Big boys are getting bigger

[Red Devil]

:eek: They are looking good but so round compared to last year.. so i would say theres a little weight gain going on:D ahhhhh my Butterballs:ROFL:

[ammerman19]

lol they are definitely chunky. What is the little fish in there? Con? How old are they now? they look really good and have that cute little kinda slow look, kinda like an Oscar :D

[Red Devil]

lol they are definitely chunky. What is the little fish in there? Con? How old are they now? they look really good and have that cute little kinda slow look, kinda like an Oscar :D

Thank you.. they are about 8 years old.. the little fish in there with them is a african cichlid... who was always getting bullied.. so one day when we discovered him battered and torn we decided his only chance would be to join the pacu{the pacu had a red tail shark with them for 5 years until it passed from old age} so we said maybe this will work.. and it did..the little guy loves them and they love him.. all swim together..he uses them as protection.. he has the big guys now.. just try to get me!!!:ROFL:

[Derpeder]

how big were they when you got them?

[Red Devil]

how big were they when you got them?

They were 2 inches ... OMG! I will try to find the little picture i have when they were tiny.. :D

[Red Devil]

Picture of the pacus when they were babies..the 3rd one we gave to a friend. :) :) what a difference 8 years makes with my cameras..haha

[Nate77]

Nice pics devil.

[Red Devil]

Nice pics devil.

Thanks Nate!!;)

[benzjamin13]

Wow! Awesome Pacus you got there!

[Red Devil]

Wow! Awesome Pacus you got there!

Thanks Benzjamin.. :)

[cichlaguapote]

They're just gonna keep growing. But great you've kept them thus far.

[Red Devil]

They're just gonna keep growing. But great you've kept them thus far.

Don't they stop growing eventually.. :confused:

[Derpeder]

That is Great!!!!

What a cool before and current picture!!!!

[100GAL]

My pacu is not quite that big but they are slowly killing everything in my cichlid tank. Mine were raised with a killer rd. THey are trained killers!..lol
Nice pacus anyway!

[Red Devil]

That is Great!!!!

What a cool before and current picture!!!!

Thank you... i am so glad that i had one.. because i did not take alot of pics back then {did not have digital camera} so it was a real treat to have it and see the difference!!:eek:

[Red Devil]

My pacu is not quite that big but they are slowly killing everything in my cichlid tank. Mine were raised with a killer rd. THey are trained killers!..lol
Nice pacus anyway!
I heard of this ... thank goodness mine never got that way.. yes if they are raised with small fish and they grow bigger and are hungary i quess it is a natural thing that they would help them selves.. mine were never given any thing except veggies and maybe this helps too.. My RD was with them for awhile and he started nipping at the pacus even though he was a tiny little guy compared to them.. So RD's definitly have the bully personality even with fish bigger then themselves.. they don't call them Red Devils for nothing:grinno:

[awdawg]

how big is their tank? Mine went from about 2" to about 11" in about 5 months..I got rid of them then lol...

[Red Devil]

how big is their tank? Mine went from about 2" to about 11" in about 5 months..I got rid of them then lol...

It happens to pacu quite often since people are not told by the LFS when they buy them that they will grow into giants FAST! Their tank is a 220gal. and we could still go bigger.. :D

[Epic Fabrications]

Don't they stop growing eventually.. :confused:


They will... about 15" later...

[Epic Fabrications]

WAIT.

Those arent Red Bellies....They're Black.

:ROFL:

They get 5ft...

[Red Devil]

WAIT.

Those arent Red Bellies....They're Black.

:ROFL:

They get 5ft...

MY Heart My heart... show mercy :irked: :irked: :grinno:

[stevbo200]

Those are red bellys they loose their color with age and size

[cichlaguapote]

Don't they stop growing eventually.. :confused:

Scientific answer from biologist's is no.. which is why 100 year old sturgeon are huge, alligator gars get humungeous, etc.

But I mean't is from what I remember from their size they're under 30" right? You might see a couple more inches out of them.. I'd count on it at least..

[Epic Fabrications]

I dont know about them loosing color....at least not if theyre well fed, which her fish definitely seem to be...

I have seen 30" RedBellies with...well....red bellies! I saw a few Black Pacu at the Baltimore Aquarium recently and they looked just like these guys.

[Epic Fabrications]

as juveniels, IIRC, Black Pacu have red bellies, also.

[cichlaguapote]

I have seen 30" RedBellies with...well....red bellies! I saw a few Black Pacu at the Baltimore Aquarium recently and they looked just like these guys.

Not totally sure but I think blacks when small have no red bellies which these did. I'm pretty sure they're reds but still talking 3ft.

Edit: Nevermind, maybe baby blacks do have red... been a while since seeing one..

