do sound like a hypocrite??

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IKeepPacu

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 2, 2008
1,327
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Long Island, New York
so, i just got a PM from a fellow member saying he just bought himself some pacu. now i tried as nicely to explain, from a point of view form someone who was forced in pacu years ago, that it was an extremely unwise decision. ive learned the hard way that these guys dont belong in an aquarium,and as much as i love them, most people, myself included, subject them to tiny living quarters.

in a lengthy response, and as educated as i could sound, i tried to explain the massive pond/tank a pacu will need to be happy. and how as in my situation, there are many things that stand in that way, like now my town refuses to grant me a permit for a pond after saying it was OK, forcing me to build one indoors after FINALLY getting the go-ahead from the parents. i did add however that once the housing aspects of them are taken care of, they are EXTREMELY easy to care for. basically being happy with whatever fruit, veggie, or commercial food you give them, and being extremely easy overall. i tried to have some positive to it :)

now, do i sound like a hypocrite, or am i doing what i hoped, and trying to stop someone from making a mistake, and not being able to house such a large fish? this isnt the 1st time this has happened, but it never bothered me until tonight for some reason
 
I think you are fine. We all know that a very small amount of people really follow through with what they plan. I am speaking from the other side here.

There are those that disagree with you and are ignorant. Like the goldfish are fine in a 10gl tank because so many people do it. Those are the worst.

Then you have those that you tell that too and say "I will do whatever it takes to house them" and we all know that there is only a small percentage that actually follow through. It is easy to say "I will" then actually doing it.

I was hit hard on forums for getting my common pleco in a 55gl and he was just a baby. I was confused and hurt why so many people told me it was wrong. He was a baby and had plenty of room. I knew he could grow to 2 feet long. I said I would get him a bigger home. I had people tell me that I should have all the tanks before on hand. That really ticked me off. Now I understand why some of those people said that. It was because the majority do not follow through.

I did follow through and have a 120gl sitting here empty that eventually is for my common pleco. I had PLENTY of time to plan.

When you get into Pacu and Red Tail Catfish and Shovelnose etc it is even a bigger playing field. The cost is high and the need for space is massive. There are even fewer that can follow through. I know I couldnt give those fish the room they need.

I am with you that Pacu do not belong in homes. Some learned the hard way and do what they can. Most make the fish suffer and many die. The right thing to do is

"Take it from me, do not get this fish" and explain why.
 
pacu should only be a "specail order fish," they are sold almost everywhere and almost no one can house them! Theres a really cool pet store that just opened near me, and the owner is awesome but I was in there today and saw some pacus. He wasn't there today but next time I see him I'm going to ask him not to carry them after these ones are sold.
 
It was a good thing you are trying to help people learn from your mistakes. That is not hypocritical.
 
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