For the Love of Pacu

[kdrun76]

I rescued one of these cuties out of a 20 gallon tank last Feb from Craig's list. He was 3 years old and 6" long. I put him in a 210 gallon tank where he is now 15" long (he has grown 1" per month the entire time I have had him!) Then I got smart and adopted a second cutie out of a 75 gallon tank. He was 13" when I got him 2 months ago and is now 15" as well. The two bonded immediately.


The plan has been and continues to be, build a tank in the spring to house these growing monsters.

How big should it be? The foot print can't be more than 8' by 2.5', but we can make it as deep as needed. If we go for 3' deep that gives us 60 cubic feet or 448 gallons (as measured from the out side, probably closer to 400 gallons of water will fit.)

Is that big enough for a pair of red bellied pacu? Room mates for now are a large pleco, an oscar and a golden gourami. (Yes I know the gourami is an odd ball in this mix, and a new home for him would be easy to arrange if needed.)

The foot print of the tank is pretty solidly fixed. I can't change it. Is it big enough? I have no $$ invested yet, I would hate to have this tank built only to find that its not big enough.

 

[limz_777]

i think for pacus to reach it potential size , the height and width is equally important

 

[kdrun76]

And what should the height and width be? Under the current plan I can't go wider than 2.5 feet.

If they need to be wider than 2.5 feet, I need to make major plan changes now. That is why I am asking. Its cheaper to change plans while they are still on paper.

 

[pacu mom]

Our 300 gallon tank is 8' x 30" x 24". It's too small for our two pacu. Two feet deep is too shallow. They have about 6" of water above and below them when they swim. If you went 4' deep, that would double the volume of the tank to 600 gallons and make it easier to maintain excellent water parameters. We've had our rescued pacu for over 4 years, and they're still growing. The 30" width is ample for them (but they may be stunted from all the time they lived in a 55 gallon tank with 4 oscars and 2 pleco). They can turn around easily and aren't even close to banging head and tail against the walls when turning around. Our pacu are growing taller and thicker faster than they are growing longer.

If our tank had been 4' deep, I think it would have worked. 2' deep is not enough. Their permanent home is being built right now and is a 15' x 4' x 4' Tenecor tank. We won't have to worry about space constraints any more.

 

[Thow428]

Pacu's can get 3 feet, so technically a tank that's width is 2.5 feet is too small. But they were stunted for a long time, which means they might never hit 3 feet. So who knows. I'd try to go for a 3 foot wide

 

[pacu mom]

Pacu's can get 3 feet, so technically a tank that's width is 2.5 feet is too small. But they were stunted for a long time, which means they might never hit 3 feet. So who knows. I'd try to go for a 3 foot wide

You are correct, 3' wide would be better. Bigger is always better. While I don't think our pacu will ever get to 3', we went 4' wide on the new tank. Our "stunted" pacu grew fast to about 20", and then their growth rate slowed down. For our pacu, a 30" width would have worked. kdrun76's pacu may not have been abused as long as ours were. His may still have the potential of reaching 30".

 

[kdrun76]

The reason for the 2.5' restriction is simple. While I own my own house and love it, I don't want to have to leave my tank in it if I ever move. The door is only 32" wide. We do plan to move in 5-8 years. But then again, ask me in 5 years if I am still planning to move. I might have changed my mind by then. I just want the option.

Four feet deep is doable, but man is that going to be tough to clean. I could probably pull off 8.5 feet long if needed, but the door width isn't going to change with out some major reconstruction of my home.

The stunting issue is what is making me hope I can get away with it. It stil amazes me to watch the one that was in a 20 gallon tank for so many years eat. I can stand there and watch him grow. I am not sure how long the other one was in a 75 gallon tank.

Do you have any pictures of your fish? I'd love to see them.

Thank you,
Karen

 

[KNH]

I kept 2 pacu in a 10' x 4' x 2.5' 750g tank for awhile. IMO they were starting to outgrow it. Physically they could fit but pacu do not like to be confined and they were starting to act differently. Yours are rescued fish and you are providing a much better home for them than they had but just remember that bigger is better when it comes to pacu. I love these fish and may get more in the future but not without upsizing my tank.

 

[sardesign]

The reason for the 2.5' restriction is simple. While I own my own house and love it, I don't want to have to leave my tank in it if I ever move. The door is only 32" wide. We do plan to move in 5-8 years. But then again, ask me in 5 years if I am still planning to move. I might have changed my mind by then. I just want the option.
Four feet deep is doable, but man is that going to be tough to clean. I could probably pull off 8.5 feet long if needed, but the door width isn't going to change with out some major reconstruction of my home.

architect here major reconstruction for a door? you would be surprised on how easily a new door or temporary opening can be made to move large objects. the doorway can be shored fairly easily and then you can either install a new larger door OR just temporarily remove the door and get that tank out. the real question IS... do you really want to move a tank that big? i think it would be easier to build another tank if you move into a new home... or sell it to someone that might want it for either parts or as a whole. plus, i would think building a new one would make it easier to move the fish. you can have the new tank set up (possibly) and then move those guys from the old tank to the new one... maybe that is a pipe dream, but it could work.

do you have any large windows that you could utilize. better yet... will the tank be in a room adjacent to a garage with a large overhead door? if so, you can easily put an opening in a NON load bearing wall and then just patch it back up. would be much easier and less expensive putting holes in interior walls than exterior openings.

The stunting issue is what is making me hope I can get away with it. It stil amazes me to watch the one that was in a 20 gallon tank for so many years eat. I can stand there and watch him grow. I am not sure how long the other one was in a 75 gallon tank.

Do you have any pictures of your fish? I'd love to see them.

Thank you,
Karen

 

[pacu mom]

Leonardo de Fishio (last week)

Adonis and Leonardo fighting over a carrot (a year or two ago)
http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s29/pacumom/Pacu/?action=view&current=MVI_0003.flv


Leonardo's jaw action as he crunches his carrot
http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s29/pacumom/Pacu/?action=view&current=MVI_0005.flv


Adonis bests Leonardo in the potato chip scramble. (several years ago) He inhales his last potato slice which is stuck in his mouth, and he's unable to pick up the last slice, which Leo finally sees) Leonardo is a real rascal.
http://s148.photobucket.com/albums/s29/pacumom/Pacu/?action=view&current=MVI_0309.flv