Can plecos live with arowanas?
Verdict
No
No. Plecos and arowanas should not share a tank. An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 15 inches plecos do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 15 inches plecos do.
- Deal breakerArowanas are aggressive and will bully peaceful plecos.
What works
- Both are fine at 75–86°F.
- pH 6.5–7 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: plecos the bottom, arowanas the top.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Common pleco | Silver arowana | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 72–86 °F | 75–86 °F |
| pH | 6.5–7.5 | 6–7 |
| Adult size | 15.0 in | 36.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 125 gal | 250 gal |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Aggressive |
| Swims at | Bottom | Top |
| Group | Alone or in pairs | One per tank |
| Diet | Herbivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for plecos
Questions
Can plecos live with arowanas?
No. Plecos and arowanas should not share a tank. An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 15 inches plecos do.
What temperature suits both plecos and arowanas?
75–86 °F. Plecos need 72–86 °F, arowanas need 75–86 °F.
What size tank do plecos and arowanas need together?
At least 250 gal, set by the silver arowana. Add space for each extra fish.