Okay time for me to chime in. I have these fish & been raising them for years. I have a pair for Sale. Male more then 24". I have one that I'm keeping had won a show in November 08 & she is at least 24-28" in a tank 48x36x20 high & is happy as can be. Anyone that has been to the shop knows her. She is like my pet dog. certain people she does not like for whatever reason & goes after them. Its funny! I gotta get video. She also is a poster fish for WW & I think her pic was in one of the TFH mags? Not for sure.
About these not being in the hobby. I have been in the pet business 25 years & I was a animal control officer for 4 years & worked with all kinds of stuff as big as bears!
I feel like a lot of things should not be sold to the general public but there is some people or business etc. that has the resources to keep & care for some larger animals/fish etc. You are on a site of devoted big fish keepers! Sometimes these creatures get better care & live longer in captivity. I personally think Pacus need to be sold by application or permit? The wholesalers, retailers (Walmart & other big box of crap stores should not be aloud to sell them) need to limit the sales because this could be another fish that will hurt us all in the hobby. Almost every week we get a call wanting to trade in these monster fish that someone bought from so & so & said will be good in a 55 gallon & only will get 8 inches! Ah no! Then they get dumped in the river or lake then this summer someone will cath them on a hook calling it a man eating piranha! The the politicians will want to pass another stinking uneducated law that will tell us who, what, where & why we can do or not do with our pets.
a 180 standard tank cen house these for at least 7-8 years imo. Idealy the new deep tanks that are 36" front to back by Marineland is good for keeping some of these big fishes.
gotta go
me dave
