So I was browsing through my LFS yesterday to see what had come in since my last visit (lucky for me they carry cat litter and whatever odds and ends I needed for my other animals, so I visit quite often!) Anyway, I'm browsing their stock when what should appear before my eyes.. but PACUS! I couldn't believe it. They have never ever carried any monsters. The closest shop that does is about an hour and a half away from me - I usually only go there when I absolutely have to, thanks to the obscene gas prices.
So here I am, overcome with joy that I can finally get my first monsters!!
I ring the bell for 'fish assistance' and wait impatiently. 
Then this kid comes bumbling over. He looks to be about 16, and asks me if I want fish. Mind you, I just pressed the button that buzzes in the back room to tell him that someone wants fish. And I was the only person in the store. So I tell the rocket scientist yes, give me two pacus. "Two what??" he asks, scanning every other tank besides the one I'm pointing at. Once he gets his act together, he starts trying to slam them into a corner and into his little net. Meanwhile, I'm like "Careful! Don't kill them!.. just sneak up on them. Be gentle! God!" So finally I just take the net and gently scoop two little pacus out myself. I lecure the noob about how you can't just smack 'em with the net and expect them to jump right in. What a genius, really.
I hope the rest of the pacus in the tank survive. Poor little buggers.
So after my adventure at the LFS, I head home with my new RBP babies, resisting the urge to name them (it's bad luck!! i swear!!). I moved them in with my gold severum, rainbow shark, nicaraguan cichlid, and silver dollars. Sure enough, my silver dollars took to them immediately and it's a happy tank still. I'm hoping that by putting them with my calm, trusting fish they too will become calm and trusting. I am going to try my very best to prevent them from being tankbusters down the road. I usually hand-feed bloodworms so that all my fishies get super excited when I get near the tank. Hehe.
Any and all suggestions from anyone who has or had pacus is welcome, and much appreciated!! They're as cute as a button - and about the size of one too! - for right now, but I know they'll quickly become monsters and I need to be as prepared as I can be. There's only so many books and articles I can read.. it's the first-hand experiences that really help!
Right now, they're sharing the 75g with my other babies but I know that won't last long. I was thinking of getting a used 180g as the next step.. or should I just bite the bullet and go straight for the 300? How fast do they really grow, in your experience? What do you recommend?
Like I said, any and all advice is appreciated. I'm sure I'll be posting a million times in the next few weeks.. I feel like a new mom! I'll be posting pictures soon too!
So here I am, overcome with joy that I can finally get my first monsters!!
I ring the bell for 'fish assistance' and wait impatiently. Then this kid comes bumbling over. He looks to be about 16, and asks me if I want fish. Mind you, I just pressed the button that buzzes in the back room to tell him that someone wants fish. And I was the only person in the store. So I tell the rocket scientist yes, give me two pacus. "Two what??" he asks, scanning every other tank besides the one I'm pointing at. Once he gets his act together, he starts trying to slam them into a corner and into his little net. Meanwhile, I'm like "Careful! Don't kill them!.. just sneak up on them. Be gentle! God!" So finally I just take the net and gently scoop two little pacus out myself. I lecure the noob about how you can't just smack 'em with the net and expect them to jump right in. What a genius, really.
I hope the rest of the pacus in the tank survive. Poor little buggers. So after my adventure at the LFS, I head home with my new RBP babies, resisting the urge to name them (it's bad luck!! i swear!!). I moved them in with my gold severum, rainbow shark, nicaraguan cichlid, and silver dollars. Sure enough, my silver dollars took to them immediately and it's a happy tank still. I'm hoping that by putting them with my calm, trusting fish they too will become calm and trusting. I am going to try my very best to prevent them from being tankbusters down the road. I usually hand-feed bloodworms so that all my fishies get super excited when I get near the tank. Hehe.
Any and all suggestions from anyone who has or had pacus is welcome, and much appreciated!! They're as cute as a button - and about the size of one too! - for right now, but I know they'll quickly become monsters and I need to be as prepared as I can be. There's only so many books and articles I can read.. it's the first-hand experiences that really help!
Right now, they're sharing the 75g with my other babies but I know that won't last long. I was thinking of getting a used 180g as the next step.. or should I just bite the bullet and go straight for the 300? How fast do they really grow, in your experience? What do you recommend?
Like I said, any and all advice is appreciated. I'm sure I'll be posting a million times in the next few weeks.. I feel like a new mom! I'll be posting pictures soon too!
Where would I find that information?
