Thank you for your comments. I have just ordered a 200 gallon tank/stand bundle. I’m sure he’ll be very happy in there!! Can’t wait to get it. I’m sure he’ll feel like he’s been released into the wild! Lol
Not to be a downer but the general consensus, at least on this site, is that pacu require an enormous enclosure to live out their lives in. I do admire your desire to upgrade the living situation, but most of the "successful" pacu keepers ive seen keep them in ponds or tanks of several thousand gallons. These are massive fish once they reach maturity and are actually capable of destroying all but the sturdiest 200 gallon tanks from the inside out when they put on some size.Thank you for your comments. I have just ordered a 200 gallon tank/stand bundle. I’m sure he’ll be very happy in there!! Can’t wait to get it. I’m sure he’ll feel like he’s been released into the wild! Lol
You should probably go for something closer to 72"x36"x24" or around 300 gallons as 200 gallons will be a bit of a tight fit as they can hit 24 inches. But it's great that you will be able to keep him for a lot longer, possibly life if he stays within the 12-18 inch range.Well great news...I’ve decided to get a MUCH larger tank for my favorite fish! I’ll get to keep him after all. Thank you all for your advice and comments!! I’ll keep you all posted.
Just try to get a bigger tank when you can, if you can't, no big deal unless he breaks 16-18 inches, in which you should upgrade, I would recommend atleast 72"x36"24" as the fish has enough room to swim and turn around fine. Or better yet, get an indoor pond of 1,000 plus gallons and he'll have a blast.Hopefully this will extend the time I have with him. Putting him in a pond in my area is out of the question because of freezing winters that seem to last for 9 months out of the year. (Exaggeration but close) I received this guy when he was a fry by mistake so he was free. Then he became my favorite. If I can get a few good years with him I’ll consider myself blessed!!
i sense true love....enjoy your fishWell great news...I’ve decided to get a MUCH larger tank for my favorite fish! I’ll get to keep him after all. Thank you all for your advice and comments!! I’ll keep you all posted.
I had the same problem when I first got into the hobby. They are still one of my favorite fish I have kept, very personable. I hope to able to create a suitable environment so one I can keep them again one day.Thanks. I’ll try that. I’ll be sad to see him go. He’s such an amazing fish. Right now he’s my favorite!
Interesting read.....For the record the oldest pacu ever recorded lived in a 75 gallon its entire life. Not that i would necessarily say thats acceptable, but it is interesting. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124361294
Also if you own your home it is not that difficult to have an enclosure for a monster fish, it only becomes difficult and expensive if you want side viewing panels.
24" is a conservative estimate for captive specimens. Properly cared for redbelly pacus can grow much larger. I suspect the 24" max size you often see quoted is due to the overwhelming majority of these fish being kept in cramped conditions.You should probably go for something closer to 72"x36"x24" or around 300 gallons as 200 gallons will be a bit of a tight fit as they can hit 24 inches. But it's great that you will be able to keep him for a lot longer, possibly life if he stays within the 12-18 inch range.
The store is probably really slow because people don’t appreciate the cruelty to animals and mistreatment. Wow this guy tortured a big fish for 40 years, let’s all go get one. It’s ok just give it more goldfish.For the record the oldest pacu ever recorded lived in a 75 gallon its entire life. Not that i would necessarily say thats acceptable, but it is interesting. https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124361294
Also if you own your home it is not that difficult to have an enclosure for a monster fish, it only becomes difficult and expensive if you want side viewing panels.