View Full Version : PYGO not PACU,...my bad.
buddah101
05-25-2005, 10:17 AM
I apparently have a Pygocentrus Naterreri (Red Belly) I bought labled as a PACU!!
Are these true piranhas? If so they are probably illegal in Pennsylvania huh? I dont know much about Piranhas, got any info? (Piranha's are illegal here)
I should probably remove it from my arowana tank huh?
Pygo I.D. pic I
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=2/IM001708.jpg (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=2/IM001708.jpg)Pygo?
Pygo I.D. Pic II
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=2/IM001710.jpg (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=2/IM001710.jpg)
Pygo I.D. Pic III
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=2/IM001709.jpg (http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=2/IM001709.jpg)
piranha45
05-25-2005, 10:20 AM
that's a piranha, P. nattereri
buddah101
05-25-2005, 10:22 AM
Why did you just say that you doubted that I had one Before you edited your post?
piranha45
05-25-2005, 10:35 AM
cuz they're illegal.
buddah101
05-25-2005, 1:12 PM
oh...LOL
Phtstrat
05-26-2005, 7:32 PM
That is indeed Pygocentrus nattereri, or a red bellied piranha. I also live in Pennsylvania and they are legal, I own 6 of them, and they are great fish.
How much did you buy them for? Pacu and Red Bellies are commonly mixed up as juveniles are somewhat similar in appearance.
A pacu's upper jaw sort of hangs over the bottom one, whereas a piranha's jaw is more "bulldog"esque, where the bottom jaw is larger.
buddah101
05-27-2005, 10:11 AM
I only paid $6.00 for it. Its about 4.5" long now. Surprisingly, it's not hurting any of my other fish yet but I keep a close watch on it and will move it as soon as it gets a lil more size on it.
eL ChiNo LoCo
05-31-2005, 1:53 AM
Looks like a P. Natt., some more full body pictures would be helpful.
sleepyflight
05-31-2005, 2:44 AM
I would also add, used to be a res. of PA and I lived on the border of NY (north central) and they sold them south of me and in Corning NY also. Legallities consist mostly of problems with release....and Pir. most definately can't survive up there..... Same reason most snakeheads and whatnot are illegal here in FL
DanDanUK
06-08-2005, 8:41 PM
Yes mate it's easily done a mate of mine bought a Red Belly Pacu but he asked for a Red Belly Piranha not his fault as he was just getting into the whole fish keeping game he wasn't to know, but the bloody shop assisstant should have know.
There is one OBVIOUS characteristic that this fish has compared to a Pacu ! And that is the mouth on a Piranha it's lower jaw is extended with a much thicker lip and the obvious charateristic is it's teeth!!! :swear:.
Now the Pacu on the other hand still does have teeth but not for ripping flesh or cutting but for grinding down vegetation also it's mouth is not as wide as a piranha although both speices do have identical body's IDENTICAL !!!
rayman45
06-08-2005, 9:36 PM
move it out
save the aroooo
eric678us
06-08-2005, 10:20 PM
Yeah, save yourself a loss and move it out.
buddah101
06-09-2005, 11:32 AM
Holy crap this is an old thread! I moved it a month sgo into a 75 Gallon by it self...till I get more!
j to the hart
06-20-2005, 9:11 PM
hey u defintely got a good deal in a rbp..haha
redtailfool
06-21-2005, 12:23 AM
Holy crap this is an old thread! I moved it a month sgo into a 75 Gallon by it self...till I get more!
make sure you add 3 or more. They are cannibalistic and more Ps in a shoal
the less aggression there will be . Of course tank size is a factor too. I would put
5-7 5" ps in there.
phene4grene420
06-22-2005, 2:25 AM
i live in york, PA and the LFS sells baby piranhas for $5.99....but than again they're like an inch long if that :screwy:
buddah101
06-22-2005, 8:34 AM
Does anyone want the lil bastard? I'm giving it away. You pay shipping though. I cant keep it, it bit my wife. (hehehehehehe)
coolermaster
06-25-2005, 7:58 AM
that is definitely a p.naterreri and a nice one too!
thamunsta
07-06-2005, 11:06 PM
how bad was the bite........... thats awesome ive put my hand into my red bellie tank lots and thier fine with me ......did she paste her hand in blood prior to putting it into the tank??
butane216
07-06-2005, 11:13 PM
it's nice to see so many Pennsylvanians here, I'm one too (if you coudlnt have figured that out)
anyway, I wasn't aware pirahna were illegal.... was stunned when I saw the thread, I think thats liek every other rumored law in PA that people talk about.... its only heresay.. anyway, us Pennsylvanias should have a "gathering" ;-D just an idea, maybe at That Fish Place, hell, we shoud ljust have a gathering, not necessarily PA-ians...
it's nice to see so many Pennsylvanians here, I'm one too (if you coudlnt have figured that out)
anyway, I wasn't aware pirahna were illegal.... was stunned when I saw the thread, I think thats liek every other rumored law in PA that people talk about.... its only heresay.. anyway, us Pennsylvanias should have a "gathering" ;-D just an idea, maybe at That Fish Place, hell, we shoud ljust have a gathering, not necessarily PA-ians...
I'd be up for a Pennsylvania gathering!
Does anyone want the lil bastard? I'm giving it away. You pay shipping though. I cant keep it, it bit my wife. (hehehehehehe)
See? Thats the sure way to tell the dif between black pacu and black piranha. Stick your finger in it's mouth, pull it back out, mangled means pacu, sliced or missing means piranha.
fishnthings
07-15-2005, 10:40 AM
i have a 12 inch silver pacu and its meaner than my 6 inch redbelly. my pacu is always killing fish. weird
sleepyflight
07-15-2005, 3:34 PM
I'll be coming back home to PA in a couple of weeks!!!!!! I will be leaving the armpit of America :headbang2
RhomBeusBoi
08-01-2005, 4:17 PM
Pygocentrus nattereri