Pacu has a lot to offer to the right owner but they also have a few quirks and requirements that don’t make them a good match for everybody. In case you have a big aquarium or you are prepared to get one to keep your fish happy in their environment, read on. Even the two types of Pacu that are most commonly sold in pet stores, the Black Pacu and the Red-Bellied Pacu, will grow to this size. An adult Pacu can be over 30 inches long and will need to be kept in a pond or an enormous tank. However, the impressive size of these fishes makes them a good choice only for the experienced aquarists who can provide the care they require. Their fascinating behaviors make them a popular choice among aquaria enthusiasts. Pacus are also known to develop personalities as they grow older and can sometimes recognize their owners. Additionally, most of the similarities these two species share end in maturity, especially size-wise. One of the primary differences between the two is that the piranha’s teeth are triangular and razor sharp and the Pacu’s teeth are more square shaped and human-like.
However, while some species of Pacu do look like Piranhas, they are actually herbivores and an extremely peaceful species of fish. Pacus are a large family of freshwater fish related to the Piranha. Photo credit: Gregory Moine/Wikimedia Ltshears/Wikimedia Once spawning is complete, the male will also start attacking the female and she should be promptly removed from the breeding tank.īlack Shoulder Piranha, Red Bellied Piranha, Blacktail Piranha, Black Piranha, etc. Piranhas usually spawn on a peat substrate and the males are fiercely protective of their eggs. In addition to sufficient nutrition and healthy water conditions, regular water changes and a gradual increase in temperature is also believed to stimulate spawning. They also accept some frozen foods like chopped beef hear and will occasionally accept fresh vegetables.Īlthough commonly thought of as a schooling species of fish, research has shown that piranhas only school as a means of protection from larger species of fish that prey on them.īreeding piranha is extremely difficult in the home aquarium and requires an extremely large tank. Piranhas thrive on live foods and it is virtually impossible to get piranhas to accept most flake based foods. Most species are omnivores, but show a strong predilection towards meat. For this reason it is important to ensure that the aquarium has adequate filtration and also that water changes are carried out every week. Piranhas are heavy eaters and thus produce an extremely large amount of waste. Care should be taken when cleaning the aquarium as they can easily remove large chunks of flesh with a single bite. While they can often be tolerant of extremely large or extremely small tank mates, they can also attack easily when feeling threatened or starved. While some aquarists are known to have successfully raised piranha with other larger species of fish and sometimes smaller species like tetras and guppies, it is never a foolproof strategy.
When cramped for space, these fish can turn extremely jumpy and start attacking each other. Different species of piranha vary from 8-18 inches in length when fully grown and should be kept alone or in large groups of four or more in very large aquariums. Piranhas appreciate aquariums with heavy plant growth and ample hiding spaces. Although commonly thought of as a schooling species of fish, research has shown that piranhas only school as a means of protection from larger species of fish that prey on them.
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