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Does anyone own one these guys? I picked one up on Friday and finally got him eating guppies yesterday. He's currently in w/ a Red Emperess, a johanni , compressiceps, and a small german red peacock.

Just wondering if anyone does own a barracuda if it is possible to get them to accept pellets or frozen food.

Yellow Tail barracudas are saltwater, you might just have a normal barracuda. They grow extremely rapid and will most likely eat most of your fish in the tank. They usually attain 12 inchs.

It'll be better off in it's own tank, at least 90 gallons. Usually they will accept worms when they're small, and goes on to feeders and such when they are larger. Large insects are also accepted.

I believe the barracudas are actually part of the tetra family..not quite cichlid.

FW barracudas are indeed characins. As for tank size, I'm not sure, but my LFS has a pair in a 100 gallon. They reach approx. 9" long, and are relatively peaceful fish to anything which can't fit into their mouths. Which brings me to your stocking. For now, they seem okay, but, seeing as how most of your cichlids are relatively small and thin, they may become snacks in a matter of months, depending on how fast the barracuda grows. They claim to be hard to wean on to live foods, but the owner of my LFS claims he feeds them pieces of chopped shellfish, which they seem to do fine on.


Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 29-Sep-2004 00:13

My Emperess is 8" and the compressiceps is 6" and the peacock is 5" and the johanni is prob between 3-4" . The cuda is only 4" long. Right now he swims w/ the compressiceps around the tank. He doesnt leave his side, i'm guessing b/c they are similar in color and size.

I raise feeder mollies/guppies in their own tank right now and they're on a formula 1 pellet diet which has spirulina, garlic, and other good things in it. Last night I put the guppy before feeding time into a cup that had chopped clams in it. The cuda besides eating the guppy also took a few small pieces of the clam. So I guess i'm doing something right.

It's not like i can't take the cuda back if he starts making meals out of the cichlids but the plan is to stock the tank of cichlids around his size. He's just so cool to look at and one of my favs. right now.

And I think he is a yellowtail. He's got shades of yellow on his tail under the light and has a small thin yellow line going down his back right now. He also has shades of green for his color.

If he ever does make a go for your cichlids, though, be sure to have a back up tank for your malawis (or the cuda). Good luck, and way to get him to accept frozen foods .

Watchout for the johanni, in a tank at my LFS, three barracuddas killed 15 3 1/2 inch clown knifes in a day. Not eat, but ripped apart. If your johanni is similiar size, watchout.