Can arowanas live with zebra loaches?
Verdict
No
No. Arowanas and zebra loaches should not share a tank. An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches zebra loaches do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches zebra loaches do.
- Deal breakerArowanas are aggressive and will bully peaceful zebra loaches.
- Watch outArowanas grow to 36 inches and need 250 gallons, far more than a tank set up for zebra loaches.
What works
- Both are fine at 75–79°F.
- pH 6–7 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: arowanas the top, zebra loaches the bottom.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Silver arowana | Zebra loach | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 75–86 °F | 73–79 °F |
| pH | 6–7 | 6–7.5 |
| Adult size | 36.0 in | 3.5 in |
| Minimum tank | 250 gal | 30 gal |
| Temperament | Aggressive | Peaceful |
| Swims at | Top | Bottom |
| Group | One per tank | Groups of 5+ |
| Diet | Carnivore | Omnivore |
Better tank mates for zebra loaches
Questions
Can arowanas live with zebra loaches?
No. Arowanas and zebra loaches should not share a tank. An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 3.5 inches zebra loaches do.
What temperature suits both arowanas and zebra loaches?
75–79 °F. Arowanas need 75–86 °F, zebra loaches need 73–79 °F.
What size tank do arowanas and zebra loaches need together?
At least 250 gal, set by the silver arowana. Add space for each extra fish.