whatsa pacu?

[terri]

i recently bought a pink bellied pacus (pronounced pacu?? that's what the guy at wal mart said, but we all know how THAT is...) to keep an aging, GIANT, oscar company. so far, so good. is there anything anyone can tell me about the breed? i've done the search engine thing and can find out only very little.
thanks!

 

[GSD]

how big is the tank...............these guys get BIGGG

 

[WILDER]

Talking of a good 200gal.

 

[OohFeeshy]

They're veggie pirahnas, but get bigger (I think, don't quote me).

 

[WILDER]

All i can find is a red bellied pacu.
http/www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pacu2.php

 

[sylvia]

Yeah, they are closely related to piranhas but are peaceful, herbivorous, schooling fish. They are also HUGE. Well actualy, they don't get THAT much bigger than an oscar (pacus get to about 16") but they still need a big tank...

 

[Tempestuousfury]

You bought a fish without doing research. Or, more precisely, a huge fish that costs quite a bit and would need special care?

Anyways, they are vegetabletarians. Never kept it or researched into it, so would not know anything beyond that.

 

[rdd1952]

I just visited the aquariums in both New Orleans and Chattanooga and both of them had tanks of pacus that had to be at least 24" long. They were enormous. You really need a pond more than a tank.

 

[terri]

looks like i'll be shopping for a larger tank. mine is 55 gal (not sure how that converts to liters), i was just so worried about my oscar~she lost her mate several weeks ago, and was just fading away. she is enjoying the pacu, he is small now and she is at least 15" but they seem to get along. we have noticed how big Paco has gotten just since his purchase and had a feeling i may have made a huge mistake. ..as for the outside ponds, they can withstand cold temps? i do have an outside pond i can put him in if he gets too big for my tank..
thanks for all the tips, i appreciate them!

 

[WILDER]

glad they have made friends, good luck.

 

[sylvia]

No, they are tropical. I believe the pond comment was just to emphasise how huge a tank is it going to need.

I notice you mentioned in your first post that you tried to search for info (in future, do that BEFORE you buy the fish ) but didn't come up with much. Were you searching for 'pink-bellied pacu'? I think plain 'pacu' or 'pacu fish' would turn up mroe so try that if you haven't already.

 

[Opcn]

Your going to need atleast 650 gallons for him in the end, they get bigger than 24 inches, I think they have been recorded up to 30. its really a huge fish, however they are quite tasty. They are Vegitable eaters, using there strong pirahna jaws to crush nuts rather than bones, although they are rumored to eat small fish whole. Good luck, maybe you should get an indoor pond, or build a giant tank for him out of fiber glass and plywood.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

you may find this particular thread interesting. in it, CFC says that true red belly pacus top out around 10". its the black and brown pacus that hit 2 feet.

 

[terri]

you cannot imagine how much you've eased my mind! wow! granted, i am choosing to accept the thread you linked me to as "gospel" and that i purchased a true red belly pacu that MAY get to 10", not 2 feet. i've become so attached to him already that i really didnt want to part with him, and as for taking him back to my lfs that would be Wal Mart and i think i'd probably euthanize him before i did that to him!
thank you so much.

 

[funkybodal]

That's great, good luck with your fish.

These guys are shoaling fish so you might want to consider getting some more if your tank is big enough.