can pacus be housed with south and central american cichlids?

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Slim2634

Plecostomus
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May 8, 2006
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i want to get a pacu but i also want cichlid but my dad said one more tank so im going big with a 135-180 (big for me anyways lol) so can u house pacus with american cichlids like jack dempseys, firemouths, texas cichlids, and other cichlids that size and temperament. btw all the fish will be introduced as babys.
 
You can but only when they're young. As they grow you'll most likely lose all but one type and with as large as red belly pacus can get you'd end up with only him in your tank even at 180 gallons. They do get quite large so be sure to research them well. I know that some people keep Oscars with Pacus but when they get big one will most likely need to be the dominant and kill the other. JMHO
 
you can but a 180 gallon is no where near big enough to keep a pacu long term. they grow to be enormous in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 feet long. something similar you could choose instead would be silver dollars or red hook silver dollars. these have similar appearance but remain much smaller. they would be fine in a 180 and would also be fine with most CA cichlids. :grinyes:
 
you can but a 180 gallon is no where near big enough to keep a pacu long term. they grow to be enormous in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 feet long. something similar you could choose instead would be silver dollars or red hook silver dollars. these have similar appearance but remain much smaller. they would be fine in a 180 and would also be fine with most CA cichlids. :grinyes:

Good suggestions. . . pacu's get WAY TOO BIG for most people.

JMHO
--Jimmy
 
Yea it can happen ............i've only kept my pacus with cichlids i have two redbellies and i have kept them with oscars and jd's ......right now they are being kept with with a EBJD so yea it can happen but once they get big enough you have to have the room......my two are only eight inches but i've had them since they were .5 ........best of luck............
 
you can but a 180 gallon is no where near big enough to keep a pacu long term. they grow to be enormous in the neighborhood of 2 to 3 feet long. something similar you could choose instead would be silver dollars or red hook silver dollars. these have similar appearance but remain much smaller. they would be fine in a 180 and would also be fine with most CA cichlids. :grinyes:


I have to agree with Jason, go for silver dollars or red hooks.
 
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