Among the many large fish out there that could be a good combination with the Flowerhorn cichlids, Arowana is also a significant part of the community tank family. They are known to be like a mix of calm as well as aggressive tank mates, which help the community or school of fishes to live and work together. Can Flowerhorn Live With Arowana, then?
Despite the overwhelming size of the Arowana, it can still be groomed and paired with a Flowerhorn fish if we can replicate its tank living environment as it is similar to the Flowerhorns habitat. We just need to pay attention and take care of a few things that would make it easier for them to live together.
The following article will be describing these both fish’s living environment and water parameters as well as ways to maintain and groom their temperament, making them fit to live with each other in the same tank.
About Silver Arowana
Here we will be listing out the basic statistics and behavior of the fish, including tank and water parameters, temperament, lifespan, etc.
Overview
The silver Arowana is sometimes referred to as the monkey fish or the dragon fish in the aquarium community. Because of their appearance and the way they occasionally rush out of the water to seize their food, we presume that they were named after the fearsome mythical animals. Due to their predatory nature, they do need a large tank and special consideration while choosing acceptable tankmates. They aren’t the fish that beginners should start with because they aren’t the simplest fish to manage.
The silver Arowana (osteoglossum bicirrhosum) may not seem like much to the untrained eye, but for many aquarists throughout the world, it is a prized and lovely fish that many would love to add to their tank.
Lifespan
The lifespan of a Silver Arowana in captivity is typically between 10 and 15 years. Getting one of these fish requires significant dedication.
Even though factors including water quality, environment, and diet can have an impact on a species’ lifetime, this is particularly true for Silver Arowanas. These fish are prone to developmental problems that could drastically reduce their lifespan.
You must be careful with your fish’s care and the type of habitat you offer if you want to ensure that they live a healthy and stress-free life.
Appearance
Fins are what Silver Arowanas are known for the most. The tailfin, which is remarkably small, is reached by both the dorsal and anal fins. The tailfin is much smaller than you might anticipate seeing on a fish of this size.
Most people aren’t even aware of the tailfin’s diminutive size because the dorsal and anal fins stretch along the majority of the body. In fact, at first glance, it seems to be related. Only when you look closely will you notice a tiny space separating the tailfin from the others.
The mouth of Silver Arowanas is another distinctive feature. It operates almost exactly like a drawbridge and is practically vertical. The fish’s distinctive form makes it easy for them to quickly approach their prey.
These fish have a silvery appearance. The body is covered in broad scales that provide a pearly appearance. Although this distinction is very subtle, the scales of juveniles exhibit a very slight bluish tint.
Male and female appearances are quite similar. Only a few minute variations are employed to differentiate between them. Usually, women are a little bit plumper than men. Furthermore, the anal fin of males is often longer.
Size
When fully grown, a Silver Arowana in captivity typically measures close to 3 feet long! These fish are enormous.
They have been known to grow considerably bigger in the wild. There have been specimens that are almost 4 feet long.
Tank Size
For an adult Silver Arowana, the required tank capacity is 250 gallons. These fish require quite huge tanks to remain healthy, as we already explained.
Even aquariums as little as 60 gallons are suitable for juvenile fish. They do, however, expand very quickly. Throughout their first year alone, they can grow up to 2 inches per month!
Water Parameters
Throughout South America, warm streams and their tributaries are home to Silver Arowanas. Surprisingly, they thrive in both whitewater and blackwater settings.
You don’t need to mimic murkiness in its entirety, but you will need to be mindful of the pH balance, temperature, and hardness.
Although Silver Arowanas can tolerate some variation, you must make sure that measurements always fall within the following permitted ranges.
- Water should be somewhere between 75°F and 82°F.
- pH ranges from 5.0 to 7.5 (aim for the middle)
- The hardness of water: 1 to 8 dKH
Feeding
Feeding Silver Arowanas is a rather simple process. These fish are mostly carnivores, and while they can consume some plant-based meals, protein is necessary for them to survive.
You can observe Silver Arowanas in the wild consuming smaller fish, big insects, frogs, crustaceans, and other creatures. Even snakes and rabbits have been known to be consumed by them!
You can feed your fish a balanced diet of frozen and live items while they are kept in captivity. With feeder fish like minnows, they thrive. Shrimp, crab, and bugs are other excellent choices.
You can offer earthworms, bloodworms, and any other snack that is high in protein.
Behavior & Temperament
One of the most predatory fish available for aquariums is this one. You must be careful since they will bully and consume any fish that will fit in their mouths!
Silver Arowanas can be surprisingly timid when they aren’t on the lookout for predators.
They constantly pay close attention to their environment. These fish may become startled and seek cover rapidly if you unexpectedly approach a tank.
