Fish Question, Pacu hlth., sys.   6/4/08
I have a very serious question that I would love to have answered. There are no vets in my area that will deal with fish, so I am helpless. I have a 120 gallon tank and in it I have 2 Pacu's, one Jack Dempsey, and 2 Pleco's. My Pacu's are about a foot long and very large.
<... about a third of possible length...>
Well, today I just noticed a huge mound of something looking like intestines, coming out of my biggest Pacu. It looks as if he has a split, perfect like done with a razor, on his bottom, right in the general area where he passes bowel movements. It is not stringy like poop, but it is large, like the length and width of a grown mans thumb. He/she is eating and swimming as if nothing is wrong. Could he have somehow split open there and it be his intestines coming out?
<Mmm, yes...>
And if so, what exactly should I do other than wait and see if he survives or is there anything at all I can do?
<Well... best to look for larger quarters, remove any sharp rock, other objects that might have contributed here>
If it would help more for me to take a picture of him and send it, then I will gladly do so.
Thank you for any help you can give me at all.
Deborah Masterson
<The Colossoma need much more room... a lack of exercise (loss of tone in muscle) has likely contributed to the tearing, prolapse here. Bob Fenner>

120 for Pacu
Hi Bob,
I love to see all the questions and answers on the site. One of my tanks is a standard 55 gallon freshwater tank. While most of the fish in the tank seem pretty comfy with the size of the tank, I do have two monsters that have out grown it. One is a silver Pacu who is about 12" long (big enough to fillet or walk on a leash) and an algae eater who is 14" long. I want to build a bigger tank for them to roam in. I was thinking about a 120 gallon acrylic tank.
<The Pacu will quickly outgrow this, too. These are true monsters getting over three feet long.>
What are you thoughts on this. Also, what would be the critical info on building a tank of this size (length, width, height, thickness...). I'm sure you know what I am asking. Any and all info you can give me as well as links to other sites would be greatly appreciated.
<Do take a look through the FAQ on building tanks here http://www.wetwebmedia.com/diytksfaqs.htm>
Thanks, Marcelo
<You are welcome. -Steven Pro>

Follow-up to Piranhas and Pacus Oh My!
Anthony:
<You got Steven pulling his shift answering some of the daily mail.>
Thanks for your input...I appreciate it! Can you tell I'm just a tad on the obsessive compulsive side? he he I'm glad to hear that I don't need to be so worried about the pH levels and can relax a little. I do have a couple follow up questions on the Pacu. Don't these fish grow to the size of the tank? From what you're telling me they'll just grow and grow and grow until they basically die (if the tank is too small).
<It is not quite true that fish grow to the size of their tanks. Freshwater fish are a little easier to stunt their growth, but that is not healthy at all. How would you like to live your whole life in your closet? Get the picture.>
How big of a tank do you need for a Pacu?
<For any large fish, find the maximum length. The tank's width should be twice the maximum length of the fish and the tank's length should be four times the maximum length of the fish. And remember that this is a minimum. For a Pacu, 4 foot wide and 8 foot long and probably 2 or more feet deep.>
I'm not necessarily "married" to the idea of getting one so I'm open to alternatives. Can you think of any? The Pacu is the exact kind of fish I'm looking for: a freshwater fish, grows very fast, grows very big and won't attack you if you put your arm in the tank! I've tried Oscars in the past but had terrible luck with them as they always got some kind of disease (ich, hole-in-the-head, etc.). I can't think of any fast growing, large freshwater fish other than Pacus and Oscars so that's why I thought I would consider a Pacu. Any suggestions?
Travis
<Generally, Oscars are a great fish as long as you keep their water clean with frequent, large water changes and good filtration, house them in an appropriate sized tank, and feed them a varied diet (no feeder fish). There are many other cichlids that meet you request, but they all have the same captive care requirements as above. Kind regards, Steven Pro>

