jamison

How does ammonia effect my pacu? My pacu have been eating meat, including goldfish feeders since they were born because I was told they were piranha. Someone told me that goldfish feeders contain ammonia and I'm worried about how they effect the health of my fish. It's the only meat they've eaten that hasn't clouded up my tank

Chief_waterchanger

As long as you realize those 2 pacu will get large enough to need an 800g tank at some point in time I guess owning them is alright, if you can provide that.

A variety is good in any diet. Goldfish feeders are lacking in a vitamin B complex that can, if fed as primary food over long periods of time, cause hole in the head disease. If you are feeding different types of feeders and working some other foods (other than feeders) into their diets it is probably going to be okay. Some people buy the frozen fish, thaw them out, shove veggies into the frozen one and then feed it to the large fish.. that gets them some veggies in their diets.

Good luck.

Shawnie

amonia will kill almost any fish...but id worry more about your tank not being cycled than the feeders....heres a link to help you...the waste in a 29 gal tank with 2 pacu's will create more amonia over time than in a grocery store...goodluck!

http://www.fishlore.com/Beginners.htm

jamison

Right now I'm switching between fat head minnows, (very messy) earthworms, (which is like spaghetti to them! They love em) and soy-beans. I've tried other veggies too, but they only seem to fancy the soy-beans probably due to the high protein content.

As far as a huge tank: Check! I'm all over it. Most people get rid of they're Pacu when they find out how big the get. I love my fish to death and am already planning for an enormous tank.
Thank you for all your help.

Butterfly

Drop some grapes into the tank, they will float and move with the water like they are alive. See if they will eat them this way. They need something besides just meat. In nature they eat fruit that falls off the trees. They are truly gentle giants.
Carol