They will grow more accustomed to your visits to the tank over time. To avoid shocking the fish every time you pass by, it is nevertheless advised that you keep the aquarium in a quiet environment.
About Flowerhorn
Fish called Flowerhorn cichlids do not naturally occur in the wild. This is due to the fish’s extensive history of captivity-based breeding.
These initial occurrences took place in Malaysia, Taiwan, and Thailand. Over time, Central America, the United States, and eventually Europe developed an interest in this species.
It is not intended for Flowerhorn cichlids to exist in the wild. They are fish that people have released into the wild, and they have already established themselves as exotic species in several nations.
Despite this, there is still a considerable global market for this fish. Breeders regularly demand high prices for these fish, and demand doesn’t appear to be slowing down at some point.
Lifespan
A Flowerhorn cichlid has an 11 to 12-year lifespan. That should be taken into consideration before purchasing one because this is a sizable amount of time. If you treat it well, you should be able to keep it for quite some time!
Their life expectancy can vary substantially depending on how well you take care of them and how well their tank conditions are. As long as you control any potential aggression, these fish aren’t too challenging to care for overall.
You can go through Arowana’s diseases and how to treat them to know better about a healthy lifespan and how to maintain it.
Appearance
The hump on the head of this vibrant freshwater fish will catch your eye right away (especially with males). This can grow or decrease over a few days and is referred to as a nuchal hump or Kok.
The rest of the fish were a little more common, but they are nevertheless exceptional in many ways. Their bodies are long, tall, and thin, and they appear to be fairly symmetrical.
The majority of the fish’s dorsal fin starts about two-thirds back on the body, matching the anal fin.
Both of these fins are very long and dwarf the caudal fin, which is very little in comparison. A long, thin strand of tissue can also be seen at the tips of their dorsal and anal fins.
The “chin” region of Flowerhorn cichlids is bumpy and extends directly into the ventral fins. The ventral fins start about a third of the way down their bodies and are relatively slender.
The incredibly large lips of male Flowerhorn cichlids give them an expressive face. This is one of the factors that contributed to their initial popularity. Your tank has a distinct appearance thanks to the face and hump!
Size
Cichlids with Flowerhorns can reach lengths of 12 to 16 inches. Generally speaking, male Flowerhorns are bigger and heavier than female Flowerhorns.
When setting up their tank, you should consider this aquarium fish’s size. This has an impact on everything from food to tank mates, so you’ll not only need extra room for them.
Tank Volume
One Flowerhorn cichlid requires a tank with a minimum volume of 70 gallons. This is not the fish for you if you’re searching for freshwater fish that will fit in a tank of typical size.
If you want two Flowerhorn fish to exist in the same tank, you’ll need to raise the minimum tank size by at least another 70 gallons.
For the sake of comfort and development, you should provide Flowerhorns with enough space. These fish enjoy wandering and will frequently make slow, deliberate circles around your aquarium. A little more room can go a long way toward ensuring that they can move about in the tank without difficulty.
Water Parameter
When it comes to Flowerhorn cichlid care, maintaining the proper water levels is crucial. This will support their growth and prevent several common ailments brought on by poor water quality. Many of the suggested parameters are typical for tropical fish.
- 80 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit for the water
- pH range: These fish often thrive in the 7-8 pH range.
- The hardness of water: 8–20 dGH
Additionally, you must do routine water changes. This will keep your fish healthy and assist cope with excessive nitrates.
Food And Diet
When it comes to Flowerhorn fish food, you have a lot of options. You’ll want to make sure kids get adequate protein while also providing some variety to maintain a well-balanced diet.
Any normal high-quality protein source, such as bloodworms, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and shrimp, will go a long way toward satisfying their protein requirements. People have even been reported feeding them crawfish.
Plant-based food should be the backbone of your Flowerhorn cichlid’s diet in order to offer them the necessary nutrients. This can take whatever form is most convenient for you, but pellets are a popular option.
The general rule of thumb is to feed them three times per day. This spreads out their intake, resulting in less effort for their digestive system. If it takes them more than a minute to eat what you offered them, you should probably significantly reduce the amount.
- Hikari Flowerhorn Fish Food
- OKIKO flowerhorn Cichlid Fish
- Fluval A6581 Bug Bites Cichlid Pellets
- Amzey Dries Shrimp Fish Foods
- Appetizing Shrimp Mealworms
- Tetra Jumbokrill Jumbo Shrimp
- Ocean Pellets Humpy Xo Flowerhorn Food
Temperament And Behavior
This is where Flowerhorn cichlid care becomes increasingly difficult. There’s no getting around it: they are aggressive fish (typical cichlids).
When it comes to marking out their perceived territory in the tank, they are more prone to violence. This is why, if you have more than one in the same tank, you must give them enough room.