Piranhas and Pacu (Oh! MY)
Robert:
<Anthony Calfo in your service... Bob has superglued himself to a piece of coral...strike one on his first foray into coral propagation>
Thought I would give you an update and ask you a few more questions, if you don't mind. It's been over 6 weeks since I've had the tank set up and the Piranhas are doing fine - despite the fact that I have yet to get the pH down to their ideal range: 6.5 - 7.0 The tank has reverse osmosis water in it so it's very soft (85 ppm) so I would think that the pH would adjust fairly easily, yet it won't go below 7.6! 
<what is the total hardness of the water coming out of the R/O unit and has this number been confirmed with another brand of test kit?>
It's a mystery to me why the pH won't budge. 
<85ppm is soft...but not extremely soft assuming that the test kit is accurate and not reading a bit low (which could explain the resistance)>
The tank has been up for a while now and according to what I've read, all established tanks will see a decrease in the pH levels as this is a natural process. 
<agreed and inevitable for most>
I've also read that the softer the water, the less buffering and therefore the easier it is to adjust pH levels. 
<yes>
Maybe 6 weeks isn't long enough and maybe 85 ppm is still too hard of water. Any ideas on what's going on?
<you are correct on both counts...but don't be obsessed with the low pH and soft water unless you are trying to breed them. The other side of the coin is that very soft and very acidic water is VERY unstable and quite frankly dangerous with the slightest slip in husbandry (overfeeding, delayed water change, etc)>
I'm going to be setting up an 125 gallon soon and will have a Pacu in that tank. 
<the tank is still not big enough...quite frankly, I hope that you don't buy the fish. It's an inappropriate animal for most tanks growing to over two feet in length. Cruel to let it stunt and die prematurely (a few years old) as most do>
My research indicates they like the pH levels even lower: 4.8 - 6.5!
<too dangerous for captive aquariology unless you are research strict about maintenance>
If I can't even get my 55 gallon to a neutral pH...how am I possibly going to get an 125 gallon to a pH level of 4.8 - 6.5 ???
<my friend, have you considered drinking alcohol? Relax, goombah. A pH around neutral is safe and reasonable for such hardy fish and will serve you well considering the waste load they produce and potential for disaster at low pH/unstable soft water. If you are willing to go to such great lengths for water quality... breed wild caught discus instead and at least make money for your pains...hehe. Kindly, Anthony>
Travis 

What's in a name....
I am interested in Parrot Pacus, the trouble is that there is not a lot of info on the web, could you give me some? For example, what is the minimum tank size for two or three of them, how easy are they to care for, and where can I find them?
--Aaron
<Hi, Aaron!  First off, by 'parrot' Pacu, do you mean Ossubtus xinguense?  Fishbase.org says they max out at about seven inches, so *if* you can find them, you could probably keep a few comfortably in a 40 or 55 gallon aquarium, though as always, larger is better.  As for ease of care - well, like you, I'm having a great deal of difficulty finding information on this fish.  I'll refer you to WWM's piranha/Pacu/silver dollar information: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/serrasalminae1.htm .  And now, for finding them.  This is going to be the tough part.  Do a Google search on the scientific name, and also get in touch with some of the companies that deal with south American fishes (I can only think of www.belowwater.com off the top of my head, but I know there are plenty of others).  I believe you'll have some real difficulty trying to find this Rio Xingu native.  I think if you do find them, they'll come with a hefty price tag.  But looking at the FishBase pic, that is indeed a cute fish.  -Sabrina>

MEANWHILE MEET THE PIRANHA THAT MURDERS FRUIT
11:00 - 01 September 2003
Piranhas have a reputation as deadly and ruthless predators, capable of stripping a carcass to the bone within minutes. But yesterday scientists revealed how a newly-discovered relative of the sinister species has developed a distinctly sweet tooth, enjoying chomping on fruit.
The fish is one of a range of bizarre and colourful marine creatures revealed to the world for the first time this weekend. A team working in the rainforests of Venezuela have identified 10 previously unknown species of fish, along with a new breed of shrimp.
One of the new additions, an armoured catfish complete with a crown of protective spikes, was immediately dubbed "punk".
The team, US-based Conservation International, has also identified a new relative of the Bloodfin Tetra family, a vivid red and green fish named Aphyocharax yekwanae in honour of the native Indians who live in the area where they were found.
The discoveries were made in the Caura River Basin, around 300 miles south east of Caracas, an area of untouched tropical jungle crisscrossed by waterways.
Conservation International is now calling on the Venezuelan Government to make the 11,115-acre area a wildlife reserve.
Zoologist Antonio Machado said: "For its size, it's incredible what the area has. It's a hot spot that should be protected."
Conservationists fear the tranquility of the river basin will be shattered by human settlement, increased farming and fishing. They also claim it is at risk from a planned hydroelectricity project.
<Again, thanks to you Mike. Bob F>

