Arapaima
Arapaima gigas
- Tank length
- 800 cmabout 26 ft (315 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 19–29 °C66–84 °F
- pH
- 6–7.6
- Adult size
- 200 cmabout 7 ft (79 in)
- Lifespan
- 15–20 yrs
One of the largest freshwater fish; it outgrows any home aquarium and needs a pond-scale enclosure.One of the largest freshwater fish; it outgrows any home aquarium and needs a pond-scale enclosure.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
Arapaima may eat Acei cichlidArapaima may eat Acei cichlid
- African butterfly cichlid
Arapaima may eat African butterfly cichlidArapaima may eat African butterfly cichlid
- African clawed frog
Arapaima may eat African clawed frogArapaima may eat African clawed frog
- Agassiz's cory
Arapaima may eat Agassiz's coryArapaima may eat Agassiz's cory
- Ajamaru rainbowfish
Arapaima may eat Ajamaru rainbowfishArapaima may eat Ajamaru rainbowfish
Amano shrimpArapaima may eat Amano shrimpArapaima may eat Amano shrimp
- American flagfish
Arapaima may eat American flagfishArapaima may eat American flagfish
- Angfa rainbowfish
Arapaima may eat Angfa rainbowfishArapaima may eat Angfa rainbowfish
- Arfak rainbowfish
Arapaima may eat Arfak rainbowfishArapaima may eat Arfak rainbowfish
Assassin snailArapaima may eat Assassin snailArapaima may eat Assassin snail
- Banded gourami
Arapaima may eat Banded gouramiArapaima may eat Banded gourami
- Bandit cory
Arapaima may eat Bandit coryArapaima may eat Bandit cory
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 19–29 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 6–7.6 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Origin | Amazon basin floodplains | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | top | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | predatory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | carnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 15–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 48 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 800 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |