pacu trouble

[tinnuelenath]

Hello,
Before I start, I am writing on behalf of my MOM who for some reason bought a Pacu for her 75 gallon tank. I bet all of you can guess where this is going.... For the record, she bought this fish a few years ago while I was away at college, so I was unaware and unable to intervene... She wants me to take it and put it in our 180g tank. I tried to tell her that even this is nowhere near a long term solution for this fish, not to mention the fact our arowana will probably not appreciate it. She wants to get rid of it some how, and I have no idea what to do. I know that pet stores and aquariums are bombarded with these fish getting returned for this same reason. I do not want to kill it, nor do I want to drop it somewhere and have someone else kill it, or have it die a terrible death stifled in the tank that it is in. I have read about people down south putting them in isolated backyard ponds. I know that I'm one in a thousand people asking this same question, but does anyone in this world want a pacu? It's not that big yet only about 6" long... Also, if anyone knows of any sort of petition or legislation in development to make these fish illegal for home aquariums please let me know.. I'd gladly add my signature.
-Kyra
ps. i also know that 180g is not a long term solution for our arowana. She's thrilled with her life right now, but in 2 years or so we will be purchasing a 300+g tank for her when we have a house.

 

[justonemoretank]

I'm confused.

The Pacu is a few years old and only six inches long?

Pacu grow to fourteen inches and more in a year. If this fish is only six inches long, there's something terribly wrong with it!

Anyway, you COULD build an outdoor pond, but it would have to be heated to 76 degrees or so year-round.

Also, I happen to disagree that these fish shouldn't be sold. I have 3 I've adopted, for this same reason, and I love them. However, individuals need to take personal responsibility for their actions. Yes, the LFS's should let them know. But, yes, they're buying the fish. Do a little research... let's not take personal responsibility out of the picture.

I know, because I bought an RTC at two inches who quickly grew much larger. I didn't know. I built him an indoor pond. He is wonderful. I felt it was my responsibility to provide for him, because I purchased him. So, I'm not just running my mouth about people buying fish. My fish is the success story of folks who do what they're supposed to do!

 

[tinnuelenath]

Thank you for the quick reply. I agree with you in the department of providing a home for the fish that you buy. I feel that my boyfriend and I break our bank accounts providing the best housing, food, filtration and lighting we can afford for all our fishes; because it is our choice to have them and our responsibility to keep them happy and healthy. Unfortunately my mom was not thinking that way, and I can't seem to convince her that she SHOULD take this responsibility. I know for a fact that they are not in the market for a larger tank, nor would they add a heater to their outdoor pond. I'd take the fish myself and put it in our 180, but I know it's not an ideal solution. (For the Pacu or for our guys). This is why I'm writing in hopes that someone has the space and could give it a good home. I don't like seeing all the returned fish at our LFS, especially all the oscars. As a matter of fact our oscar is a "rescue oscar". I'm happy to know that it has a great life now and eats hikari food sticks all the time rather than being dumped in a tiny pet store tank.

 

[justonemoretank]

Well, then, if you don't think she'll heat the pond, and isn't willing to buy a tank, maybe you could look into MFK's Pond Forum (there is an indoor pond thread). Some of these ponds were relatively cheap to build, and can house a Pacu for life, in only an Intex pool with some beefed-up filtration!

Also, if you'd like to try and give them away, you can try the Marketplace forums... you'd just do the title as "FREE--Pacu--wherever you are-- pick up only" or whatever. That way, you'll get the attention of those looking to acquire fish.

Also, I got one of the Pacu I adopted from Craigslist, so if you have an active CL in your area, or near you, you could post him on there.

I hope this helps. Also, try and make your mom keep them. I totally love the ones I have, and they're really worth the "trouble!"

 

[sostoudt]

well hopefully someone can help you
but as long as the aro and the pacu dont fight they sound like they would be ok in the 180 until you get the 300. they both sound pretty small. i believe you have or will have the capability to house it. whether you want to or not is probably another discussion for you and your mom.
not trying to be funny but pacu's are edible, so if you have to put it down it doesn't need to be a waste(feel i can recommend this to you as its your moms fish not yours, and it sounds like shes pushing it on you.).

 

[loganh83]

If your pacu is skiddish and prone to darting back and forth make sure your tank lid is tight. I lost an aro who jumped through a tank lid that didn't have enough weight on it. My pacu was very skiddish and spooked my aro often. I think this may have caused his deadly leap.

 

[IKeepPacu]

depending on where in CT you are, you could always find a way to bring him down to me if all else fails. Ive got a bigger set up for pacu that 99% of the other people who own them, and have the means to build an even larger set up when the time comes and my pacu start reaching the 3' mark

on the other hand, something sounds off here. unless your pacu's tank isnt being cleaned often enough, and has horrid water quality, i dont see how a pacu could only be 6" in several years. are you absolutely positive you have a pacu? you seem like you know enough to keep the water fairly clean, so im stumped on this one.

my largest pacu was a rescue. he was only 6" and around 2-3 years old when i took him in. problem is, he was in an unheated and unfiltered tank that never had any water changed, only topped off. And that guy still managed to grow to 6"