Pacus Go Crazy?

[coryhessel]

I have 3 small red belly pacus in a tank. I am aware of their growth, etc. I just got them recently, and they all seem to stay in one corner of the tank. Also, if I just turn on the lightswitch or something subtle they go ape #### and panic. they start swimming around really fast flailing and crashing into stuff hard. is this normal? also, it doesnt seem like they want to attack the feeder fish i got at all

 

[Matty P]

Try and light up the room as much as you can (open all the curtains/blinds, turn on all the lights) before you turn the aquarium lights on so that the fish get used to the light. Or if you have one you could use a dimmer and raise the level of light slowly before having them on full.

Hope this helps

 

[WILDER]

How many gallons is the tank.
Water stats would be good in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
How long have you had the fish.
Some fish don't like the lights on when first arrived, best to gradually build the light time up.

I would feed feeder fish due to desease.
[URL="http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygocentrus_nattereri"]http/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pygocentrus_nattereri[/URL]

 

[CFC]

I have 3 small red belly pacus in a tank. I am aware of their growth, etc. I just got them recently, and they all seem to stay in one corner of the tank. Also, if I just turn on the lightswitch or something subtle they go ape #### and panic. they start swimming around really fast flailing and crashing into stuff hard. is this normal? also, it doesnt seem like they want to attack the feeder fish i got at all

Feeder fish?! Pacu are vegetarian, i'm not suprised they dont want to eat the feeder fish Try them with some lettuce or water cress.

The behaviour you describe is pretty normal for pacus, they dont call them tankbusters just because they are big, when these guys are 18" they will go straight through the side of a tank when they get spooked.

 

[fry_lover]

I have 3 small red belly pacus in a tank. I am aware of their growth, etc. I just got them recently, and they all seem to stay in one corner of the tank. Also, if I just turn on the lightswitch or something subtle they go ape #### and panic. they start swimming around really fast flailing and crashing into stuff hard. is this normal? also, it doesnt seem like they want to attack the feeder fish i got at all

Have you thought about trying feeder vegetables or, and seeing if they attack the feeder veg?

 

[cowbla1]

They are in too small of a tank they do that in tanks that aren't big enough

 

[coryhessel]

the feeder fish numbers have plummeted.. from 16 to 6 in 4 days.... there's also a small oscar in the tnak which is also cutting their numbers. i put lettuce in the tank, but i havent seen them try to make one attempt for it

also, there's a fish store nearby that has pirahna. i know pirahna are related to pacu, but can they coexist in the tank? from what i've read, the pacus can defend themselves pretty well.

 

[poopsydrew]

the feeder fish numbers have plummeted.. from 16 to 6 in 4 days.... there's also a small oscar in the tnak which is also cutting their numbers. i put lettuce in the tank, but i havent seen them try to make one attempt for it

also, there's a fish store nearby that has pirahna. i know pirahna are related to pacu, but can they coexist in the tank? from what i've read, the pacus can defend themselves pretty well.

What do you plan to do with the pacu when they outgrow your tank? (well more than they already have, im assuming unless you have one huge tank, then i would love to see pics.)

Could you please answer wilders questions too.

Most likely the pirhana will kill and harass them to death, pirahanas like pacus are shoaling fish and need to be in groups. Plus with your pacus, oscar and the feeder fish, more fish is the last thing your tank needs.

You are aware also as CFC says they are very capable of busting through glass, especially when they get larger and are kept in less than adequate conditions (pretty much any fish tank).

Another reason why these fish shouldnt be in the trade in the first place.

Drew

 

[Gatorbait]

the feeder fish numbers have plummeted.. from 16 to 6 in 4 days.... there's also a small oscar in the tnak which is also cutting their numbers. i put lettuce in the tank, but i havent seen them try to make one attempt for it

also, there's a fish store nearby that has pirahna. i know pirahna are related to pacu, but can they coexist in the tank? from what i've read, the pacus can defend themselves pretty well.

No, pacu's cannot defend themselves very well against piranhas. In fact, they can't defend themselves at all. They don't have the teeth for it. When smaller they look like red belly piranhas to fool the piranhas into believing they CAN defend themselves so they better leave them alone but once they show any sign of stress, ill-health or begin their color change the piranhas can literally kill it in mere seconds without any problems.

Not sure of the size of your fish or tank but another reason they go crazy like that may be your water parameters are bad.

 

[WILDER]

Sounds awful poor thing.