41-year old pacu

[Ullopincrate]

I can't bring myself to believe the 40+ claim. It would be cool if one could make it that long but I believe the hype.

 

[random fish guy]

must be doing water changes from the fountain of youth.

 

[badreverend]

every time I see pics of pacus like that it pisses me off.why? because the fish has not been fed/raised properly. how can you tell?look at the body form. nice rounded front, but the back half of the fish is skinny, especially the ventral region. its like it was two different fish stuck together.look at pics of some of the healthy pacus on this site. my old one was the same. nice round shape through out the whole body, nice and full from head to tail..that fish has had growth problems, probably related to the diet.impressive to live long, although its not really surprsing because pacus are one of the hardiest fish going. you have to try hard to kill one from water quality alone...

12 Volt is totally right. That fish is jacked up and that is a sad sad story. "Abused stunted pacu hangs on forever in crappy queens pet shop!"

dang.. if i ever do have a fish that long.. i'll give him a nice big home.. not some crap 60-70 gallon tank???cool story.. but it needs a bigger home...

I think you guys are way off base- If this story is true, I dont think any of us have had a 40, 30, or even a 20 year old fish- I dont agree with the diet or husbandry of the fish either but 40 years means this guy did something right

 

[12 Volt Man]

I almost had a 20 year old fish.

I bought a rapheal cat in 1991 and had it until I sold it in 2008..it was getting up there.

but even 20 is a long way from 40...

 

[revkkoolaid]

cool story.. but it needs a bigger home...

He probably NEEDED a bigger home 40yrs ago.

Im sorry but that is NOT a cool story. What if it were 42yr old RTC that were 2ft long? Would any of us think that's awesome????? That story ,as made obvious by MOST of the comments left where it was posted, is miseducating people and is exactly the kind of press MFKers don't need.

 

[12 Volt Man]

I dont agree with the diet or husbandry of the fish either but 40 years means this guy did something right

I disagree. improperly raising a fish with such poor upbringing that its body is deformed is doing nothing right.

sure the fish is alive. but this is a pacu. its not a discus

 

[RedDevilDon2005]

must be doing water changes from the fountain of youth.

thats goin on the sig.

 

[Ullopincrate]

IF (and I strongly doubt) the fish is 41. Then..... wow. However. I think it's pretty obvious that this person is doing everything wrong. The Pacu is one hell of a fighter but I can't bring myself to credit the shop keeper.

 

[instantthc]

IDK i got a pacu from young and raised him until he was 12" w/ good water quality and the best "Pacu food" he only lived 5 years. he's gotta be doing something right. i did water changes regularly and gave him fresh vegetable snacks soooo. heres the link.
"IF (and I strongly doubt) the fish is 41. Then..... wow. However. I think it's pretty obvious that this person is doing everything wrong."

WTF doing everything wrong?? this changes the whole idea of fish keeping... I'm going to put my fish in oil now??

http://www.pawnation.com/2009/10/01/buttkiss-the-41-year-old-pacu/

 

[revkkoolaid]

I think you guys are way off base- If this story is true, I dont think any of us have had a 40, 30, or even a 20 year old fish- I dont agree with the diet or husbandry of the fish either but 40 years means this guy did something right

Honestly it doesn't really. All it really requires in the end is luck. Many fish easily live that long and longer. Even with poor husbandry.

Theres a vietnamese resturant in Houston with an Osphronemus that's about 20yrs old and it's only 14-16'' long. He lives in a 75gal and as long as I can remember always has.

You could lock a person in a closet and bring them just enough nutrition to get by and they might grow to 3ft tall, be deformed and make it 40yrs. Is that impressive? Hell no.

Let's face it most super-hardy lg/xl fish , like pacu,osphros,oscars,cats etc, that have ran the gauntlet of chance and poor husbandry usually end up dying from equipment malfunctions or BLATENT human error.(esp when housed alone like butkiss and you factor out ass whoopins) Heaters fry, roomates overfeed, tanks explode, airline tubing get's pinched, power goes out.

So factoring out how much can be attributed to luck and how tough that species of fish is very little is left in the realm of "doing something right".

Keeping a great dane in a crate for 40yrs is definitely not doing something right. It's sad.

Btw did anyone notice all of the people commenting on aol with allegedly 2ft 20lb+ pacu in 125-150gals?