My question is......we just got a new tank (about 1 month ago) and got (2 weeks ago) 1 Pacu, 2 Mollies and 3 red neon's...... Now my question is how big does a pacu actually get and are they really that agressive??? the reason I am asking is because PetsMart told us that the Pacu would not get that big and is really friendly in a community. Now whether that means a community of theirselves or what, am not sure of... He has NOT been agressive towards any of the other fish, BUT I am worried he just might be. I ALSO NEED TO KNOW WHAT HE WILL EAT SO HE DOESNT EAT ME OUT OF HOUSE AND HOME!!!! (LOL) he eats like there is no tomorrow, can anyone tell me what will fill this fish up. My husband ab. loves him, he actually picked him out, but I am afraid he will get too big for our 20 gal. tank, can anyone tell me what to feed him so he doesnt eat all day and how big he will actually get??????
CAN ANYONE HELP?? ALL IS APPRECIATED!!!!!!
THANKS BUNCHES!!!!!!!!!
Full Version: Pacu
Pacus are relatives of the Piranha, and Pacus look like Piranhas. But Pacus are mainly vegetarians that will adapt to eat almost anything. In the wild they eat very hard nut-like vegetation that they crush in their powerful mouths. Pacus are not recommended for most aquariums because, when given proper care, they will quickly grow to a very large size.
30 inches in some cases.
A Pacu will soon need an aquarium with at least 50 gallons of water, an exterior power filter with a BIO-Wheel, a maximum of 1/4 inch of gravel, and an aquarium heater adjusted so the water is between 78 and 82 degrees F. In an appropriate home Pacus will grow fast to become very large.
Pacus are vegetarians that will do well on Tetra brand TetraMin when small. But very soon they'll need pellet food. When they get big enough, you can feed them a few live fish. Pacus should get some green leaf vegetables, but be careful to remove uneaten food after a few minutes, so it won't spoil and pollute the water
Pacus seem to prefer the company of other Pacus, when they are small. But as they mature a group of Pacus would require a huge aquarium. So they are usually seen alone or with a few other very large fish
Pacus can grow to 24" and even bigger, but they usually do not grow bigger than 12" in an aquarium. They can live for several years and perhaps many years in a huge aquarium.
this i found, so your lfs was very wrong to sell you this fish as a community fish. you should either return it or buy a huge tank for it as from what i have read the other tank mates will become food.
30 inches in some cases.
A Pacu will soon need an aquarium with at least 50 gallons of water, an exterior power filter with a BIO-Wheel, a maximum of 1/4 inch of gravel, and an aquarium heater adjusted so the water is between 78 and 82 degrees F. In an appropriate home Pacus will grow fast to become very large.
Pacus are vegetarians that will do well on Tetra brand TetraMin when small. But very soon they'll need pellet food. When they get big enough, you can feed them a few live fish. Pacus should get some green leaf vegetables, but be careful to remove uneaten food after a few minutes, so it won't spoil and pollute the water
Pacus seem to prefer the company of other Pacus, when they are small. But as they mature a group of Pacus would require a huge aquarium. So they are usually seen alone or with a few other very large fish
Pacus can grow to 24" and even bigger, but they usually do not grow bigger than 12" in an aquarium. They can live for several years and perhaps many years in a huge aquarium.
this i found, so your lfs was very wrong to sell you this fish as a community fish. you should either return it or buy a huge tank for it as from what i have read the other tank mates will become food.
Great! Thanks for the info will have to call the pet store and see if they will take him back. Or will have to discuss it with the husband about what to do! THANKS so much for the info, I will definately take action now before it gets too late! THANKS AGAIN!
yeah sandys right although pacu are mainly vegi they will eat anything that fits in their gob, and can easy surpass 2foot in length, i have only even saw one aquarium big enough for one.... and that was a 1500 gallon indoor pond 
he'll make a meal of your other fish in no time....
he'll make a meal of your other fish in no time....
I have heard that pacus do well with oscars. And I have heard that oscars will eat cichlid pellets instead of other fish if you never feed it live fish. once it gets the taste for real fish it never goes back to the "fake" stuff. with them both being agressive cichlids the same rule may apply. I dont have either fish so i dont know. I have just read about them in the past. Best of luck
SpooN
SpooN
Pacu's are pretty gentle fish, but they grow to HUGE sizes and they won't be able to help it if another fish swims into their mouth 
Seriously, take it back and really give them an earful. I've seen Pacu's at local aquariums and the zoo and they are just massive. I think I even took some pic's of pacu's and arrowanas, simply because so many people think they can keep them in a home aquarium...
Here's the picture. It has both a huge arrowana and a huge pacu or two in it. To get an idea of just how big they are, take a good look at the people's heads. They were standing right in front of the glass, and the fish were right on the other side, so its not a trick of perspective, those are some HUGE fish.
Seriously, take it back and really give them an earful. I've seen Pacu's at local aquariums and the zoo and they are just massive. I think I even took some pic's of pacu's and arrowanas, simply because so many people think they can keep them in a home aquarium...
Here's the picture. It has both a huge arrowana and a huge pacu or two in it. To get an idea of just how big they are, take a good look at the people's heads. They were standing right in front of the glass, and the fish were right on the other side, so its not a trick of perspective, those are some HUGE fish.
ok a bit of a missunderstanding here guys, pacus arent a cichlid. and a pacu would easily dwarf a oscar, oscars are not as a species an aggressive fish, but obviously you DO get some nasty ones...but most of them are puppy dogs.
nice pic of the pacus there, but wheres the arowanas ? they look like gars of some sort to me but cant quite tell for sure on that one.... arowans get MUCH bigger than that, my silver given enough room will reach about 4ft, im planning on keeping him untill he's around 2-3ft and then giving him to a zoo with the facilities to handle him.
ill try and get a pic of him later, hes about 14inches at the mo.
but as for the pacu, they are a releitive of the pirahna, infact, they are basicly a supersized vegiterian pirahna, but as said, they WILL eat smaller fish given the oppertunity.
nice pic of the pacus there, but wheres the arowanas ? they look like gars of some sort to me but cant quite tell for sure on that one.... arowans get MUCH bigger than that, my silver given enough room will reach about 4ft, im planning on keeping him untill he's around 2-3ft and then giving him to a zoo with the facilities to handle him.
ill try and get a pic of him later, hes about 14inches at the mo.
but as for the pacu, they are a releitive of the pirahna, infact, they are basicly a supersized vegiterian pirahna, but as said, they WILL eat smaller fish given the oppertunity.
Hmm, I think you are right, I just looked at the body shape quick...
This one is an arrowana right? Unfortunately no people's heads in the shot for perspective and its blurry...
This one is an arrowana right? Unfortunately no people's heads in the shot for perspective and its blurry...
thats the one they are cool, Kev
they are cool, Kev
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