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How big does A pacus get. Will one work in a fifty five gallon?

[span class="edited"][Edited by Lindy 2004-06-20 05:15][/span]

Max size of the Pacu is about 30 inches.
It could stay in a 55 gallon while its small but eventually you'll have to move it. A 55g is MINIMUM.

Mine needed out of my 55 gallon in less than a year, and it was maybe two inches when I got it.

Fun fish though, if they would stay smaller.

A pacu will not work in a 55g.
Pacus' will grow to 3 feet long and a foot wide. This will not work in a four foot tank.

Pacus are cyprinids?

Pacus' will grow to 3 feet long and a foot wide

cant imagine a fish that wide unless it's a shark...u wouldnt think of it when u c a pacu since it's so skinny when young...but then again, u wouldnt think it'd get to 3 ft long either when u c it in such a small tank at the fish store

Like said, Pacus shouldn't be kept in 55 gallon tanks. If you ever get a 1000 gallon it still might be too small!

Pacus should be relatively thick when young... The Piranhas and the Silver Dollars are skinny...

Pacus aren't cyprinids, they're characins.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

I know, I was just trying to make a point :-/ "points to forum title--cyprinid corner"

[span class="edited"][Edited by Klee 2004-06-05 13:52][/span]

I love it when someone asks about Pacus. You can almost set your watch by the time it takes Shini to come in and warn everyone off

Shini, how often have you had that "Oh no, not another Pacu thread" feeling?

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

As I have said, I have 2 Pacu, one 11" and the other just slightly smaller. The only reason I have them is because they were eating my brother's plants, so I took them in. They were the size of silver dollars in December '03. The irresponsible store clerk he purchased them from told him they were cichlids and would not get too big for his 35 gallon tank! I have seen these fish for sale in at least 3 other stores (Walmart being the biggest offender, saying that they only grow to 10"!) It is sad that these stores are so irresponsible; it is simply animal cruelty. I have heard that there is currently a Pacu living in a fish store that is 40 yrs old. I hate to imagine how many of these poor fish end up in local lakes and ponds. By the way, thanks Shini for responding.

What size tank you keep yours in douwannapacu?

ya shingami is a great fp member arguably the greatest!!! pacu need 1000 minimum mostly cause they need a skool !!!!!! that what mainly hurts they need a skool!!!!! also welcome to fp,
douwannapacu

I have a 35 gallon as well...I don't have any plants though and my brother's were so beautiful that it would have been a shame to let them eat the plants. So you can imagine that they are dying to get out, especially since it is a hex tank. Poor things swim around in circles, bumping into the sides and so forth. I am looking for a home for them now.

They are really cool fish, but they just don't belong in a tank. They are game fish in their native Brazil and are said to be big fighters. From watching them in my tank, I have no doubt as they often exhibit their power. They are very gentle and like to play with each other after they eat. I have smaller fish in with them (even neons at one time) but they are never aggressive towards any of them, even though the neons could have easily fit in their mouths.

What's really weird about them is how skiddish they are. If you make a sudden move near the tank or even sometimes just turning on the light will freak them out. But I can put my whole arm and even a net into the tank and they just rub up against me and are calm as can be. Anybody looking for a couple of nice Pacu?

Thanks for the welcome fish1


[span class="edited"][Edited by 2004-06-23 01:38][/span]

Doyouwannapacu, you could always look at my "DIY Indoor Ponds" thread in General Freshwater ... that should give your Pacus enough space

Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

sure anytime!(too bad i never got welcomed and now its too late)

In case anyone is interested, I am no longer torturing my Pacu in that little tank. My brother and I found a store that took them off my hands. It was pretty much a specialty store and the manager told me that they have a lot of pond hobbyists who shop there for large fish. Although my fish were bigger than any others in the store, they seemed happy to take them. When I left they were being acclimated into a large tank (about 250 gallons, maybe larger). Already written on the tank was "Large Pacu $24.99", but no Pacu were in the tank...guess that's why they were happy to take them