Monster fish
Monster fish are the tank busters: arowanas, big catfish, gars, large cichlids and other species that reach 40 cm or more and need custom tanks or ponds. They reward keepers with the space and filtration to match, and punish anyone who buys them small without a plan. Every species here tops 40 cm full grown, so each profile leads with adult size and the tank it really needs.
128 species
Adonis Pleco (L155)
Acanthicus adonis35.4 in (90 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
African snakehead
Parachanna obscura17.7 in (45 cm)74 gal (280 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
African tigerfish
Hydrocynus vittatus29.5 in (75 cm)1,057 gal (4,000 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Amazon sailfin catfish
Pterygoplichthys pardalis17.7 in (45 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
Annularis Angelfish
Pomacanthus annularis17.7 in (45 cm)219 gal (830 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Arapaima
Arapaima gigas118.1 in (300 cm)10,567 gal (40,000 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)
Asfur Angelfish
Pomacanthus asfur15.7 in (40 cm)135 gal (510 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Asian arowana
Scleropages formosus35.4 in (90 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)
Asian redtail catfish
Hemibagrus wyckioides39.4 in (100 cm)450 gal (1,703 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Banded knifefish
Gymnotus carapo15.7 in (40 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Bay snook
Petenia splendida19.7 in (50 cm)151 gal (570 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)
Biara
Rhaphiodon vulpinus31.5 in (80 cm)660 gal (2,500 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Bigtooth river stingray
Potamotrygon henlei21.7 in (55 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Black arowana
Osteoglossum ferreirai35.4 in (90 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)
Black devil stingray
Potamotrygon leopoldi23.6 in (60 cm)436 gal (1,650 L)68–84°F (20–29°C)
Black durgon
Melichthys niger15.7 in (40 cm)124 gal (470 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Black ghost knifefish
Apteronotus albifrons17.7 in (45 cm)85 gal (320 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Black Pacu
Colossoma macropomum39.4 in (100 cm)660 gal (2,500 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Black piranha
Serrasalmus rhombeus15.7 in (40 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Black Shark
Labeo chrysophekadion23.6 in (60 cm)660 gal (2,500 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Blonde Naso Tang
Naso elegans17.7 in (45 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blue Angelfish
Holacanthus bermudensis17.7 in (45 cm)251 gal (950 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Bluespine Unicornfish
Naso unicornis23.6 in (60 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Blunt-jawed elephantnose
Campylomormyrus tamandua15.7 in (40 cm)172 gal (650 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Bullseye snakehead
Channa marulius47.2 in (120 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)Butter catfish
Ompok bimaculatus17.7 in (45 cm)53 gal (200 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Butterfly peacock bass
Cichla ocellaris29.1 in (74 cm)211 gal (800 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Channel catfish
Ictalurus punctatus39.4 in (100 cm)1,057 gal (4,000 L)50–86°F (10–30°C)
Clown knifefish
Chitala ornata31.5 in (80 cm)125 gal (475 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Clown Triggerfish
Balistoides conspicillum19.7 in (50 cm)300 gal (1,135 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Common pleco
Hypostomus plecostomus15.7 in (40 cm)85 gal (320 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Coney
Cephalopholis fulva16.1 in (41 cm)106 gal (400 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)Crocodile Catfish
Bagarius suchus27.6 in (70 cm)660 gal (2,500 L)64–73°F (18–23°C)
Disk tetra
Myleus schomburgkii15.7 in (40 cm)170 gal (645 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Dragon moray
Enchelycore pardalis35.4 in (90 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Duckbill Catfish
Sorubim lima19.7 in (50 cm)190 gal (720 L)73–86°F (23–30°C)
Electric catfish
Malapterurus electricus39.4 in (100 cm)198 gal (750 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
European Perch
Perca fluviatilis19.7 in (50 cm)119 gal (450 L)50–72°F (10–22°C)
Fahaka puffer
Tetraodon lineatus17.7 in (45 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Fire eel
Mastacembelus erythrotaenia39.4 in (100 cm)132 gal (500 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Firewood catfish
Sorubimichthys planiceps59.1 in (150 cm)793 gal (3,000 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Flowerhorn cichlid
