Moving pacu

[kdrun76]

I need to catch and move 3 pacu. They are 10+ years old, about 25" long. They are going temporarily into a swimming pool in the back yard while I do some major work (resealing seams) on their tank.

A large tupperware will be too heavy to lift full of water, but if I drill holes in it to hold only a few inches I could lift that and run it out to the pool.

A fishing net will tear up their fins and make them so violent I fear that not only would I get hurt, they might break the glass of the tank.

A laundry basket would lift out of the tank easy, but it just doesn't seem like a good plan.

A pillow case might be a good alternative to a fishing net, and easier to control the flopping of a pissed off 20+ lb pacu.

How do you catch and move fish this big and powerful?

 

[kno4te]

Seen it done with pillow cases and low water levels.

 

[Matteus]

Go on YouTube and look up predatory fins moving giant pacu video. He uses a moving blanket with low water. You might be able to slip it under them and scoop them up, and just let water seep out the sides. Just wear a bathing suit lol.

 

[Jexnell]

In Big Riches videos out of Ohio fish rescue you can see them using blankets as well

 

[kdrun76]

Go on YouTube and look up predatory fins moving giant pacu video. He uses a moving blanket with low water.

Found it! He used a matress mover. Very helpful. Thank you.

 

[Matteus]

Found it! He used a matress mover. Very helpful. Thank you.

Np. I (and many others) would greatly appreciate it if you are able to document this process and post about it. I love pacu, probably one of my fave fish since childhood.

 

[kdrun76]

Matteus, can do. I have a lot going on with them right now. They are currently in a 450 gallon tank (540 gallon system as it has about 90 gallons of filtration) that is woefully too small. That tank has been in my house 9 years and the silicone seams are starting to look sketchy. I just had a baby and was planning to move in the next 1-2 years so that the baby doesn't have to sleep in the dining room for ever. Short term: I need to reseal the 450 gallon tank BEFORE it starts to leak. Long term: I need to build them a new tank. I had originally planned to wait to build the new tank until I was in a new house, but now I am not sure of how much longer I will be in this house. Hubby seems to think it may be 3-5 years rather than 1-2. The pacu can't stay in that 450 gallon tank another 3-5 years. I considered just building the new tank now and not bothering to reseal the 450 at all, but I am a teacher and I go back to school in 2 weeks. I don't think I can build a tank that fast. I will reseal for now and plan a build for next summer whether we are moving or not.

 

[Matteus]

Matteus, can do. I have a lot going on with them right now. They are currently in a 450 gallon tank (540 gallon system as it has about 90 gallons of filtration) that is woefully too small. That tank has been in my house 9 years and the silicone seams are starting to look sketchy. I just had a baby and was planning to move in the next 1-2 years so that the baby doesn't have to sleep in the dining room for ever. Short term: I need to reseal the 450 gallon tank BEFORE it starts to leak. Long term: I need to build them a new tank. I had originally planned to wait to build the new tank until I was in a new house, but now I am not sure of how much longer I will be in this house. Hubby seems to think it may be 3-5 years rather than 1-2. The pacu can't stay in that 450 gallon tank another 3-5 years. I considered just building the new tank now and not bothering to reseal the 450 at all, but I am a teacher and I go back to school in 2 weeks. I don't think I can build a tank that fast. I will reseal for now and plan a build for next summer whether we are moving or not.

Sounds like an adventure. I can understand, I am also trying to plan my fish keeping around a move in the near future.

 

[kdrun76]

Its done. They are bigger than I thought. I have video of 2 of the three getting caught. Those fish are at least 30" and 25-30lbs. I may need to build the new tank now after all. I'll get the pics and videos loaded. I used a bed sheet to do it.

 

[kdrun76]