Large and Specialty Fish Care Guides
These are fish for experienced hobbyists with large tanks. Many are predators that will eat smaller tankmates, and several grow far beyond the size they are sold at. Puffers need hard-shelled foods to wear down their teeth, and arowana and gar need long tanks with secure lids. Plan for the adult fish before you buy.
Quick rules of thumb
- Plan for adult size and decades of care.
- Do not mix predators with small fish.
- Use a very secure lid for arowana, gar and bichirs.
Large and Specialty Fish guides
- BichirPolypterus species12-30 in · 75+ gal
- Black Arowana and Other ArowanaOsteoglossum and Scleropages species24-36 in · 300+ gal
- DatnoidDatnioides species18 in · 180+ gal
- Elephantnose FishGnathonemus petersii9 in · 55+ gal
- Fahaka PufferTetraodon lineatus16 in · 180+ gal
- Figure 8 PufferDichotomyctere biocellatus3 in · 20+ gal
- GarLepisosteidae and related species20-48 in · 300+ gal
- Green Spotted PufferDichotomyctere nigroviridis6 in · 30+ gal
- KnifefishChitala, Notopterus and related species10-36 in · 75+ gal
- Mbu PufferTetraodon mbu26 in · 500+ gal
- Pea PufferCarinotetraodon travancoricus1-1.4 in · 5+ gal
- Pictus CatfishPimelodus pictus5 in · 55+ gal
- Red Belly PacuPiaractus brachypomus24 in · 400+ gal
- Shovelnose CatfishPseudoplatystoma and Sorubim species24-40 in · 300+ gal
- Silver ArowanaOsteoglossum bicirrhosum30-36 in · 250+ gal
- Silver DollarMetynnis species6 in · 55+ gal
- Specialty PuffersVarious speciesvaries · 30+ gal
Find it at Pet Zone
Pet Zone Tropical Fish is a San Diego aquarium store with two locations. Stock changes daily, so call ahead if you are after a specific species or plant. Shop online at petzonesd.com.
Pet Zone Convoy
4160 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 987-0309
Open daily, 10am-6pm
Aquascaping, planted tanks
Pet Zone Mid-City
4266 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 283-1812
Closed Monday; Tue-Fri 10:30am-6pm, Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Monster fish, koi