Black or Red Belly?

[landonc]

I have a 12" pacu, which im thinking is a black pacu though cant be too sure. His lower body portion is jet black, not to mention ive seen many red belly pacus much large than this will all silver colration still. Either way I will love this guy just as much, but what do you think and why?

When I first got him (notice the jet black coloration):

A few weeks later in my care:

As you can see he containes some white/orange coloration though a 'pacu expert' told me its still a young black and that will fade in time. :thinking:

 

[rayman45]

red belly

 

[Filthy Sanchez]

Well you likem' and that's all that matters.

 

[landonc]

Could you tell me what makes you think red belly exactly?

 

[rumblesushi]

What from I have seen of pacus, I'd say it's a dark red belly. I've seen 1 black pacu in person and it looked different. Longer with a different shape head, it had no red on it, only a bit of yellow. It was about 10 inches or so.

 

[landonc]

Im so confused. I just want to know the species. How does this not look like a black:

 

[M|L]

LOL don't go by the common name.

A "red" belly pacu doesn't literally mean it has a red belly... even though juveniles does have that coloration.

A black pacu will have a much elongated body, with a super large anal fin.

Not to mention they're rather rare in the hobby.

 

[landonc]

Ive kept pacus for years, I know more about them than you think, lol.

Red Bellies are usually still silver and red at this coloratioin. There is a 16 inch RB at my LFS and hes body is much more rounded (and hes still light silver). I am still thinking this is a black for some reason, not to mention the pet store i purchased him from sales black pacus on special dates, they get a large ammount of them in. Maybe I just want this to be a black in my mind, lol.

 

[landonc]

Is this a black or red at 28"? Look at his anal fin, is it just ripped?

Im getting so many mixed answers, on other websites im getting everyone saying black and here everyone saying red! Anyone know for sure?

 

[M|L]

that fish is a red pacu. the anal fin is not ripped, it's just the angle of the photo caused by the undulating fin.

what's the "other" website?

I've seen both red and black pacus in person, and in my opinion, yours is a red.