Can Australian Pearl Arowana and Threadfin Rainbowfish Live Together?

Australian Pearl Arowana is a highly aggressive species (9/10), while Threadfin Rainbowfish is peaceful (1/10). This notable difference means Australian Pearl Arowana may occasionally assert dominance over Threadfin Rainbowfish.

Large aggression gap (8 points) between Australian Pearl Arowana and Threadfin Rainbowfish increases stress risk for the more peaceful fish.

Australian Pearl Arowana and Threadfin Rainbowfish both frequent the Top (Surface) region of the setup. This overlap can increase competition for space, so providing ample room and cover is important to keep both species comfortable.

There is a critical concern: the Piscivore (Eats small/nano fish) behaviour of one fish directly conflicts with the Nano / Bite-sized (Predation Risk) trait of the other — piscivorous fish will prey on nano-sized tank mates..

Additional behavioural considerations to keep in mind: Aggressive fish may bully and stress shy, slow-moving species.

Worth noting: Australian Pearl Arowana is a known jumper, so a tight-fitting lid is essential.

The safe temperature window for both species falls between 24°C and 29°C. Aim for the midpoint of this range (around 26.5°C) for optimal comfort.

Both fish can tolerate a pH between 6 and 7.5. Maintaining a stable value within this band is more important than hitting an exact number.

For general hardness, the shared comfort zone is 2–12 dGH. Regular testing will ensure conditions stay within this range.

To house Australian Pearl Arowana and Threadfin Rainbowfish together, plan for an aquarium of at least 800 litres with a minimum length of 200 cm. This recommendation combines the stricter species minimums with a community-load allowance so the pairing has realistic long-term space and filtration headroom.

Providing a mix of open swimming space and sheltered areas with rocks, driftwood, or plants will keep both species comfortable and allow natural behaviour.

Specific environmental needs for this combination include: Smooth Gravel (Sensitive Barbels), Plants - Densely covered, Plants - Floating. Meeting these requirements will help both species thrive.

Both species do well with moderate (standard) water movement, so a standard filtration setup rated for the tank volume should suffice.

Australian Pearl Arowana and Threadfin Rainbowfish are the kind of pair that can look acceptable in a shop but become a maintenance problem at home. The main risk is not a single number in the chart; it is the way incompatible behavior, water needs, or pressure on space compounds over time once both fish are established in the same tank.