Pacu Snout Sore
Hi guys,
<Hi, Andrew, Sabrina with you today>
How's it going?
<Not bad at all, thanks!>
I have a six foot tank housing 2 juvenile Pacus and one small black shark.  The larger of the 2 Pacus has some injury around it's snout area, it looks similar to hole in the head but I don't know exactly what is wrong with the fish.  He is feeding well and actively swimming around the tank, plus he is exhibiting remarkable growth.  I am concerned about his snout though.  I bought him at the shop having inspected the injury, which seemed minor at the time.  
<Minor or not, it's always best to try to get only healthy, uninjured fish, as I'm sure you now know>
Do you know what is affecting his snout ?
<Well, with the pics you sent, it does indeed look like hole-in-the-head/HLLE.  This illness typically affects large predators (usually cichlids) and can be brought about or exacerbated by constant poor environmental conditions or sometimes improper feeding.  It can be a protozoan infection (Hexamita) and may also be worsened by systemic bacterial infection on top of that.>
How should I go about treating him ?
<Well, first off, absolutely keep his conditions pristine, for starters.  Good water quality is a must.  Moreover, I'd recommend to put him in a hospital tank for treatment with Metronidazole, which does seem to have some effect on this illness.  His face does look pretty bad; he may never heal completely, even if you can kick the problem.  Hopefully, though, you can at least get it to stop progressing, which will surely kill him eventually.
I suspect maintaining a healthy environment and letting time go by will be your best advice, yet I would appreciate your opinion as the snout looks quite serious - the flesh is exposed to the extent that the top dentition is clearly visible.  I enclose some pictures to assist your speculation.
<Definitely good advice to keep his environment healthy ;)  but in his case, I do recommend treating in a hospital tank.  It does look quite serious at this point.>
Thanks for your time in advance,  Andrew Hough
<Any time!>

Pacu
I have a red belly Pacu that is lodging in a 55 gallon tank.
<Just so you know, the Pacu will out grow that 55 gallon tank.  They get very big.>
I transferred him from a 30 gallon tank a week ago--my question is--why does he seem afraid of the florescent light compared to the light that was provided by the typical pet store hood for the 30 gallon tank?
<Pacus really don't like bright lights, but the real problem is that it's just getting used to it's new home.  Try not to keep the lights for a few days... allow it some time to get used to it's new tank.  Then once it's seem to get accustomed and less flighty then you can turn the lights on more.  Just give it some time and it should be back to normal.>
he stays at the corner of the tank until the light is turned off--then he swims around--once I put the light back on he swims erratically hitting the sides of the tank and acts afraid the whole time the light is on--should I put a light filter on to change the color of the bulb??
<If you want to change to a lower watt bulb that might help it.  But, I really think that the problem is that the fish is just adjusting to it's new environment... give it some time and it should be fine. -Magnus>

Pacu
Hey WetWebMedia guys, I got Pacu in his new 90 gallon! Boy was that an experience, it was weird, he didn't move a muscle until he was in the water in the new tank and then all hell broke loose, he even got caught in the net!
<Yikes... I've been present at the move of many a Colossoma... better NOT to net them, but instead direct into large, thick plastic bags, drain off most of the water, and pick them out one at a time this way>
Fortunately no blood was lost, just some really split fins which I'm using wide spectrum antibiotics to help. So now, I just have a pouting Pacu that wont eat much, I'm sure he'll eat more in a couple days.
<Agreed>
So here's my question, all of the fish that I moved into the new tank (Pacu, Pleco, Jack Dempsey, weather loach, and Pacu's pet Charlie (The Gourami that likes to school with Pacu @_@)) all don't like to have the light on, they don't do anything at all. But if I have the light off with other lights on in the room its like a party in there. All I have is a 48 inch single tube fluorescent light fixture and I'm wondering what the best light would be for night time viewing.
<Mmm, what ever suits you, the human/s... best to put whatever lighting you use on a timer though... to keep the cycle consistent>
I'm not looking for anything expensive, just like maybe a hardware store black light for instance. Any suggestions? Thanks.
<Bob Fenner>

