We have had "Chompy" for almost three years now - and as expected, she has become huge. She started out as a little baby at maybe 3-5 lbs when I brought her home. Currently she is inside with us in a 150 gallon tank. She watches everything and acts like out little watchdog saying "hi" to everyone who comes in and out. She is so friendly (likes to be petted and hand fed) and we want what is best for her. We have purchased a new home with a spring fed pond (100' x 100') that we want to move her to with us. So far the pond has good Ph and nitrates and nitrites and temperature and there are already several large carp and red eared sliders living in it. The move will take 8 hours. We have secured a 55gallon container for her to travel in. What would be the best way to move her? I assume and have gotten a power inverter so we can run airation for her and our other fish during the trip. Would it be wise to sedate her? If so what would you suggest and how much? I want to do what is best for her and really feel she will love being in the new pond, but I don't want the move to stress her so much that she doesn't make it to her new home. Please help with any suggestions. Thank you so much.
Need help on how to move a 25lb+ red bellied pacu to her new home
- Thread starter imissthesun
- Start date
Well first off, is this pond heated? Chompy won't last long when the water gets cold. You can sedate fish with I believe clove oil but don't take my word for it. Its not too hard if you get the dose right and a fish that big could do some serious damage if it starts flailing. It might be your best bet.
We will be monitoring the pond to see if we need to add heaters, although it is very deep. If the water gets cold we are going to add multiple pond heaters. We have used pimafix with clove oil in it to sedate fish before; I just have no idea how much would be required to use on a fish this size. I do know that too much clove oil can be used to euthanize fish. This is what I am worried about - getting enough to relax her, but not so much it causes permanent damage or death 
Good luck ! I am jealous...I have a very personable pacu..all28" of her that I would love to have a monster aquarium for.
Uh, good luck with heating a 100' x 100' spring-fed pond and not going bankrupt.
Let's suppose that the pond is an average of 6' deep: You're looking at heating roughly 450,000 gallons of water to tropical temperatures year-round. A pond of that size is going to take a decent number of high-powered heaters, e.g. a few swimming pool heaters, to maintain the appropriate temperatures in the dead of winter when the air temperature could be below freezing. The fact that it's spring-fed makes it all the harder to maintain the temperature since water will be constantly be flowing in from underground.
Personally, I would either start looking for/building a larger aquarium for your beloved pacu or find a new home for it; either the pacu or your bank account (but not both) will survive the winter if you try to keep the pacu in that pond over the winter and if you try to heat said pond to the appropriate temperatures. I'm not trying to be kill-joy or anything; I'm just trying to explain that this is a pretty big endeavor for keeping a single large fish and there are other more economical options out there.
Let's suppose that the pond is an average of 6' deep: You're looking at heating roughly 450,000 gallons of water to tropical temperatures year-round. A pond of that size is going to take a decent number of high-powered heaters, e.g. a few swimming pool heaters, to maintain the appropriate temperatures in the dead of winter when the air temperature could be below freezing. The fact that it's spring-fed makes it all the harder to maintain the temperature since water will be constantly be flowing in from underground.
Personally, I would either start looking for/building a larger aquarium for your beloved pacu or find a new home for it; either the pacu or your bank account (but not both) will survive the winter if you try to keep the pacu in that pond over the winter and if you try to heat said pond to the appropriate temperatures. I'm not trying to be kill-joy or anything; I'm just trying to explain that this is a pretty big endeavor for keeping a single large fish and there are other more economical options out there.
I would not sedate her. As long as you have good water for her moving her should not really be difficult. But I would keep a battery operated pump just for insurance.
you bought the fish when it was 3-5 lbs and you call it a baby? a 3-5lbs pacu must be more than a foot long!