[Epic Fabrications]

Just looked up some info... found this quote



Black Pacus are very big Characins. This species requires the same care as its cousin the Redbelly Pacu, except that these fish get twice as large or more. Closely related to the Piranha, they generally lack the aggressive quality of their relatives. The body is dark grey with tiny scales; the belly and anal fin being dark grey, black, or slightly orange in juveniles. The fish may fade in color with age. Pacus are deep-bodied fish that are too large for most home aquariums and so are often seen in public aquaria. C. macropomum is the largest Pacu, reaching a length of 5 feet under the right conditions. Their bodies are more elongate than those of the Redbellies.

[Epic Fabrications]

They can live to be 30+ years, also.

[Epic Fabrications]

do a quick search for "macropomum" on google images.

[Epic Fabrications]

here are some relative, and neat pictures of Black Pacu that I just found..
http://www.univap.br/servicos/imagens/figura3c.jpg
http://www.corriere.it/Media/Foto/2005/04_Aprile/12/fdg/SALTO.jpg
http://www.skullsunlimited.com/graphics/bc-330-lg.jpg
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/Fishpics/pacu2.jpg

[baracuda]

Wow some real monsters!! nice man!!

[Red Devil]

Wow some real monsters!! nice man!!

Thank you..:D

[greenterra]

they are a couple of awsome specimens you have there Red Devil.:headbang2

[dmarinko]

those pacus are huge!!!!!!!!

[Red Devil]

those pacus are huge!!!!!!!!

lol:headbang2 :headbang2 :D :D

[HarleyK]

I respectfully salute you!

It's always great to see a dedicated fish keeper who houses /\/\onsters from juvenile to adulthood :thumbsup: That's true MFK spirit.

HarleyK

[Red Devil]

I respectfully salute you!

It's always great to see a dedicated fish keeper who houses /\/\onsters from juvenile to adulthood :thumbsup: That's true MFK spirit.

HarleyK Thank you.. that made me feel awesome.. and i appreciate your kind words.. :D

[Red Devil]

they are a couple of awsome specimens you have there Red Devil.:headbang2
Thank you greenterra:)

[Red Devil]

I love taking pictures of them..because they seem like they really love the attention and really put on a comical show.. ;)

[Joshy]

They look amazing! Great job Liz, seeing your pacu many months ago made me want them, and i havent stopped wanting them since :)

[aquaticdesignsp]

Five or so years ago. If you stare you can see them.

[aquaticdesignsp]

And as we al know, ecspecially RedDevil, they grow up so fast!!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlE85wSOCss

[Red Devil]

Five or so years ago. If you stare you can see them.

oh how sweet they are.. as little babies..:grinno:

[Red Devil]

And as we al know, ecspecially RedDevil, they grow up so fast!!!!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlE85wSOCss

what an absolutely beautiful monster tank.. the arows look so peaceful together..jusr awesome.. ;)

[Lan]

that pacu is cute...men!!!how big the third one now ?!....

[Red Devil]

that pacu is cute...men!!!how big the third one now ?!....

please let me know who you mean??? :) :) :)

[Razman]

he means the how you got 3 8 years ago and sold one, he wants to know ho the third one is doing.

[Razman]

love you pacus BTW.

[Red Devil]

he means the how you got 3 8 years ago and sold one, he wants to know ho the third one is doing.

I was afraid that is what he meant:( i do not know..:( i like to keep track but they sold him to someone else:(

[Red Devil]

love you pacus BTW.
Thank you Razman..and i love your brown knife.. :D

[Razman]

I was afraid that is what he meant:( i do not know..:( i like to keep track but they sold him to someone else:(

that stinks. lol i just realized how bad my spelling was in that sentence:ROFL:. and thanks Liz.

[mr giant gourami]

they are cool looking fish

[Red Devil]

they are cool looking fish

Thank you Mr. Giant gourami:D

[GJC]

Beutiful pacu's :)

[Red Devil]

Beutiful pacu's :)
thank you GJC:)

[Miguel]

Those monsters will eventually bust your tank, those crazy tankbusters:nilly: :nilly:

[Red Devil]

Those monsters will eventually bust your tank, those crazy tankbusters:nilly: :nilly:

You had to go ruin my day Miguel.. you were doing sooooo good up till now:nilly: now i will have nightmares tonite and think of what you said..:eek:

[Miguel]

I ruined your day:) ..but will rule your night!!:headbang2 what more could I desire?:nilly:

[Red Devil]

I ruined your day:) ..but will rule your night!!:headbang2 what more could I desire?:nilly:

You want me to get up and sit here all alone worrying and wishing i had a cigarettte...:D

[Psuedofire]

Those are eaters

[Red Devil]

Those are eaters

Bananas,squash,carrots, peanuts, pellets,silversides.. algae pellets.. they have quite the diet:headbang2

[Miguel]

How does banana and water mix, Liz? Your water looks very clear and clean..thought banana would wreck it..

