Can cherry barbs live with arowanas?
Verdict
No
No. Cherry barbs and arowanas should not share a tank. An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
- Deal breakerArowanas are aggressive and will bully peaceful cherry barbs.
- Watch outArowanas grow to 36 inches and need 250 gallons, far more than a tank set up for cherry barbs.
What works
- Both are fine at 75–81°F.
- pH 6–7 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: cherry barbs the mid, arowanas the top.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Cherry barb | Silver arowana | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 73–81 °F | 75–86 °F |
| pH | 6–7.5 | 6–7 |
| Adult size | 2.0 in | 36.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 20 gal | 250 gal |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Aggressive |
| Swims at | Middle | Top |
| Group | Groups of 6+ | One per tank |
| Diet | Omnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for cherry barbs
Questions
Can cherry barbs live with arowanas?
No. Cherry barbs and arowanas should not share a tank. An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches cherry barbs do.
What temperature suits both cherry barbs and arowanas?
75–81 °F. Cherry barbs need 73–81 °F, arowanas need 75–86 °F.
What size tank do cherry barbs and arowanas need together?
At least 250 gal, set by the silver arowana. Add space for each extra fish.