First let me say hi to all the members. This is my first time on this forum. About me, I currently live in Michigan. I have a 55 gal tank right now with 2 pacu, 2 bala shark, and 2 plecostomus. I bought my pacus last march, they were about the size of a half dollar. Now they are about a foot in length. I am buying a 135 gal tank next week, since my pacus have definitely outgrown the 55 gal. The 135 gal that I am buying is roughly 6 foot long, not sure how wide, but definitely more than 2 ft, and about 3-4 feet high. I saw a 220 gal at the store I was in today, but definitely cannot afford the 1800 price tag for the tank and stand, so I'm just going with the 135 (760 for stand and tank) + lights, heaters and filters additional. Before anyone jumps on my case about not knowing what I am doing with pacus or what I am getting myself into, suggest what I should do instead of criticizing. I am open to all suggestions in order to give my fish a nice long life. Hope all of you have a great day. And I'm trying to post some pics up too.
New To Site, My Tank Info, Open To Suggestions
- Thread starter b_radici
- Start date
The pacus will need an even bigger tank in the future, but you're doing great by getting them the 135 gal for now.
It might be cheaper to get them the biggest tank they will need now - 300 gal minimum really, assuming they are red bellied pacus. They can get to over 2 foot long
and if they hit full size, they won't be able to turn around properly in a 135 gal. You're really looking at a 12 foot tank and that'd only give a full grown red bellied pacu "6 steps" to swim before he has to turn around. If you have black pacu . . . good luck. These guys are almost twice as big as the red bellies.
Have you considered getting one made? Will probably be MUCH cheaper than getting an off the shelf tank and might even be cheaper than your 135 gal. Obviously, you might be limited on space in your home. Another option is a tropical pond (maybe in a basement?). Whatever happens, get them the biggest tank you can afford now and then see how it goes in the future. As you are finding out, these guys are monsters and need large, expensive tanks.
Good luck with them, mate. Let us know how you get on.
No idea, mate. Sorry. Guess you just gotta keep looking.
I'm not trying to be insensitive, but these fish are monsters. True monsters. That 300 gallon minimum is . . . a rock bottom, keeping them alive but not much more kinda minimum.
Have you thought about contacting local public aquariums and seeing if they have a suitable freshwater display they could be moved to?
Guess I'll go with the 135 for now, and then later when they grow a bit more, get something bigger. One step at a time
http
/s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac269/b_Radici/Fish/?action=view¤t=0115101530a.jpg
http/s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac269/b_Radici/Fish/?action=view¤t=0115101529a.jpg
http
/s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac269/b_Radici/Fish/?action=view¤t=0115101530a.jpghttp
/s906.photobucket.com/albums/ac269/b_Radici/Fish/?action=view¤t=0115101529a.jpgGuess I'll go with the 135 for now, and then later when they grow a bit more, get something bigger. One step at a time
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Beautiful fish!
Are those feeder goldfish? Pacu don't actually need live food, as they are on the herbivorous side of omnivores, and feeder goldfish are renowned for being full of parasites. Plus it's a pretty rough deal for the goldfish. Forgive me if I am mistaken, though.
I thought they were herbivores, and read plenty on them before I bought them, however, I've tried feeding them everything green, veggies, and the such, as well as plants. They show minimal interest. They have been eating feeders for several months now, along with frozen silversides. They also eat brine shrimp, krill and regular shrimp. They don't just eat them, they devour like they've been staving for weeks. As far as the goldfish, this is the first time I've given them golds, I've been buying the other feeders at the pet store and figured I would give them a shot. Never really heard about the parasite thing, but I could be wrong as well.
did some research on the internet, the golds are now out of my fishtank. Don't want to take any chance of getting my fish sick, hopefully the couple hours that they were in there and the 10 or so that were eaten wont do any lasting damage.
OldTanks
New Member
Welcome Aboard!
Very nice people here, where everyone is just like family.
Feel free to post your questions to the forums.
Very nice people here, where everyone is just like family.
Feel free to post your questions to the forums.
You should be fine. If you're worried, treat with an anti-internal parasite med but you shouldn't need to do anything until and unless symptoms show up.
Glad to hear you're not feeding goldfish anymore. It's a pretty rough deal for the poor goldfish and you don't want to risk your beautiful pacus!
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