Hey everyone, I need to move a large fish from one tank to another. It's my friends pacu, about 15 inches. When he bought the fish, he was told it was like a piranha and won't get larger than 8 inches. Now it's too big for his 100 gallon tank. I have a 240 long and will keep it in there until my indoor pond is done, about 3 more months. He lives about 5 minutes away and I would like to know how to catch, transport, and release in my tank. Any help is appreciated, Ed
Moving Large Fish
- Thread starter Dr_Shakalu
- Start date
First of all get a large net, bigger than the fish, maybe a pond net. I've never moved fish bigger than an oscar, other than a 2 foot plec.
A few things to think about:
1) Getting the fish out of the tank. You'll want to drain it down as much as possible. One misplaced pacu kick, and the tank wall will shatter on you. Take out any decor or heaters..... all that will just get in the way and possibly break. I'd also suggest putting towels around the floor next to the tank.
2) Once you get it in the net, get it wrapped TIGHT. The more it moves, the more of a chance to injure itself or you.
3) I assume you are moving it in water, so you'll want a cooler to do it in. They handle the abuse much more than anything else I've moved fish like this in. Make sure you secure the lid very well. I would fill the cooler with the water from the new tank it's going into.
4) Once you drive it to the house, net it again...use the same 'wrap tight' method you did in the first place.
5) Keep your fingers away from it's mouth. I've seen too many people 'donate' a finger to a pacu's diet. It's not fun at all.
1) Getting the fish out of the tank. You'll want to drain it down as much as possible. One misplaced pacu kick, and the tank wall will shatter on you. Take out any decor or heaters..... all that will just get in the way and possibly break. I'd also suggest putting towels around the floor next to the tank.
2) Once you get it in the net, get it wrapped TIGHT. The more it moves, the more of a chance to injure itself or you.
3) I assume you are moving it in water, so you'll want a cooler to do it in. They handle the abuse much more than anything else I've moved fish like this in. Make sure you secure the lid very well. I would fill the cooler with the water from the new tank it's going into.
4) Once you drive it to the house, net it again...use the same 'wrap tight' method you did in the first place.
5) Keep your fingers away from it's mouth. I've seen too many people 'donate' a finger to a pacu's diet. It's not fun at all.
Hello
I've done this in the past, and here's what works for me: Wrap a wet towel around the fish (It will become wet once submerged, naturally) and lift/lower the fish into a large plastic trash bag, tripled up, within a styro box or appropriately sized plastic container with water in it. Keeping the fish wrapped, but in the water, will help reduce (or stop) splashing. Cover, and transport, then lift the towel/fish into the new tank and release.
This is the ONLY method that will work effectively with such large fish with a MINIMAL amount of thrashing around and water scattering. I do this with my large lungfishes, and used to do the same with my large Cichlids when I had them.
In my personal opinion, a net can do a lot of damage to fins and scales because the fish can and will still thrash around within, and you don't really want to be squeezing the net too hard - you could end up injuring the fish as well. Then there is the doubled risk of releasing the fish from the net into the box, then netting again, then releasing again. Needless to say, most people don't even have nets that are large enough, either.
A towel also helps calm the fish due to the eyes being covered up as well.
Hope this helps.
I've done this in the past, and here's what works for me: Wrap a wet towel around the fish (It will become wet once submerged, naturally) and lift/lower the fish into a large plastic trash bag, tripled up, within a styro box or appropriately sized plastic container with water in it. Keeping the fish wrapped, but in the water, will help reduce (or stop) splashing. Cover, and transport, then lift the towel/fish into the new tank and release.
This is the ONLY method that will work effectively with such large fish with a MINIMAL amount of thrashing around and water scattering. I do this with my large lungfishes, and used to do the same with my large Cichlids when I had them.
In my personal opinion, a net can do a lot of damage to fins and scales because the fish can and will still thrash around within, and you don't really want to be squeezing the net too hard - you could end up injuring the fish as well. Then there is the doubled risk of releasing the fish from the net into the box, then netting again, then releasing again. Needless to say, most people don't even have nets that are large enough, either.
A towel also helps calm the fish due to the eyes being covered up as well.
Hope this helps.
Only other thing I would add is to drain some of the water in the tank the Paco is going into. Less chance of him getting water all over you, the walls and anything else outside the tank.
i am in louisiana and would like any pacu any size that need a home my pond is 5000 gal. looking forward to hearing
You could also use a cotton t-shirt for taking the fish out, but if your using a towel, make sure its a soft one, not rough and fluffy.
I would try and move the fish early morning so traffic is not in your way.
I would try and move the fish early morning so traffic is not in your way.