A Choice To Make - Alligator Gar or a Pearl Arowana

As some may know, I recently just got back into the hobby after landing myself with a new 55 gal tank. It's been good so far, setting it up. But I've been looking only to getting one fish.

After much research, opinions, planning and drooling (hehe), my choices are either an Alligator Gar or a Pearl (also known as an Australian Jardini) Arowana.

The issue that's bothering me between these two fish is that they grow fairly large (obviously!), and I'm willing to upgrade my tank but with budget, only at the end of this year. After tons of researching, the Gar grows quite large at 3-4 inches a month? While the Arowana only grows 1-2 inches a month. Another difference between both of them is price. The Gar is a whole lot cheaper than the Arowana in my country.

So I wanna get opinions from my fellow Fishlore members. Which one is more worth getting? My fear about getting either one is if they outgrow my tank before the end of the year I would have to give it away

 

If I were you I would start saving the money for a new tank now. Once you get the tank that is required then get the fish you want. They both require a very large tank and would out grow the 55 very quickly.

 

Just from what I've seen, I really like the arowana. As far as appearance goes, in my opinion, it is much more attractive. Also with an alligator gar you never really know how big it's going to get. This may not be much help, but if it were me I'd go with the arowana, just because I think it looks nicer. Whichever you choose, good luck to you!

 

As some may know, I recently just got back into the hobby after landing myself with a new 55 gal tank. It's been good so far, setting it up. But I've been looking only to getting one fish.

After much research, opinions, planning and drooling (hehe), my choices are either an Alligator Gar or a Pearl (also known as an Australian Jardini) Arowana.

The issue that's bothering me between these two fish is that they grow fairly large (obviously!), and I'm willing to upgrade my tank but with budget, only at the end of this year. After tons of researching, the Gar grows quite large at 3-4 inches a month? While the Arowana only grows 1-2 inches a month. Another difference between both of them is price. The Gar is a whole lot cheaper than the Arowana in my country.

So I wanna get opinions from my fellow Fishlore members. Which one is more worth getting? My fear about getting either one is if they outgrow my tank before the end of the year I would have to give it away

I wouldn't put those fish in a tank that small,I suggest saving up for a bigger tank and really great filtration I think the minimum tank size is roughly 200 gallons or way more

 

Alligator Gars require massive tanks.... an Arowana *might* fit in the tank, but it would be extremely cramped. I would go with smaller species in this tank.

 

Thanks so much for the replies

I would definitely get a larger tank! But my parents won't allow such a tank to be in the house. If I get either one of these fishes, they'd be small and to my parents, it wouldn't make much sense to get a large tank now while they're still small. When they grow bigger, I'd definitely have an excuse to get a large tank

 

My vote is for the Arowana, but get ready for a bigger tank in the future or you can always sell it once it gets bigger,

 

Thank you all I've decided for a JardinI Arowana which my LFS sells at 3-4 inches. Can't wait!

My vote is for the Arowana, but get ready for a bigger tank in the future or you can always sell it once it gets bigger,

Thanks gilpi! Selling it would be my last option, I really want to keep mine and avoid selling it.

 

Wow, arowana, good choice, I'd recommend a minimum size tank of 180 gallons.

 

Arowana is such cool fish! I've only kept silver and black, they have out grown any tank I've given them and don't forget they are jumpers by nature so a tightly covered tank is a must.

 

Check this video out. This guy is from Singapore and has a pond for all his monster fishes including a few Silver Arowanas.

Thankfully for me, the JardinI Arowana doesn't grow as big as the silvers and blacks. But either way, I'm definitely planning to upgrade my tank to a bigger size by the end of this year.