Re: Pacu lighting
ok, as long as the black light doesn't mess up their colors or anything, but perhaps I won't use one and just find something a little softer. Not sure yet. What was really hard about the move though, is he's 19 inches long and 20lbs easy,
<Yes... have seen C. macropomum in captivity near thirty inches in length>
I didn't think that a plastic bag would be right, could rip even.
<You are wise here... I'd double or triple bag... with 4 mil bags... and have two or more friends to help lift out of the tank>
Unless you guys have something special that you would use? Perhaps a tarp sling between two plastic pipes that is closed on the ends? That way you could coax him under it and lift it up around his sides and close the pipes together. I'd like to know for future use. Thanks!
<Not anything that might scrape these fishes... they have very fine scales and soft fins that are easily damaged... as you know. Some public aquariums use anesthetics in moving these serrasalmines and other large, strong specimens. Bob Fenner>

Re: Pacu moving
Ok, I don't know where I would get any anesthetics and that could be dangerous (cardiac arrest or what ever) so next time I'll try the 4 mil bags, but maybe more like six. Lots of thanks!!!! Pacus are great pets, a little jumpy, but mine is friendly enough to eat out of my hands and let me scratch his sides with the cleaning tubes from time to time, he's a real great pet! Sometimes I get a little nervous that he may erupt the tanks, so when I'm not home I actually cover the front of the tank with a blanket Thanks again!!!!
<Thank you for this. They can indeed be gentle giants of wit and grace. Bob Fenner>

Hey guys, my Silver Dollars are mating.
I don't know if you remember, but a couple of months ago I had questions about diseases that were in an  80 gallon tank that included a very large Red Belly Pacu (pic. included) four silver dollars, a couple Balas, a Jack Dempsey, a Large Gourami, some Corys and  a very large Pleco. Now I know this is bad to have all these fish in this tank and it's really crowded. But somebody had to adopt these fish from the family that wasn't taking care of them. They were riddled with Ick, fin rot, and hole in the head disease and they also didn't have adequate filtration ( a pitiful old Penguin 300 that looked like it hadn't been cleaned or changed in months) But I've added a Magnum 350 pro kit with a Turbo Twist UV Sterilizer which is taking care of all the Ick and fin rot beautifully. Also, a couple days ago I picked up a used 90 gallon tank with every thing I need except the adequate filtration for $150, although this time there's no fish in it When all this first started, the Silver Dollars were in the worst shape, I thought they would surely die. But I've nursed them back to the point where their mating! Believe it or not, these people just happened to have one male and three female in there, and they decided to mate right in front of my Grandparents during thanksgiving dinner. That was really embarrassing let me tell ya.
         So my question is: how can a set up a breeder tank for these larger fish (6 inches long) so that when they are ready to lay the eggs the eggs are protected. Also, how does this work with Silver Dollars? I've successfully bred over forty sword tails in three batches now, but I've never bred an egg laying species. Please help!
< Silver dollars are egg scatters as are most characins. The male and female do a little dance and will swim side by side. As they do this the female releases the eggs while the male fertilizes them. The eggs drop all over the bottom of the tank and ornaments. They are quickly eaten if they are not removed. The key is to set up a tank that is big enough for them to spawn by you need to keep them separated from the eggs. Go to the hardware store and get some lighting panels that resemble egg crates. Cut them to fit your tank and suspend them off the bottom. Next time the fish spawn the eggs should drop below the egg crate where the fish cannot get them. ^Then remove the adults. Another method would be to cover the bottom of the tank with glass marbles. The eggs would fall between the pore spaces between the marbles. They prefer to spawn over tuffs of plants some java moss or an artificial spawning mop would help. The eggs are very susceptible to fungus so the tank must be kept clean. Water temperature hardness and pH are all critical to get a successful hatch. Water should be clean, warm , soft and acidic for the best results. When the fry become free swimming they can be fed. depending on what species you have the adults may not eat the fry. They should be fed infusorians until they get big enough to eat baby brine shrimp and crushed flake food. Females will be plumper than the males. Some species do not eat the fry at all! Breeding these fish is not that common . Good luck.-Chuck>   

