Pacu
Quick Stats
| Size | 3 foot (92cm) |
|---|---|
| Tank | 200 litres + when small. 4000 litres for adult |
| Swimming Area | Bottom, middle |
| Ph | 6.5 to 7.0 |
| Temperature | 72ºF to 82ºF (22-28°C) |
| Food | Not fussy. Flakes, pellets, veggies and will also accept live. |
Common Name:
Red Bellied Pacu, Pacu
Distribution:
Brazil, South America.
Colouration:
Similar in colour to the Red Bellied Piranha and often mistaken for them. The have the same red belly with a silver colour through out the rest of the body. As juvenilles the have spots but lose these as they grow. The red belly also disappears as adults, to leave a grey colour.
Lifespan:
20 years +
Maintenance:
10 to 20% weekly water changes. They grow fast so my recommendation would be to start out in a 75+ to 300 gallon. If you start out in a smaller tank you will be upgrading every few months. In the wild, they interact and play with each other, indicating they are indeed a schooling fish. However, as they mature, many varieties of Pacu become more solitary and no longer need same-species companionship. Pacu can, like most fish, be kept with fish with similar care requirements and temperament. This generally means fish that are going to get large and that are neither too aggressive nor too timid, as the Pacu will occasionally nip fins. Pacu's are known for their skittish nature. Any fast movement or vibration will cause a panic like reaction from the Pacu, sometimes resulting in banging into the glass, heater or decor. Pacu's are known also as "tank busters". At a young age, Pacu's look almost identical to their cousin, the Piranha. The easiest way to tell the difference is that a piranha's lower jaw will jut out much more then that of a pacu's. As the Pacu grows, the differences will become much more obvious. He will become deep bellied and wider. Pacu's do and will eat small fish without hesitation.
Feeding:
Pacu's are reported to be herbivores but are in fact omnivorous (eats anything). Food such as Cichlid pellets and Spirulina Pellets are very good foods to keep a healthy Pacu. They need a balanced diet so giving them veggies such as romaine lettuce, peas, carrots, celery, zucchini and fruit such as nectarines, apples, grapes are recommended in their diet. Algae wafers are a favorite also. They will also eat fish.
Substrate:
Not critical.
Tank Decor:
The tank should be very large with live or plastic plants and also lots of swimming areas, the Pacu is an active fish which will cover all areas of the tank. Try to place hiding places for them as well. Placing plants or other pieces of decor at either end of the tank should deter them from darting through the side of the tank when startled. Driftwood is also a good addition to the tank as it buffers the pH to replicate their natural conditions.
Filtration:
Filtration is very important as these fish are messy eaters and do produce a lot of waste. It is also an idea to add a powerhead to create a current for them to swim in.
Biotype:
Young stay in Black waters of flood plains until maturity, adults in open water and flooded forests.
Breeding:
Sexing -The male's red coloration is much brighter than the females, and his dorsal fin comes more to a point. Little (or nothing) is known of their breeding habits, due to the large size and space requirements.