Pyro

I am looking for some super aggressive, meat eating, schooling fish. Please note that I am in California so Piranhas are out of the question. I have been looking at maybe Pacus. I basically want to be able to put meats, shrimp, feeders, whatever in there, and have them eat it. Like Piranhas. But I don't want just one (maybe, maybe...)

These kind of fish are fascinating to me.

They will be in a 55g fresh or salt water. Size does not matter as long as they work with my tank.

I was looking into Triggerfish and Pacus, but I just don't know. What would be most fun to watch and feed? Price is a slight issue, but give me all you've got. Thanks.

EDIT: By schooling, I mean I can have more then one in the tank.

King_Snuggles

Pacus get way to big for a 55 gal.

Oscars might work

lalynya

I thought pacu's were herbavores

Pyro

What specific kind of Oscars? Are they saltwater?

oheady

Oscars are freshwater and can get fairly large.

Pyro

Sweet, I want to start them out in a 55g and move up later on. $$ Doesn't work for a larger tank right now, but I'll be putting aside for a larger one later.

oheady

They'll tear up some goldfish and you can hand feed them too once they get used to you holding the goldfish over the water.

SereneReyn

oscars would get too big for a 55g, imo... but as far as meat-eating nasty lil buggers, they're up there on the list.

honestly, i think most 'mean' carnivores need huge tanks... if i wanted aggression, and multiples, i'd go with african cichlids, they'd do great in a 55g, but aren't quite as much the 'meat' eaters you decribe...

Pyro

Yeah, I'm hoping for a much larger tank. I've got a back room, separate from my house, that we are cleaning out. It's about 30' x 30' and we want to turn it into a breeding center for my fish. Just working out the plans for it though.

For now though, the 55g will have to do.

MissMTS

Look up Pseudotropheus Demasoni on www.cichlidforum.com. I may get some for my tank. They are a schooling fish (minimum 11 fish in your tank) and are very aggressive. I don't know if they are carnivores but they are definetly an interesting fish. They get 3-4 inches in size and are bright blue with black stripes. If you want a schooling fish in a 55 gallon, you cannot use big fish because a 55 gallon is big enough for 1 adult oscar maximum. If you went with the Demasoni you could also include other mbuna cichlids such as yellow labs, kenyi, zebras, etc. It would be a very colorful exciting tank full of tough fish!

Pyro

Pseudotropheus Demasonis are great fish, but they are basically vegetarians. All the major sites state to keep them away from any meaty foods.

MissMTS

Bummer. They are still cool fish though. I think that you will have a hard time finding fish that are carnivorous, schooling, and able to fit in your tank. You could go with one Oscar. I would love to have one if I get a chance

King_Snuggles

I would think you would be ok to have no more than two baby Oscars in the 55 gal until you can get a bigger tank (speaking in the next 8-9 months) More than two in any tank and you can run into trouble.

Shawnie

I have two big boys in a 75 gallon..they are meat eaters....but they also eat outta my hand..ive had them five years..one albino and one tiger ..they do reconize the hand that feeds them and they love other fish..but have to be very careful for hole in the head disease....I have learned that they should be in a 100gal or more...so im saving hard for it....goodluck!

miker

Are you sure about wanting a schooling fish Pyro?