[Red Devil]

How does banana and water mix, Liz? Your water looks very clear and clean..thought banana would wreck it..

isn't that something Miguel it does nothing to hurt the water..the squash does more ... peanuts i have to watch the amount because they clogged the filter once when i gave them too many.. oh yes they eat grapes too..:D

[cherrybomber]

isn't that something Miguel it does nothing to hurt the water..the squash does more ... peanuts i have to watch the amount because they clogged the filter once when i gave them too many.. oh yes they eat grapes too..:D

Hey Red Devil, those Pacus rock!

Thanks for the tips on the food!

i couldnt stop cracking up when i saw you pics when i realized my Pacus are going to reach that size as well. People in the office are beginning to look at me funny.

how do you know when to stop feeding them during mealtimes?

been feeding mine dogfood since its the cheapest, but im trying to switch over to fruits. grapes make them happy, apples too. :)

[Red Devil]

Hey Red Devil, those Pacus rock!

Thanks for the tips on the food!

i couldnt stop cracking up when i saw you pics when i realized my Pacus are going to reach that size as well. People in the office are beginning to look at me funny.

how do you know when to stop feeding them during mealtimes?

been feeding mine dogfood since its the cheapest, but im trying to switch over to fruits. grapes make them happy, apples too. :)

I don't know about apples... because there may be too much acid.. i have never given them apples..so i cannot say whether that is okay. just did not try it... and isn't dogfood messy?, Just because pacus are big and growing does not mean you have to stuff them.. i give one banana between the two.. breaking it into mouthsize pieces.. about 5 grapes each .. about 5 slices {thin}zucchini either green or yellow type.. blanched from microwave first so they are softer.. i also give these to other tanks with pleco ..after the zucchini is blanched in a little water in microwave it will sink for all of them.. the clown loaches love it too.. they do not eat all this everyday ..one day a banana,next day a bowl of thinly sliced carrots etc.. then every other day i give them a few frozen silversides for a little extra protein.. there is no reason to feed too much.. because pacu will eat till they burst..;) but you can look at them and see how they look, how they act.. how much they poop etc.. yours are growing like weeds at this stage so maybe a little more then i mentioned would be sufficient.. thank you.. ;)

[cherrybomber]

yeah dog food is messy :p but it seems to be the most cost efficient way to feed the Oscars. my filters are having a hard time keeping up.

hmm will try other fruits as well. maybe mangoes and papayas or whatever is in season...

ill let you know how it goes.

[Red Devil]

yeah dog food is messy :p but it seems to be the most cost efficient way to feed the Oscars. my filters are having a hard time keeping up.

hmm will try other fruits as well. maybe mangoes and papayas or whatever is in season...

ill let you know how it goes.

okay ..that will be good.. and post some pictures please.. ;)

[Red Devil]

The pacus just love these veggies..:D

[HiGhTiMeZ]

personally i dont like the look of pacus face, i think their face looks retarded...
BUT by seeing ur pacu... i understand y u love them so much!!! ...ooohh theyre so cute!!! they look so gentle and nice! are they a pair?

[Red Devil]

personally i dont like the look of pacus face, i think their face looks retarded...
BUT by seeing ur pacu... i understand y u love them so much!!! ...ooohh theyre so cute!!! they look so gentle and nice! are they a pair?
Thank you...
that is very nice of you to say.. yes i believe they are a pair because one is so much bigger and dominant over the other.. but of course i cannot be sure.. they cannot breed unless they were in a pond..:D thank goodness. :D and they really are gentle and sweet.. they get so happy when they see you.. and put on a comical show.. smiling their silly smiles..

[Razman]

The pacus just love these veggies..:D


:ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: how do you people find this stuff?!?!?:ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL:

[mr giant gourami]

is that ur dog in the pic liz if so he/she look great

[Red Devil]

:ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL: how do you people find this stuff?!?!?:ROFL: :ROFL: :ROFL:

:D :D :D :ROFL:

[Red Devil]

is that ur dog in the pic liz if so he/she look great

Thank you..yes that is my dobie... time for a new picture soon:D

[Red Devil]

A few more pics of the HAMS:)

[Epic Fabrications]

gorgeous.

[Red Devil]

gorgeous.

thank you:) :) :)

[Razman]

lol, love that second pic.

[Red Devil]

lol, love that second pic.

you mean the one with the baby pacu aka african cichlid.. haha.. thank you Razman!:)

[oftalmos]

Hi...I love your pacus....Congratulations....

