First Silver Aro

[FishAddict74]

Hi I’m getting my first silver aro soon and just have a couple questions.

First- my tank it will go in is 69”x 63” x25”. Do you think it will be ok in there for a 2-3 years? ( I’ll be upgrading to an 8’ x2’ round after that)
Second- I had a large Jardini a few years ago, other than size and temperament, is the care the same?
Last- I’ll be growing it out with an Oscar and kelberi, are the growth rates pretty similar between the three?
I know they’re jumpers and have a strong net for the top.

 

[Darth Vader]

My aro went from 3 inches to 12 in about 5 months; they grow very quickly. Much larger than Jardini, I have personally seen specimens reaching 3 feet easily, and their aggression is completely opposite of Jardinis. I kept mine with a variety of fish, including tinfoil barbs, bichirs, iridescent sharks, jaguar cichlid, RTC, and pacu, and it never bothered a single fish, despite being larger than a few.

my jag and aro were bought at the same time, around 3 to 4 inches, and the aro quickly outgrew it. I had to move it to the pond just to make sure it didn't try to eat the jag, despite the jag being more aggressive towards it. Not sure about the Kelberi, though. I would keep a close eye, since despite getting larger in size, aros don't tolerate any aggression and will try to flee from it, and Oscars can sometimes get mean.

 

[FishAddict74]

My aro went from 3 inches to 12 in about 5 months; they grow very quickly. Much larger than Jardini, I have personally seen specimens reaching 3 feet easily, and their aggression is completely opposite of Jardinis. I kept mine with a variety of fish, including tinfoil barbs, bichirs, iridescent sharks, jaguar cichlid, RTC, and pacu, and it never bothered a single fish, despite being larger than a few.

my jag and aro were bought at the same time, around 3 to 4 inches, and the aro quickly outgrew it. I had to move it to the pond just to make sure it didn't try to eat the jag, despite the jag being more aggressive towards it. Not sure about the Kelberi, though. I would keep a close eye, since despite getting larger in size, aros don't tolerate any aggression and will try to flee from it, and Oscars can sometimes get mean.

Thanks! Sounds like the growth rate should be pretty similar, I’ve kept a few Oscar’s and kelberi and they seem to hit at least 12” in 8-12 months. Hopefully growing them all up together with help with any aggression. Guess if it doesn’t work out I’ll get the 8’er and keep the 300 up too lol

 

[Pinkey]

I used to have a tub just like that! I haven't thought about that in years. I kept an ancient lungfish in it and a pretty big leopard catfish that had belonged to a LFS for 20 years before they gave it to me when they were changing some things around. That is so cool. Please post more pictures and videos in another 6 months or year or whenever. I'm excited to see how it all evolves.

 

[FishAddict74]

I used to have a tub just like that! I haven't thought about that in years. I kept an ancient lungfish in it and a pretty big leopard catfish that had belonged to a LFS for 20 years before they gave it to me when they were changing some things around. That is so cool. Please post more pictures and videos in another 6 months or year or whenever. I'm excited to see how it all evolves.

That sounds awesome, I thought about doing an ancient fish theme, lungfish,fire eel and polys with an aro, but decided on a few medium cats and an Oscar, kelberi and aro. I’ll definitely post an update. Do you have any pics of yours?

 

[Pinkey]

That sounds awesome, I thought about doing an ancient fish theme, lungfish,fire eel and polys with an aro, but decided on a few medium cats and an Oscar, kelberi and aro. I’ll definitely post an update. Do you have any pics of yours?

This was before cell phones and digital cameras. I lost all of it to an ex. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure that I have any photographs of anything from that period of my life. I could pick up the lungfish out of the water and hold it. It was really slimy and pretty gross so I didn't. It was ancient. It lived for more than 50 years at a local university. It went home with someone and stayed there another 20 years. I had it another 5-10 after that. The colors in that pond are going to be amazing.

 

[FishAddict74]

This was before cell phones and digital cameras. I lost all of it to an ex. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure that I have any photographs of anything from that period of my life. I could pick up the lungfish out of the water and hold it. It was really slimy and pretty gross so I didn't. It was ancient. It lived for more than 50 years at a local university. It went home with someone and stayed there another 20 years. I had it another 5-10 after that. The colors in that pond are going to be amazing.

That’s awesome!! I don’t know if I’d want to hold a lungfish with those teeth tho lol
Hopefully it works as planned, it’s gonna be a bit before they go in the pond since the catfish are already 14” and the new guys are around 2”.

 

[Pinkey]

That’s awesome!! I don’t know if I’d want to hold a lungfish with those teeth tho lol
Hopefully it works as planned, it’s gonna be a bit before they go in the pond since the catfish are already 14” and the new guys are around 2”.

The 14" catfish? I reread the post and didn't see mention of those. What are they? I love a good catfish.

 

[FishAddict74]

The 14" catfish? I reread the post and didn't see mention of those. What are they? I love a I have a vulture, sun and granulated cat

The 14" catfish? I reread the post and didn't see mention of those. What are they? I love a good catfish.

I love monster cats, but I don’t have the room so I settled for large cats lol
I have a vulture cat, suncat, Papuan cat shark ( my favorite) and a Pterodoras granulosus. The Papuan and vulture are around 14” and the others are 9”, but the granulosus will get huge, they just grow slowly.

 

[Pinkey]

I love monster cats, but I don’t have the room so I settled for large cats lol
I have a vulture cat, suncat, Papuan cat shark ( my favorite) and a Pterodoras granulosus. The Papuan and vulture are around 14” and the others are 9”, but the granulosus will get huge, they just grow slowly.

Those are some great fish! I've never seen a Papuan cat shark. I had to look that guy up. I have a couple of 10" pictus cats that are probably 15 years old now. They're in a 180g. If I ever get the opportunity for an indoor fish pond (extremely unlikely) I'd get a few amazing cats. In the meantime, I'll watch yours grow up.