41-year old pacu

[chloe]

You know how you'll be having a conversation with someone and the topic of goldfish in bowls, bettas in bowls, etc., will come up? And you'll be like (or at least I would), "Goldfish need at least 20 gallons per fish. And bettas need a heater." And the other person will be like, "Noooo... my uncle's cousin's friend's sister had a goldfish for nine years in a bowl." And I'm like, holy crap, because I can't even keep fancy goldfish alive for over two years in a 75 gallon tank with a huge canister filter. Some fish just tough it out. Some of them, even within species, are just hardier than others. This is one of the reasons why, in the wild, not all of them live to their ripe old age. So, this is just an example of that goldfish that lived for nine years in a bowl. (I know, goldfish can live far longer, but this is my example... go get your own! LOL) It's just one fish who happens to live in sub-par conditions. Is this how I keep my Pacu? No. Are my Pacu 40 years old? No, and they may never grow to be that old, even with the best of care. Some animals just live longer than others. If this story is true, then this is one hardy Pacu.

this was aimed at the other bloke i assume and not me?


lol chester....thats what i thought!!!

 

[Mac-100]

Pacus are some cool fish. I'm surprised that old one isnt bigger the ones I had were almost that big after just 18 months. What size tank is that thing in. I bought 4 pacus a few years back underestimating how fast they would grow. They eat like pigs and grow super fast by the day. Mine swam in a 110 like dolphins and were smart as hell. It got to the point where I had to feed them(and no Im not kidding)full hamburgers hot dogs (without bun) cold cuts, they literally were eating more than me everyday. They became very very aggressive, eating any other fish put in the tank and constantly fighting with eachother. After 18 months I had 2 left. They both killed eachother soon after that point. You dont just need a big tank for these fish, You need a huge tank! but they are very cool to own and easy to get.

 

[Red Devil]

Pacus are some cool fish. I'm surprised that old one isnt bigger the ones I had were almost that big after just 18 months. What size tank is that thing in. I bought 4 pacus a few years back underestimating how fast they would grow. They eat like pigs and grow super fast by the day. Mine swam in a 110 like dolphins and were smart as hell. It got to the point where I had to feed them(and no Im not kidding)full hamburgers hot dogs (without bun) cold cuts, they literally were eating more than me everyday. They became very very aggressive, eating any other fish put in the tank and constantly fighting with eachother. After 18 months I had 2 left. They both killed eachother soon after that point. You dont just need a big tank for these fish, You need a huge tank! but they are very cool to own and easy to get.

they are vegetarians.. you turned them into piranha... seriously they need some protein but main diet is vegetables... they probably would have had a better personality on the right diet..

 

[justonemoretank]

this was aimed at the other bloke i assume and not me?

Oh, LOL I didn't mean "you" really toward anyone. I guess I should be more careful with my "you"s. Sorry... it was just like, a person says this, a person says that, not "you" to anyone in particular.

 

[trojan09]

great story...make me want a pacu now

 

[Mac-100]

they are vegetarians.. you turned them into piranha... seriously they need some protein but main diet is vegetables... they probably would have had a better personality on the right diet..

dude you have no idea what these fish were eating. Brocoli carrots colliflower I was feeding them several vegetables as well as the meats lol. They eat A LOT. The reason why I started feeding them meats is because they were eating all the gouramis I had in the tank even cichlids Jack Dempseys, 2 big ones completely disappeared and they were fighting with eachother. I did not make them what they were they were like that. Very hungry fish, when people say they are peaceful, its not true, they may look like clowns and not have razor teeth but they eat ANYTHING.

 

[chesterthehero]

Oh, LOL I didn't mean "you" really toward anyone. I guess I should be more careful with my "you"s. Sorry... it was just like, a person says this, a person says that, not "you" to anyone in particular.

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[justonemoretank]

dude you have no idea what these fish were eating. Brocoli carrots colliflower I was feeding them several vegetables as well as the meats lol. They eat A LOT. The reason why I started feeding them meats is because they were eating all the gouramis I had in the tank even cichlids Jack Dempseys, 2 big ones completely disappeared and they were fighting with eachother. I did not make them what they were they were like that. Very hungry fish, when people say they are peaceful, its not true, they may look like clowns and not have razor teeth but they eat ANYTHING.

That's not what you say in your initial post. How was she supposed to know that if you didn't say it? You say you were feeding them cold cuts, hamburgers, and hot dogs. Now, their menu has changed drastically, because someone called you out on the impact your bad choices had on your fish. In addition, how large was your tank? 1,000 gallons? Because that's about what you'd need for 4 Pacu. Any fish gets aggressive and irritated in a tank that's too small, and a Pacu has big teeth. So, it's no surprise that they turned on tankmates and each other. I'm not saying that they won't eat smaller fish, but the reason they turn on larger fish and each other is normally due to tank size. I realize that they eat anything; they are fish. However, you are supposed to be responsible and feed them what they should be eating. They did not drive to the store and buy hamburgers and hot dogs. That's what you fed them.

Edit: And here, when I say "you," I am addressing Mac 100. Just for clarification.

 

[justonemoretank]

To chesterthehero: that's hilarious. Yes, that's what I mean. There was total confusion over my use of "you" LOL. I've never seen it. Maybe I should.

 

[chesterthehero]

To chesterthehero: that's hilarious. Yes, that's what I mean. There was total confusion over my use of "you" LOL. I've never seen it. Maybe I should.

no.. you shouldnt... and thats FAR from the first "what do you mean 'you people" in existance... its just the first that showed up...