Freshwater Tank and Pacu
Hey Guys, I found your site a few days ago and I can't stop reading it!!!
Thanks for all your support!!! It is informative as well as confusing, and I mean that in a good way as in making you think and raise questions. So I hope you don't mind answering a few of mine.
A little background as to where my questions lead. About 2 years ago I set-up a fresh water 55 gallon tank in a dialysis facility where I work for the patients, which they enjoy. The fish that were donated at the time included a Pacu. I knew eventually I would have to transplant her into a larger tank. Since then the other fish have been removed and placed into other tanks.
Recently, the facility was donated a 265 gallon tank, stand and some accessories which I am now preparing to put our larger Pacu in alone. The tank came with 2 magnum 350's but in research I discovered that the combined flow rate of these pumps would not turn the water over the enough per hour, plus the pumps are only are mechanical and chemical filtration. So I am building a wet/dry from scratch with a little giant TE-5. I estimate should turn the water over about 1200 gph, to augment the magnum 350's. Is this over kill? Can you have to much turn over per hour?
<No.>
Will this also be too much turbulent return flow for a Pacu?
< Pacus come from the Amazon and can handle a pretty good water flow.>
She is about 10 inches in length now.
If it is, can I just incorporate the mechanical and chemical filtration into the wet/dry and ditch the magnums?
< You can just use the wet/dry but I always use a second system as a backup.>
Ok, next bunch question is in regards to nitrate and bio-balls. I am having difficulty determine the amount of square footage of bio-balls that I would need. Do you have a formula in relation to tank size or a recommendation? I am also reading that bio-balls are being removed once nitrate levels begin to rise when approaching the recommended maximum levels. Do you remove them a little at a time until you reach appropriate or equilibrated conditions that coincide with regular water changes?? Am I totally on the wrong track and confusing this with marine aquariums?!?!
< Too many variables. How many fish? How big are the fish? How often are you going to do water changes? The problem with building these big massive filters is that while they remove the waste from the tank, the fish waste is actually still in the system and needs to be removed. If you only clean it once a month because the water flow is not restricted then you still have a lot of fish waste that is generating lots of nitrates. You still need to service the filter regularly to get the nitrates down or the water changes will drive you crazy. Reducing the bio-balls does nothing to reduce the nitrate content unless they are so loaded with junk themselves that they become the source of the nitrates.>
Ok last bunch I promise. How to acclimate, my Pacu to the new tank. Being I work in dialysis and water treatment, I have access to RO water polished by DI, post UV and Ultrafilters with a carbon, multimedia, and softener pretreatment. So since the water I will be using will be for the most part is inert, I was planning on cycling the water between the two tanks with a pump at a rate of about 2-3 gallons per day for about two weeks. Then gradually increase the rate to about 100 gallons an hour over the next week till the tanks equilibrate themselves in pH, hardness, nitrates, temp. Yes, No, Maybe??? Any other conditions to avoid stress and shock to our mascot I should be concerned with?
< If the Pacu is currently in tap water then set up the new tank with the same matching tap water. You have had him for two years so  then you can match up the water to what he is in now. Using "pure" water without a buffer can lead to dangerous consequences.-Chuck>
Thanks guys, I have never set-up anything this size before or transplanted a living being of this size. Failure is not an option!!! This will help me in a couple of years to transplant our Pacu again into a larger tank which I know she will eventually need. All your comments, concerns and criticisms will be greatly appreciated.
Humbly,
John Mahalko

