term survival: volume buys water stability and length buys swimming room, and neither substitutes for the other. It is not a schooling fish, so a single specimen or a pair is fine.
What is Silver Arowana like to keep?: Temperament: predator. Difficulty: moderate. It occupies the top and is carnivore. With plants it is "Leaves plants alone".
Can Silver Arowana be kept with its most common tank mate?: The checker returns "Not recommended together". Silver Arowana and Guppy is a recorded conflict in this atlas. Predation, territorial fighting or conspecific aggression is the usual outcome, and a bigger tank does not change it.