My Pacu (only young)

[MonsterScot]

Hey folks Im new on here and this is my first post.

Here's some pics of my Red fin pacu;

Simon^

Again Simon

The two youngest (not got names yet just 'the twins')

Simon again

Group shot of the 3 of them with Bruno the polypterus senagalus getting in the way! And an oscar at the back.

Simon is about 7inches long and the twins are about 4.
They are currently in a tank that isnt big enough for them (not sure gallons but it's 3ft long to give you an idea) but they are having a 5foot x 2ft x 3ft tank being made for them by the LFS which I should be able to have up and ready by the start of next month.
They seem to eat most things that the others eat like pellets bits of fish (whitebait, lancefish), crickets, worms and sometimes grapes and nuts.

ATb folks

Jordan

 

[Satan's Goldfish]

Can't see the pics but nice purchase, pacu look great when small and will definately appreciate the 5fter!

What plans do you have for when they get bigger?

 

[MonsterScot]

That's odd they showed up on my screen?? hmm

Plans for them is ideally turn the 5fter into an amazon styled set up with the oscars, pleco, maybe a couple of peacock bass and get another arowana (last silver died) and my bichir (even though he's not amazonian lol) any suggestions?

Atb
Jordan

 

[Greez]

That's odd they showed up on my screen?? hmm

Plans for them is ideally turn the 5fter into an amazon styled set up with the oscars, pleco, maybe a couple of peacock bass and get another arowana (last silver died) and my bichir (even though he's not amazonian lol) any suggestions?

Atb
Jordan

I must be reading your post wrong but do you think your fitting 3 pacus, oscars, plecos, p-bass, a arowana and bichir in a 5 x 2 x 3 tank????
Pacus are known for getting 2 foot by themselves lol I can just see this blowing up in your face. I really hope I read this wrong and you plan on making a pond for those pacus or giving them away to someone who has a tank large enough to keep them. Or you sir are

 

[polish]

Correct, you'll need much larger than 5x3x2 for that stock.

 

[Satan's Goldfish]

Don't worry i'm in work and the system here won't let me see all picture formats for some stupid reason.

Unfortunately as great as that whole setup sounds a 5ft tank won't be big enough. Fine for the Oscars and Pleco and birchir.

Peacock bass, Silver Aro and Pacu get big. I have these fish in a 1000gal tropical pond now and i wouldn't want to even think about putting them back in my old 6x2x2 as they're just too big to fit.

I saw in one shop a poster once saying for a Pacu you ideally need a tank the size of the back of a Transit van (I'm not trying to scare you, they're great fish really!) So that's what you'll need to keep in the back of your mind.

 

[MonsterScot]

These fish are only a few inches long at the moment. Im moving them into the bigger tank and if needs be i'll upgrade. The P-bass was a suggestion i dont have any and the only other fish i have are the oscars a plec and the bichir I have other tanks but thats for other fish. What would you suggest tank size wise then???
Some nice first impressions of this site.....fs

 

[MonsterScot]

Thanks satans goldfish. I am comitted to these fish so I'll do what I have to but they wont hit 2 feet in a heart beat that will take time so until then I'll just start building up to it
Cheers

 

[polish]

with half way decent water quality and food, you can expect a pacu to reach around 16" in that first year. at 6-8" expect them to hit an alarmingly fast growth spurt. they will balloon up from that 6-8 to a whopping 16+ in just a month or two. you can LITERALLY see them grow from day to day. ive raised 5 pacu from the size of a quarter, and 1 from around 6" with 4 more growing out right now, so i speak from first hand experience.

besides their size, these guys will put down a TON of food. try looking to buy cichlid pellets in bulk to save money, and try feeding grapes and other veggies from the market for them.

try kensfish.com for good priced pellets. mine have been eating them for close to 2 years now i believe.

Here is a quote from another thread regarding growth rates.

 

[Satan's Goldfish]

I know, there's some good internet warriors here that would rather be insulting than try and help advise somebody new to these potentially huge fish. Sorry if mine comes across that way, it's not supposed to. Pacu are great fish with good personality and will give you years of entertainment.

Have a look in the DIY Projects and Ideas forum for ideas on how to go big! The cheapest easiest option is to get a metal framed Intex paddling pool if indoor pond is acceptable of tank.