Can pencilfish live with arowanas?
Verdict
No
No. Pencilfish and arowanas should not share a tank. An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches pencilfish do.
What to watch
- Deal breakerAn adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches pencilfish do.
- Deal breakerArowanas are aggressive and will bully peaceful pencilfish.
- Watch outArowanas grow to 36 inches and need 250 gallons, far more than a tank set up for pencilfish.
What works
- Both are fine at 75–82°F.
- pH 6–7 suits both.
- They use different parts of the tank: pencilfish the mid, arowanas the top.
Water side by side
Size to scale
Care at a glance
| Pencilfish | Silver arowana | |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 75–82 °F | 75–86 °F |
| pH | 5–7.5 | 6–7 |
| Adult size | 2.0 in | 36.0 in |
| Minimum tank | 15 gal | 250 gal |
| Temperament | Peaceful | Aggressive |
| Swims at | Middle | Top |
| Group | Groups of 6+ | One per tank |
| Diet | Omnivore | Carnivore |
Better tank mates for pencilfish
Questions
Can pencilfish live with arowanas?
No. Pencilfish and arowanas should not share a tank. An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 2 inches pencilfish do.
What temperature suits both pencilfish and arowanas?
75–82 °F. Pencilfish need 75–82 °F, arowanas need 75–86 °F.
What size tank do pencilfish and arowanas need together?
At least 250 gal, set by the silver arowana. Add space for each extra fish.