Bend Over so I can Take your Temperature
What temperature does an outdoor water pond need to be for a Pacus freshwater piranha??  They have wintered in a indoor tank and were in the pond the past summer. 
< These fish are from the Amazon River and I would recommend that the lowest nighttime water temperature be no lower that 75 degrees F. Any lower than that and they could come down with ich and be difficult and expensive to treat. -Chuck> 
Kathy

Red Bellied Pacu  3/16/04
<Hi, Pufferpunk here tonight>
I have two red bellied Pacu.  They are about a year old or so, and are roughly 8 to 10 inches, a pretty good size.  Up until today, haven't had a bit of problem with them.   I turned the light on, and noticed that one of the Pacu, for lack of a better description, almost albino like or turning kind of milky white.  They've both been growing nice, very active and eating well.  It's only the one fish. Any suggestions ?   The PH is between the 6.5 to 7.0 area, temp is kept as close to 81 degrees as possible.
<PH sounds kind of low.  Have you tested for ammonia?  How big is your tank?  Those fish are high waste producers, creating a huge bioload.  I suggest 50% weekly water changes & serious filtration!  I actually do that on all my tanks.  Are you aware that Pacus supposedly can grow up to over 3 feet in length?  The fish is very round and thick. Wild specimens have been weighed in at around 70 lbs! A quarter sized baby will quickly grow to over 6 inches within a year. Because of the eventual size of this fish I recommend at least a 300 gallon for just one! Do not buy this fish if you don't plan on following through. They are a huge investment, but it's worth every penny.  Most of these poor fish is doomed to die at an early age or is cast aside and abandoned in a pet store.>
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for your time
sincerely Dave
<Good luck with your giant fish.  ~PP>

Pacu teeth and food/wafer evaluation
I just thought you guys would be interested in a little product assessment considering algae wafers and Pacus. My Pacu is nuts over Algae wafers, so I've been shopping around for the ones that would be best for him. The two I've been using are pretty much the same as far as ingredients go. These products are Top Fin and Hikari, I've found that Hikari are actually better in two ways: they are about a dollar cheaper and have a half an ounce more in weight, also the wafers are a lot tougher and Pacu likes them that way because they feel good on his teeth. He actually takes the time to chew them and you hear a crunch that you can hear from the opposite side of the room. So there ya go, they are better for Pacu owners. Since I started feeding this to Pacu his teeth have grown in more plentiful and there are any tell tale signs for sore teeth anymore. Of course he gets a very plentiful diet of what ever just happened to be in my salad that night too. (No dressing of course) He seems to like grapes a lot too.
<Thank you for this input. Will post/share... you've made many Pacus happy with your testing, reporting. Bob Fenner>

Moving... a large, crowded Pacu 7/14/05
Hi,
<Hello>
We will be moving soon, and we are wondering how the heck we are going to do so. Since our Pacu is now about 2 feet long and 1 foot tall. He is currently in a 60 gallon tank which we upgraded for him 2 years ago.
<... too small>
He use to be in a vertical 45 gallon. Anyhow, the last time we moved, he suffered a fractured tail; he jumped out of the bag, landed his tail on the edge of the bucket, and flopped on the floor. It was a nightmare!!
<Think about the fish>
Since then he has grown a few inches, and we don't want the same thing to happen again, do you have any suggestions?
<Yes... this fish is best removed from the tank with the use of large, thick plastic bags (pet fish or trash can variety), perhaps doubled, tripled for strength... slowly, deliberately scooping up enough water, the fish... and enough strong arms present to lift all out of the tank... then using oxygen gas to fill the bag/s, seal... and expediently move>
Also, how to you travel 400 miles with a fish that big, without killing him?
Shoselyn Novo
<The oxygen will help... but perhaps it's best to leave the fish with someone, a shop that can/will ship it to you (air) after you're situated. I must state that this is not an adequate space for this animal, species... Unless you're able, willing to provide something of a few hundred gallons, I would find it another, better home. Bob Fenner>

