CPVFD325

Exactly what is the growth rate? How big, how fast? Im just curious as to my timeline.....I too made the mistake of getting 2 pacu's, only to find this website when i got home.....They are such a neat fish. Im tryin to decide whether to try to return them or tough it out until i can afford a 125......and that will have to do. But if someone could inform me on the timeline of growth.....that would be great!

Thanks!

Dino

They will outgrow a 125 in less than 2 years.
Full size is almost 4 feet in length and over 60 pounds.

jbug

My son brought home a 2" red-bellied Pacu four years ago. Felix is now 16" long and from what I have read, will reach a maximum length of 30" - 34" with a life expectancy of 20 years. This fish will continue growing regardless of the size of tank - unlike other varieties which won't grow if there is not enough room.

I've threatened my son numerous times that I will fry Felix up one day and feed a family of four on him. (just kidding) Actually, Felix has an amazing personality. Once I got over him devouring everything in our community tank, and my son's subsequent lack of interest in him, I have developed quite a fondness for Felix.

He now resides in a 55 gallon tank with an 8" Albino Oscar...they are quite a comical pair. They've done the mouth sucking, body rubbing, and other mating rituals - all to my amusement and delight.

I am in the process of finding a 180 gallon tank for their continued enjoyment and health. Fun fish that I hope to have for a very long time.

Chief_waterchanger

Actually,

Dino is correct. Red bellied pacu get over 4 feet in length. But ontop of getting 4ft in length they are a schooling fish, so unless you have a 2500 gallon body of water to keep 6 of them in it is irresponsible to keep them at all.

jbug

OMG...

Heading off to Safeway to buy some tarter sauce.

Kidding...

So why do pet stores sell them and not tell people how big these fish grow? Now that is irresponsible.

Chief_waterchanger

Because people buy them for their pretty red belly color. Sadly most stores see the money and not the well-being of the product. People like that should be given a dose of their own medicine. Buy them a crib at birth, and make them live in that crib their entire life, never leaving.

CPVFD325

Well, I did it. I returned my Pacu's. I really hated doing it. They were such a neat fish. I almost feel bad about it. I took the 2 i had out of my(their) personal 29 gal tank and took them back to the store and put them back into the 10 gal with 10 other pacu's to wait for someone else to buy them and stuff them into another small tank. (regardless the size of the tank it will be too small, unless you have the space and the money for a HUGE tank for 2 fish, which i doubt.) So, i really didnt help the fish, but i guess helped myself by not having to deal with them. I hope someday they can figure out how make a hybrid dwarf pacu. lol.

Chief_waterchanger

You didn't help that particular fish, but you helped the species as a whole. If the sale of pacu becomes increasingly scarce, and in turn less profitable (if # of sales go down the business logic is to lower the price, which results in a downturn in the profit margin) the stores would carry less and less of them.

Butterfly

Did you explain why you returned them ? for example: they will get huge and need a very large tank?
Good for you for returning the Pacu instead of trying to keep it in a small tank. they are very personable fish and soon learn their owners. It would have been harder later to give them away
Carol

susitna-flower

By the way, if I haven't before, WELCOME TO FISHLORE!!!

YOU are a HERO! So many people get themselves into trouble and can't see what it would mean down the way.

It is nice to have people join us who are interested in learning, and it just means in the end you will enjoy your tank and keep healthy fish. Stick around, post often, and when you do set that tank up, post pictures!!!

CPVFD325

Yes, i did explain myself. The little girl that was the resident "Professional" on shift that night looked at me like i was retarded, and stated....."Oh, they dont get that big" I just kinda laughed and handed them to her and picked out some new fish......

Gozer_1

Incredibly wise choice. Pacus are amazingly huge fish. Insanely large even.. I am a fellow purchaser of fish that are to big to keep at home. I have Iridescent Sharks that I never should have bought. I didn't research them until it was really to late to give them back. I hope I can accomidate them as they grow, but it is increasingly difficult. They have 150 now and are out growing it. You saved yourself a tremendous headache in the future. Believe me.

CPVFD325

Well, i solved the Pacu problem, But i started a new problem. The two new fish i picked sent my tank in a entirely new direction.......Which is O.K.

I got a sm Tiger Oscar and a sm Jack Dempsey....which is too much for my 29gal. But they will be O.K. in the 55 Gal. that ill have to buy for them..... needed leverage on the wife in order to get her blessing. lol.

Ive always wanted a few big fish that eat other fish.....

Gozer_1

Oscars are great fish. Your's should be fine in a 55 for awhile. 100 is better as they can get pretty big. No where near Pacu big though. I'm not familiar with much on the Jack Dempsey. Like I said 55 will work for awhile. Expect to be setting one up fairly quick though. Oscars grow insanely fast. Like notably overnight. Sometimes I think you could watch them get bigger. After their first year they'll slow down though. You will be sooooo much better off. Watch those feeder fish. It's a good idea to quaratine them for awhile before feeding them to your fish. Feeder tanks can be little disease factories, plus you can "gutload" your feeders by giving them a good healthy diet before feeding them to your bigger fish. I've pretty well given up on live feeder fish with my Oscar. I still feed him pet store crickets. Insects are a natural food source for Oscars. Though they'll eat whatever fits in there mouth and smells like it might be food. Mine has decided he needs the whole pack of food and has been trying to knock it out of my hand. Smart fish too.

Well good luck with the new inhabitants.

CPVFD325

I thought about setting up a small 10 gallon tank and getting some livebearer fish and letting them do their thing.....that way i know what they have been fed, and that they are healthy along with all that im sure my wife and kid would love to watch little fishies. Then daddy can watch em get eaten. lol

i dunno. what are your thoughts on that?

Gozer_1

If you're willing to keep the extra tank space and setup then guppies can be a great gravy train.

Chief_waterchanger

You could save money and use your 29g for that after you get the 55g, plus you could fit more livebearers in the 29g, more fish = more fry production.

CPVFD325

This is true. I need to study up on livebearer keeping.....Are they like rabbits? Will they just do their thing or will i have to have another tank setup to let the fry grow? seems like ive heard that the parents will eat them?....like i said. i need to study up. lol