Amphilophus hybrid15.7 in (40 cm)90 gal (340 L)77–88°F (25–31°C)
Forest snakehead
Channa lucius15.7 in (40 cm)70 gal (265 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)
French Angelfish
Pomacanthus paru16.1 in (41 cm)201 gal (760 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Giant gourami
Osphronemus goramy27.6 in (70 cm)125 gal (475 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)Giant raphael catfish
Megalodoras uranoscopus23.6 in (60 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Giant red tail gourami
Osphronemus laticlavius19.7 in (50 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)68–86°F (20–30°C)
Giant snakehead
Channa micropeltes39.4 in (100 cm)528 gal (2,000 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Glass knifefish
Eigenmannia virescens17.7 in (45 cm)85 gal (320 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Goonch
Bagarius yarrelli78.7 in (200 cm)1,057 gal (4,000 L)64–75°F (18–24°C)
Guineafowl puffer
Arothron meleagris19.7 in (50 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Gulf saratoga
Scleropages jardinii35.4 in (90 cm)317 gal (1,200 L)75–86°F (24–30°C)
Honeycomb moray
Gymnothorax favagineus70.9 in (180 cm)291 gal (1,100 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Indonesian tigerfish
Datnioides microlepis19.7 in (50 cm)180 gal (680 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Iridescent shark
Pangasianodon hypophthalmus39.4 in (100 cm)528 gal (2,000 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Jaguar cichlid
Parachromis managuensis15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Jau catfish
Zungaro zungaro55.1 in (140 cm)793 gal (3,000 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Koi
Cyprinus rubrofuscus23.6 in (60 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)39–81°F (4–27°C)
Koran Angelfish
Pomacanthus semicirculatus15.7 in (40 cm)132 gal (500 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Leopard sailfin pleco
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps18.9 in (48 cm)100 gal (380 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Longhorn Cowfish
Lactoria cornuta18.1 in (46 cm)250 gal (946 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Lyretail grouper
Variola louti31.5 in (80 cm)291 gal (1,100 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)Map puffer
Arothron mappa23.6 in (60 cm)238 gal (900 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Marbled goby
Oxyeleotris marmorata23.6 in (60 cm)145 gal (550 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Marbled sailfin pim
Leiarius marmoratus39.4 in (100 cm)528 gal (2,000 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Marbled spiny eel
Mastacembelus favus19.7 in (50 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Mbu puffer
Tetraodon mbu26.4 in (67 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Mekong tiger perch
Datnioides undecimradiatus15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Miniatus grouper
Cephalopholis miniata17.7 in (45 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Naso Tang
Naso lituratus17.7 in (45 cm)180 gal (680 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Nile bichir
Polypterus bichir27.6 in (70 cm)185 gal (700 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Ocellate river stingray
Potamotrygon motoro19.7 in (50 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Ocellated snakehead
Channa pleurophthalma15.7 in (40 cm)70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Orange-spotted snakehead
Channa aurantimaculata15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)59–77°F (15–25°C)
Orbiculate batfish
Platax orbicularis19.7 in (50 cm)185 gal (700 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Ornate bichir
Polypterus ornatipinnis21.7 in (55 cm)172 gal (650 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)
Panther Grouper
Cromileptes altivelis27.6 in (70 cm)300 gal (1,135 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Paroon shark
Pangasius sanitwongsei118.1 in (300 cm)2,113 gal (8,000 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Payara
Hydrolycus armatus35 in (89 cm)1,057 gal (4,000 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Peacock grouper
Cephalopholis argus23.6 in (60 cm)251 gal (950 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Pinktail Triggerfish
Melichthys vidua15.7 in (40 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Pinnatus batfish
Platax pinnatus17.7 in (45 cm)198 gal (750 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Piraiba
Brachyplatystoma filamentosum118.1 in (300 cm)2,642 gal (10,000 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Queen Angelfish
Holacanthus ciliaris17.7 in (45 cm)251 gal (950 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Queen triggerfish
Balistes vetula19.7 in (50 cm)238 gal (900 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Red Sea Sailfin Tang