Their aggressive behavior makes selecting tank mates challenging (more on that below), but it is not impossible.
When it comes to their owners, these fish can be exceedingly affectionate and playful. This isn’t always the case, but there are some wonderful videos out there of them behaving like little water dogs!
Flowerhorn And Arowana Living Together
Even though it is not impossible to pair up your Flowerhorn with an Arowana, you have to take a few precautions and look after some very important things while pairing them up together.
Due to the huge size difference in them, every little factor will matter a lot. Factors such as tank size, water parameters, diet intake, feeding interval, and keeping a calm environment.
Their size and aggressiveness alone set them as a very dominating fish in the tank. Aquarists mostly don’t pair up with smaller fishes than them, but Flowerhorn being a naturally territorial and aggressive fish relative to its average size, makes them somewhat compatible with each other.
Tank Size
The tank size of a Flowerhorn is a minimum of 75 gallons which is comparatively small, with the Arowanas being a minimum tank size of 250 gallons. These naturally big fish require a large space to swim and live in, which might be a little difficult while living with a Flowerhorn because of their territorial behavior and activeness in the tank.
I would recommend having a tank of 300 gallons which will give them both enough room to live and swim in. It might even be helpful for you to create partitions in the tank used for separating their resting grounds and feeding place.
The more space you leave, the better for both of the fishes to live happily.
Water Parameters
Both the fishes have similar water parameters. The parameters of Arowana and Flowerhorn overlap in a narrow range. So it might not be that difficult to keep the two of these in the same tank.
You have to invest in a good water filter such as a canister filter to keep the water clean. This will help maintain the water’s pH and nitrate levels. Having unhealthy water can cause stress in both fishes, making it harder to maintain their aggressiveness, leading to conflict between them.
Apart from filtration, you should also create provisions to change the water once to twice a week so that the water can remain fresh and healthy. Also, invest in a water heater to maintain the water temperature. Comfortable enough for both of them to live in
Food And Diet
You have a lot of options to choose from when you feed a Flowerhorn. Furthermore, you just have to make sure that they get enough protein and diet. You need to have a good mix of variety and nutrients.
And ensure they have a balanced diet.
On the other hand, Arowanas necessarily require good amounts of protein. Naturally, being carnivores, they depend upon frozen and living foods.
Create a food diet containing food for both the fishes. Foods such as bloodworms, crickets, grasshoppers, worms, and shrimp will be good enough for your Flowerhorn as well as your Arowana, but you should also add frozen hard foods so that it can get enough nutrients.
If you don’t provide a sufficient diet to the Arowana, it might even turn on its tankmates and see them as food.
Keep in mind to separate tank spaces when feeding these fishes to feed them separately. This will help in dividing the food equally to both the fishes. And feed them 3 times a day for a sufficient and healthy diet.
Pairing Adult Flowerhorn With A Juvenile Arowana
Due to the huge difference in size between Flowerhorn and Arowana, it is optimal to pair an adult Flowerhorn which reaches the size of 12-14 inches, and a juvenile Arowana which also reaches the size of 15-18 inches at that stage.
Doing this might be the right decision as at that stage both of them will take a similar diet and tank space leaving them both enough space for themselves. And so, the much smaller Arowana will not think of the Flowerhorn as a portion of food or enemy and get to bond with each other.
If a much larger adult Arowana is paired with a Flowerhorn, then lack of food or unavailability of food can lead it to eat the Flowerhorn instead.
FAQ
What kind of fish live with Arowana?
Clown knife fish, pacu, Oscars, Jaguar Cichlids, Green Terrors, Gar, Tinfoil barb, Siamese Tigerfish, and any other moderately aggressive fish that cannot fit in the Arowana’s mouth are some examples of compatible species that are frequently paired with this fish.
Will Arowanas bite at people?
It is known to have an aggressive attitude, particularly when protecting its eggs and young. In such circumstances, it targets even people and occasionally causes significant injury.
Can I keep sucker fish with Flowerhorns?
One of the nicer species that can be kept in the same tank as a Flowerhorn is the Common Pleco. They aren’t very bothered by other species, and as long as they share a habitat with similarly sized, hostile fish, they won’t be attacked either.
Can I pair up two Arowana?
If you intend to keep several adult Arowanas together, proceed with caution. In general, they don’t get along well. If you must, keep at least six of them together and keep them in a sizable natural pond (or an aquarium of a similar size).
Conclusion
So by keeping in mind what and how much you feed the fish, sufficient tank size, tank partitioning for resting and feeding, healthy water parameters, and creating a bond between both the fishes it is pretty doable and possible that both the Flowerhorn and Arowana can live with each other.