Difference

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

marc_ramirez

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 2, 2005
14
0
0
40
Singaporeeeee
hi, sorry 2 ask these kind of question...but whatss d diff between piranhas & pacus?..are they 1 & d same?
 
Pacus get much larger.
 
A Piranah's looks identical to Pacu's as juviniles.

The main thing to watch for is the mouths on a Pacu it's mouth is small it also has teeth but not for cutting but for grinding down vegitaition. On the Piranha it's mouth has a thicker extended lower lip and rows of razor sharp teeth for cutting and ripping prey
 
Pacus are not Piranhas. And yes Pacus can get quite large but so as some piranhas ( aka Piraya, Manueli, Rhombeus ) Pacus grow rapidly ( they can grown up to 2 inches a month ) Pacus mostly eat fruits,insects and when large small fish by swollowing. Separation is easy. Piranhas have single row of triangular teeth and Pacus has double row. Piranhas and Pacus can be found in the same areas of the Amazon basin, most red bellied Pacus schaol with Red Bellied Piranhas to gain some protection from the other predators.
 
DXo a search for "pacu" in this forum, you will find several threads about this and alot of them have comparison pics. The angle of the anal fin is also quite different.
 
MonsterFishKeepers.com