One reason why you shouldn't buy Pacus

[Teelie]

I was in New Orleans last month and visited the Audobon Aquarium where they had several Pacus, Piranha and Arrowanas in a variety of tanks and they all get huge. The Arrowana was easily 3.5 feet long and the Pacus probably 2 feet or more in diameter. The Piranha were a healthy size too. I took lots of photos but they're not developed yet.

My LFS will sell Pacus and Arrowanas on special order only and only after being assured you know what you're getting. Too bad more LFS aren't like that.

 

[qwikimpss]

Pacus and Pihranahs are very closely realted and, as a charchin it does have teeth, as do all charchins. Your little Neons have teeth too!

 

[Teelie]

They do, and they can nip.

 

[nc_nutcase]

I have a friend who knew nothing of fish, went to a LFS and was sold a 29 Gal tank and 5 Pacu. After reading about them on the internet for 10 minutes he begged me to take these fish from him. At that time (Fan of this year) they were a merely 1.5 inches long. Well, today they are all 5 still alive and healthy ranging between 11 and 15 inches living in a 300 Gal tropical indoor pond.

I visit pet stores in my area often and am amazed at how many Pacu they go through. I definitely feel that this is one of the few fish common to the hobby that should be regulated in some way.

By the way… anyone want a Pacu?

edit - PS - My 14 inch Pacu does not have teeth anything like the ones in the picture previous shown. I've also seen 3 foot Pacu at the Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach and they did not have teeth anything like the ones in the pic. To my understanding they crush nuts and the like with their jaw bone much more than their teeth. The teeth on my 14 inch fish are barely noticeable.

 

[Teelie]

The Pacu (plural) I saw at the Audobon definitely had the teeth. I wonder if it's a species thing or something else.