change in pacu attitude

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IKeepPacu

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 2, 2008
1,327
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Long Island, New York
i have a 3 year old, 22" pacu who is now alone in his pond. before my other pacu died, i could throw feeders every so often in the pond for the oscar or other fish i had, and the pacu's NEVER ONCE went after the goldies. not one single solitary time....

now after my one pacu died in dec, and the big oscar in feb they had formed a little school together with, the surviving pacu has suddenly changed. any fish ive put in the pond, large or small, he will chase down and tear to shreds. not eat them, but tear them up.

any have any ideas what i can do?? he's LITERALLY eaten about 10 pellets in the last 3 months, and wont touch anything i put in the tank anymore unless its to kill it.
 
If you have space, maybe add another. They shoal in the wild, and since yours was so used to company of another, he might be stressed now since it died.
 
true to the above post
 
I had a 16+" Pacu that I recently got rid of due to it nearly killing and shredding alot of it's tankmates. It also chewed up my heater wire. Mine also ate meat and mostly fed on raw shrimp and lake smelts. I think they have to be in groups or they'll try and kill anything in it's path.
 
try adding another large pacu. he might miss Taco and want another buddie
 
I am inclined to agree, when schooling fish are removed from schooling situations they are known for acting odd and often aggressive. I would guess your pacu is doing the same.

How big are the new little ones? They aren't all hanging out together yet, eh?
 
i tried with a couple other pacu, 4 small, and 2 that were maybe 16" or so. needless to say the little guys are back in my 75g and the big boys with their original owner. he even managed to chase down and tear up 2 5" ID sharks overnight. If i dident know any better, id say he was a pirhana.

and to bodydub....yes i have a pond in new york. its an indoor tropical pond located in my basement.

im gonna be quite torn if i end up losing this guy too. him i raised from the size of a half dollar, to the monster he is now.
 
has there not been a change in his surroundings around the time he changed?
 
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