Zebrasoma desjardinii15.7 in (40 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Red-bellied pacu
Piaractus brachypomus34.6 in (88 cm)1,057 gal (4,000 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Redtail bagrid
Hemibagrus nemurus25.6 in (65 cm)185 gal (700 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Redtail catfish
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus39.4 in (100 cm)1,506 gal (5,700 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Reticulated catfish
Perrunichthys perruno23.6 in (60 cm)185 gal (700 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Ribbon eel
Rhinomuraena quaesita39.4 in (100 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Ripsaw catfish
Oxydoras niger39.4 in (100 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Royal pleco
Panaque nigrolineatus16.9 in (43 cm)125 gal (473 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Saddled bichir
Polypterus endlicherii25.6 in (65 cm)151 gal (570 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Sailfin pim
Leiarius pictus23.6 in (60 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Sailfin pleco
Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus17.7 in (45 cm)100 gal (380 L)73–84°F (23–29°C)Scarlet Cactus Pleco (L025)
Pseudacanthicus pirarara15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Seven-banded giant gourami
Osphronemus septemfasciatus19.7 in (50 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Seven-spot archerfish
Toxotes chatareus15.7 in (40 cm)106 gal (400 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)
Siamese tiger perch
Datnioides pulcher17.7 in (45 cm)185 gal (700 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Silver arowana
Osteoglossum bicirrhosum39.4 in (100 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Silver shark
Balantiocheilus melanopterus15.7 in (40 cm)95 gal (360 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Six-banded distichodus
Distichodus sexfasciatus15.7 in (40 cm)143 gal (540 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Snowflake Eel
Echidna nebulosa39.4 in (100 cm)50 gal (189 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Sohal Tang
Acanthurus sohal15.7 in (40 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Speckled peacock bass
Cichla temensis39 in (99 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)
Spilo
Champsochromis spilorhynchus15.7 in (40 cm)125 gal (475 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Spotted Unicornfish
Naso brevirostris21.7 in (55 cm)343 gal (1,300 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Stars-and-Stripes Puffer
Arothron hispidus19.7 in (50 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Streaked prochilodus
Prochilodus lineatus23.6 in (60 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Sun catfish
Horabagrus brachysoma17.7 in (45 cm)170 gal (645 L)73–77°F (23–25°C)
Thunder Royal Pleco (L027)
Panaque armbrusteri17.7 in (45 cm)151 gal (570 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Tiger shovelnose catfish
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum35.4 in (90 cm)300 gal (1,135 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Tire-track eel
Mastacembelus armatus27.6 in (70 cm)119 gal (450 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)True red terror
Mesoheros festae17.7 in (45 cm)151 gal (570 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Violet Goby
Gobioides broussonnetii21.7 in (55 cm)119 gal (450 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Vlamingi Tang
Naso vlamingii23.6 in (60 cm)359 gal (1,360 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Vulture Catfish
Calophysus macropterus15.7 in (40 cm)120 gal (455 L)75–84°F (24–29°C)
Walking catfish
Clarias batrachus23.6 in (60 cm)600 gal (2,270 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Wallago catfish
Wallago attu59.1 in (150 cm)528 gal (2,000 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
West African lungfish
Protopterus annectens39.4 in (100 cm)211 gal (800 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)
Wolf cichlid
Parachromis dovii27.6 in (70 cm)250 gal (946 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Wolf fish
Hoplias malabaricus19.7 in (50 cm)106 gal (400 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Yellow Boxfish
Ostracion cubicus17.7 in (45 cm)250 gal (946 L)75–81°F (24–27°C)
Yellowbar Angelfish
Pomacanthus maculosus19.7 in (50 cm)180 gal (680 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Zebra Moray
Gymnomuraena zebra59.1 in (150 cm)180 gal (680 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Zebra shovelnose
Brachyplatystoma tigrinum23.6 in (60 cm)151 gal (570 L)72–90°F (22–32°C)Zorro Catfish
Platystomatichthys sturio15.7 in (40 cm)120 gal (455 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
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