Pump selection... misplaced priorities 7/12/05
Hello, I was shopping around for water pumps in mail order catalogs. I'm looking for something with raw, unrestrained power
<Good terms>
that can create a current big enough for my 20 inch Pacu to swim against in a 90 gallon tank,
<... yikes, you need a much larger system for this fish... MUCH>
but it needs to about my budget, oh say around $65. I did find a via aqua pump, fully submersible, 1,321 gallons per hour at $59.99 from Drs. Foster and Smith. Do you guys know of anything with more power for about the same price? Doesn't necessarily have to be fully submersible, and I'm not worried about sound or power usage, it wont be a 24 hour thing. Thanks a bunch! You guys are great!
<... I would not be so concerned with the purchase price here as much as the operational cost... electrical consumption will be more than the pump cost within a year. Look to the Eheim line IMO... more to invest in up front, but quiet, long-lasting, energy conserving units. Bob Fenner>

Re: Colossoma, human nature 7/13/05
I think you'll find this story quite familiar as I've been getting advice from you guys for a while now, but the fish is in a much better condition than he was before. I originally bought him in  an 80 gallon with filtration adequate for maybe a 50, and he had 2 huge balsa, 4 full size silver dollars, a giant Pleco, a jack Dempsey, couple Corys, and a Gourami with him. now the 80s been fully upgraded and the Pacu has been moved to a much nicer 90 gallon all by himself. The 90 gallon has about 750 gph of filtration at this time. Keeps him sparkling clean with gravel washing once, sometimes twice a week when he decides to eat more. The previous owner actually had no idea of what to do with him, and his wife was tired of cleaning the tank DAILY! Can you believe that? Scrubbing an 80 gallon tank every day!
<Too much life, too little space, filtration. RMF>
But right now I'm out of a job and low on money. But my parents (I'm 17) plan on building a rather large green house in a couple years. Well, they decided to make it even larger to accommodate a 300 gallon heated pond design that I plan to custom build above ground for Pacu. He should be happy in that system to the end of his days I think with plenty of other small fish to swim with and lots of plants to eat.
<If it lives in the meanwhile>
Right now I can tell he'd like some moving water as some times he goes to one side of the tank, puts his nose against the glass and swims as fast as possible against it sending sand and his one plant everywhere. Good for keeping detritus out of the gravel, but when he's done the tank doesn't look so beautiful anymore. So I thought maybe a good strong current for part of the day might get him some exercise. What do you think? Open to any ideas. I will check out the Eheim pumps, that sounds good. Thanks again!
Here's a link to a picture of Pacu's tank for you to see how clean and healthy he is! If only I could get a job doin this kinda thing!
http://www.deviantart.com/view/17741252/
The Pacu and the Gourami you see here have since been removed to the 80 next to it, and the Jack, due to poor accommodations for an aggressive fish, was given away to an enthusiast with a 150 gallon tank. last I heard the jack hit a BIG growth spurt and is developing a small frontosa style lump on his head.
Polara_Blues

Ongoing Pacu in a tiny tank, pump... 7/14/05
Thanks, I've been doing everything I can to keep him healthy, he is currently disease free as far as I can tell, and his tank is always clean enough that he almost never has to open his mouth to breath hard. I'd get a new tank for him in the mean time, but 150 gallon cube style tanks run up over $1,500 in my area, that's without a lid and filtration. Fat chance on finding a used one too. Even though Pacu is the most important thing here, I have to stop my self from taking out a loan.
Polara_Blues
<I would donate this animal to someone or an institution who can/will care for it. Bob Fenner>
Re: Hmmmm...I might think about that.
Polara_Blues
<Ah, good. BobF>

Poor Pacu, Cramped Quarters - 08/23/2005
Hi.  I saw your website and thought I'd try this question.  I'm an intern at a Baltimore hospital which has a 28 inch Pacu in a small tank.  
<Yeeee-IKES!>
Apparently no one knew it would grow this large when it was purchased several years ago and the Baltimore Aquarium won't take it and they can't put it in the bay.  
<Certainly not.>
So no one knows what to do with it, and it's too big to even turn around in its tank.  Do you have any suggestions for situations like this?  
<Well, this will most certainly be posted on our dailies....  If you like, you can offer contact information for us to post with it, in case a reader wishes to contact you to offer a new housing arrangement for the animal....  Otherwise, you might try offering it on Aquabid.com or Ebay.com, or check with the local aquarium clubs in your area to see if they have any members that would be interested.  As a last resort, you could check with local fish stores to see if any will take it.  I hope it goes without saying that, once this animal is in a new, more appropriate home, do NOT consider another Pacu for this tank!>
Thanks, W. Gilmer, md
<Wishing you and your resident Pacu well,  -Sabrina>