I had a terrible experience with my first pacu because I didnt know anything a couple of years ago... i had a 10 gal tank and the guy of the store never told me the size that this fish can reach....so i had to give it away...

Anyway after that i made a 150 gal tank and had a lot of fish but gave them away because they all got too big, then I kept a pair of midas and they had a fry that i still keep on the 150 gal tank....they are pretty well...

After months my 700 gal tank its going to be ready pretty soon...i made this tank for my midas...anyway I really like pacus and want one or two but i think maybe that the tank its not going to be big enough for them on a long term situation....i live on an apartment and I dont have the space to build something bigger in the near future ...i mean if i had a house and a garden i can build anything... but its not the case.

The size of the tank is 134 x 47 x 27 inches....so I dont know...after watching 2.5 feet pacus i think the tank its little for a full grown...

So what do you think?

How many years do you think i will be able to keep this fish if I raise three or four little ones in the 700 gal tank?

Thanks...

[Red Devil]

Hi...I love your pacus....Congratulations....

I had a terrible experience with my first pacu because I didnt know anything a couple of years ago... i had a 10 gal tank and the guy of the store never told me the size that this fish can reach....so i had to give it away...

Anyway after that i made a 150 gal tank and had a lot of fish but gave them away because they all got too big, then I kept a pair of midas and they had a fry that i still keep on the 150 gal tank....they are pretty well...

After months my 700 gal tank its going to be ready pretty soon...i made this tank for my midas...anyway I really like pacus and want one or two but i think maybe that the tank its not going to be big enough for them on a long term situation....i live on an apartment and I dont have the space to build something bigger in the near future ...i mean if i had a house and a garden i can build anything... but its not the case.

The size of the tank is 134 x 47 x 27 inches....so I dont know...after watching 2.5 feet pacus i think the tank its little for a full grown...

So what do you think?

How many years do you think i will be able to keep this fish if I raise three or four little ones in the 700 gal tank?

Thanks...

Two pacus would live great for a lifetime in a 700gal tank.. also it depends what your adding besides the pacu... but i would not put 3 or 4..since you can add some other type of fish to make the tank interesting and give it some added color.. wow 700 gal.. pacus will be very very happy;)

[pacu mom]

personally i dont like the look of pacus face, i think their face looks retarded...
BUT by seeing ur pacu... i understand y u love them so much!!! ...ooohh theyre so cute!!! they look so gentle and nice!

Our pacu are gentle giants. The thing we really love about them is their wonderful personalities. They seem very dog-like in their behavior. They always come to greet us, and are boisterous in their greetings...and it's more than the "I'm hungry, feed me" dance. They are always watching us...they act like we're the ones in the fish bowl, and they seem entertained by our antics. When I used to pet them, one pacu would push the other one away so he could have all the attention! They are very curious about the world outside of their tank. Sometimes we walk in front of the tank and rock the cat in a swimming motion "pacu kitten goes swim swim swim" and the pacu follow along, back and forth..kind of a parade inside and outside the tank. It seems the pacu are thinking "how come we have to be inside here? Why can't we be outside with you?" Our pacu are like our indoor water dogs, who don't bark and don't need to be walked. They have big big personalities.:)

[Red Devil]

Our pacu are gentle giants. The thing we really love about them is their wonderful personalities. They seem very dog-like in their behavior. They always come to greet us, and are boisterous in their greetings...and it's more than the "I'm hungry, feed me" dance. They are always watching us...they act like we're the ones in the fish bowl, and they seem entertained by our antics. When I used to pet them, one pacu would push the other one away so he could have all the attention! They are very curious about the world outside of their tank. Sometimes we walk in front of the tank and rock the cat in a swimming motion "pacu kitten goes swim swim swim" and the pacu follow along, back and forth..kind of a parade inside and outside the tank. It seems the pacu are thinking "how come we have to be inside here? Why can't we be outside with you?" Our pacu are like our indoor water dogs, who don't bark and don't need to be walked. They have big big personalities.:)

I have read alot of threads where someone describes pacu personality and i have even tried to explain it too.. You have captured with your words a really good describtion of their total existence in our world as we view theirs.. excellent ... your paragragh excels on pointing out their charming awesome personality.. as only a Pacu MOM could!;)

[Bogwoodbruce]

Oh how i miss my old pacu, i got rid they were too big, i wish i could have kept them and had a tank big enough.

[Bogwoodbruce]

I used to have black fin.

[Red Devil]

Oh how i miss my old pacu, i got rid they were too big, i wish i could have kept them and had a tank big enough.
some day.. now that you know all that they require.. and how BIG they get:D

[Red Devil]

I used to have black fin.
do you have any pictures by any chance.. :)