My Pacu is going to die, please help!

[Swiftwater]

Feed him, then change water and put amquel in it detoxifies ammonia, then raise temp and add salt like everyone said, lower lighting a lot, and don't check on him too much or he'll get skittish, then check the next morning if hes feeling better keep doing the same, if hes getting worse test water again.

 

[Piscineidiot]

Wow, I guess I'm too late here. Why are people telling you to raise the temp when you have an ammonia reading?! Higher temps make ammonia more toxic and deplete oxygen (not good when he is having trouble breathing, already).

I agree with this. He needed to knock up the oxygen levels with some serious aeration, the fish was clearly asphyxiating and in rapidly decreasing health. The big water changes etc. would have helped too, but it really needed some O2 in there. It's a shame really...especially since he'd had it for 8 years.

 

[zennzzo]

Any word?

 

[evojoey]

Hope everythong turned out ok.

 

[VLDesign]

 

[CathyGo]

I could kill the idiot that sold him to me those 8 years ago who didn't tell me that these fish can grow to 25-28 inches full grown.

Not his problem. YOU bought the pet. YOU need to research it's needs before YOU bring it home.

That tank is way too small for that fish. Check the local craigslist for big tanks. The way the economy is going lots of people are putting large tanks up for sale at a very reduced price. I'm sure you can find your monster either a bigger home or a more suitable environment with somebody else. Aeration and filtration is critical until then.