Healthy diet for a Pacu   1/4/06
Hello, my name is Brian and I have a Pacu that is growing ever so quickly.
<Heee, well-kept ones do>
  I need some help with a healthy diet for my Pacu.  Right now the Pacu shares a 38 gallon tank with a Pleco.  I feed the Pacu cichlid sticks and algae wafers.
<Good choices>
I would like to start feeding him more home-based foods such as spinach, carrots, and other veggies that you may recommend to supplement the cichlid sticks.  It seems that the Pacu is growing at an extremely fast rate.  Hopefully the change of diet might slow it down.  Any and all help is deeply appreciated.                                                                                             -Brian-
<A routine of "blanching" such terrestrial-based greens... what you list and pretty much any others that are solid, by microwaving or boiling for a minute or two on the stove... and allowing to cool is about all that is required here. Do be aware that there is a "learning curve" here... for the Pacu to understand what is food, how to eat it. And that these foods call for more water changes, filter cleaning... Bob Fenner>

Tom... need titles to find/match prev. corr... 9/28/06 ? Pacus, Serrasalmine IDs...
Tom,
<<Hi, Lisa.>>
Oh, I’m so confused! Well, my cousin said that I had a cichlid? I know for sure that I had at least one I know for sure is a silver dollar. . . ( I had two) But maybe it’s a Pacu?
<<Could be... These two, and Piranhas, are sometimes confused at the juvenile stage. As they mature, the differences become more obvious.>>
Is there any kind of difference between a Pacu and a Silver Dollar?
<<Oh, Lord, yes! Sorry about the emphasis but if you have a Pacu as opposed to a Silver Dollar, you'll need a 300-gallon aquarium to keep it. Not likely, I'm thinking. :) Now, a Piranha might have a distinct taste for your other fish.>>
I know for a fact it was eating my fish because one day I saw parts of what was left of my fish chomping on it! I really did get the memo.. Just its wrong.. ( haha) Yes, its very ‘nervous’ I can’t even turn on the light in the tank and it goes crazy.
<<Again, this is common of Pacus, which is why they fall into the "tank buster" category. They can/will "frenzy" themselves into anything and everything in the tank. Not what you want in a fish that reaches 30+ inches in length and can weigh upwards of 55 lbs. or more.>>
My fish is not typical in any way. Oh, I think this is kind of funny. When I was cleaning my tank I noticed my fake plant had gnawing marks all over them. I wonder who that was from…
<<Silver Dollars and Pacus, both, will eat aquarium plants of just about any variety. (There are some plants that folks have found that won't get devoured but most of those that you'll find readily at the fish store will be turned into "lunch" sooner or later.)>>
Okay for the filters… even if you have charcoal, they don’t get the bad stuff out- thought it got the ‘invisible solids’ out?
<<Activated carbon does a very nice job of "polishing" the water of hard-to-eliminate solids but does nothing for ammonia and nitrites.>>
Um, I usually clean the filter when it gets kind of bad. Hard to get the stuff out, I change it. I’m such a bad fish keeper! Definitely getting an F… (haha) I'm guessing you are an aquarist yourself?
<<Yes, indeed.>>
If so fresh or saltwater?
<<Strictly freshwater at this point in time, Lisa.>>
Yes, I do wish there was more time in the day. That would be nice… Lately I been going to bed kind of early 9-10. I guess my body isn’t in the swing of school yet. Should I tell the person about the worms? Or keep and eye out on the tank? ( I’m scared to tell him.)
<<As I suggested, Lisa, the problem is with the tank, not the fish. If your friend's tank comes down with Planaria, it will be due to water conditions in his aquarium, not the fish you gave him. You're off the hook! :)>>
I’m sorry I’m bombarding with a lot of questions.
Thanks, Lisa
<<Any time, Lisa. Tom>>