Red Belly Pacu - Growth, Feeding, Petting and Ultimate Fate! (Piaractus brachypomus)
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- Опубліковано 19 жов 2024
- Hello everyone!
It’s Pierre and welcome back. In today’s video I’d like to tell you about what ultimately happened to my red belly pacu. By the way, all the footage in this video is of the same fish. As always, I will only give you insight and information on fish that I've kept personally and remember that I am still learning every day.
Red Belly Pacu (Piaractus Brachypomus)
Temp: 72-85F
pH: 6.2 - 7.8
Temperament: Peaceful but may lovingly prey on smaller fish
Diet: Herbivorous but eats anything
Size: Massive (up to 36")
Care level: Advanced
Minimum Tank Size: 400 gallons
Schooling: Yes
I bought the Red Belly Pacu sometime in early 2017 as a 3 inch juvenile from petco for about $7. As you can see in this timeline, it grew very quickly in the last few years.
In fact, it would have grown much faster if I overfed it, which is easy to do given how much these fish can eat. It isn’t surprising that they are considered good eating and are often aquacultured for this purpose. Red Belly Pacu fish grow to 36" maximum size and can live over 20 years. They truly are a long-term commitment.
Red Belly Pacu are very easy to keep as they tolerate pretty much any tropical water conditions that the average fishkeeper can provide and are not picky eaters at all.
They are generally peaceful and are cheap, not to mention beautifully colored especially when young! They do become a duller, plain silver/black color when mature and their eyes seem to migrate lower down the sides of their head which makes them look a bit like Quasimodo but for many (including me) it adds to their hog-nosed, piggy looks which make them even more adorable.
Part of their appeal also is that they can become very docile and eventually can be fed by hand and even petted! I do recommend caution if you try this as they have strong teeth and a powerful bite.
They create a lot of waste, and to keep my Red Belly Pacu’s water clean I actually kept him alone in a 5-foot 120 gallon aquarium that was filtered with a planted tank. It was a big fish in a total of 195 gallons of water, but that only help him for so long as you can see.
As I’ve mentioned before, Red Belly Pacus are one of the species of fish that I think should NOT be sold by pet stores. They just grow too big and too fast for 99% of the people who buy them. Unfortunately they often wind up being released into ponds and streams by people who don’t know what else to do with them. You’ll see many videos on UA-cam about how people have huge pacus that need to be rescued.
So what happened to my Red Belly Pacu? Well, I actually rehomed him. I was lucky to have found someone who took my Red Belly Pacu in who plans to put it in a 500 gallon aquarium in the future. Last I heard he is doing really well with other large monster fish and has quickly become his new owners favorite.
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#Pacu #TropicalFish #Aquarium
underrated fish
Thanks for taking care of the fish!
What a beauty ! Thanks for taking care of him and making this video!❤ 🐠
Thank you!
I was wanting one since piranhas are illegal in my state, but I’ll have to get way bigger than my 40 gallon! Your pacu looks great!
They'll grow really fast too...
Me and my dad bought a baby red belly pacu from petco today for around $6. We are also getting a pool pond in 2 weeks for it and my other monster fish. It is 13x7x32.
Wow that sounds amazing! I wish I could get a pond. It’s just too cold where I live without heating it.
20 years ago I lived in Sutherlin OR. A resident there had a huge plate glass window and had placed aquariums floor to ceiling with his Pacu’s against the glass. It was a delight to visit his front porch.
Later I had heard that the state had confiscated his fish charging him that they were Piranha’s. the University was put in care, of which they knew very little and several died. I think with some research his whole story could come to light.
Whaaaat?! That’s crazy? You’d think the DFW would know the difference!
Oh no. My 5 year old and I have a little Pacu just like that and we're already noticing how fast it's growing. Yikes.
Bruh, I recommend taking it back to the store if you can, while you can. Unless you have a 400 gallon tank for it or an outdoor pond! Peace
@@TheFishBeast would a 7x2x2 be enough for 2 years and live with 2 bichirs giant gourami and 3 8" cichlids cause the 10x4ft sure will but that will be done in a while. someone near me has 2 10" ones in his 30g and i want to rescue them cause he cant care for them and fish stores dont accept them
@@superdragon3060 bro, honestly don’t pick it up unless you have the 10 x 4. They are super cheap and easy to find and grow really fast to over 12” within 1 year.
Very important video...👍👍👍
Mine died because he couldnt move and he looked so sad. My tank was not even near a good size and the big eyes made him seem so sad.
Dang... Sorry to hear that bro. 😥
i like your pacu
Thank you!
I bought 3 babies..... I had to make a pond with my dad, they got really big out of nowhere
I wish I had a pond so I could’ve kept him!
@@TheFishBeast I’m getting a pacu. Me and Papa’s pool came today and the dimensions are: 11’x6x32. Can’t wait.
@@stillman7118 Wow that should be amazing! Post a vid please! Get more than one, they display their best behavior in a school. Think of them as giant tetras!
@@TheFishBeast oh, nice!
Great video. I love pacu but I have to build a big plywood tank first.
Make it as big as possible!
I have 40 plus of red bellied pacu in my back pond in Surin NE Thailand I put them in the size of an English 10 p piece about 3 years ago there now over 6 kilos and a bloody nuisance as I can’t get them out as there biting through line and thick braid and there very elusive shy to catch 😮
Wow! Amazing! Are they pets, food or both? Must be cool to see them schooling.
Pacu's are cute fish ^^
@@daedric2684 yes they are! 😊
They should be sold in pet stores for people who can keep them like me I have one
You’re right! What size tank do you have it in? They really have to educate people who buy these!
Looks delish
It is apparently very yummy
My pacus usually expands their mouth from time to time, is it usual for them to do that or are they not getting enough oxygen? Hope you can help me out sir!
Do they do it at the surface? How long have you had them and what size tank do you have them in? Let me know so I can help bro
Nice vlog my friend very informative i like it ..
Salamat!
Pacu are an edible fish, there eaten were they come from and I’ve eaten a few my self . Good good eatting.
That’s what I hear!
А в 450 литрах три рыбы вырастут примерно на сколько?
When I get my own house I want to get an Indoor pond. I would like to get one of these fish for it.
Perfect! Someone on UA-cam is using an Intex pool or something similar. It works!
Did you know that pacus are related to piranhas, only they are much more friendly and they are a complete vegetarian fish species! And you can pet them.
Yes! They are actually serrasalmid characins (like tetras) just like piranhas but vegetarian! And in this video I also pet my Pacu! Happy fishkeeping!
They're not vegetarian, I fed mine feeder fish and he really loved them.
Right, they are more omnivorous but do better on a veg diet
Animal planet said some are carnivorous
@@danielletracyannThey're omnivores. Some species do eat meat, but not entirely an all-meat diet as they also love fruits, seeds and nuts.
Time for some Wal-Mart pools or aquaculture tanks.. XdD.
For real right? I have to try this fish grilled at some point.
@@TheFishBeast Haha. Yeah.. If you choose.. I just keep going bigger anyway..
My tiger oscar used to jump out of the water to grab stew beef from my hand.
I had a Rock Bass in NY that learned the same trick from the oscar. Caught him on hook and line...
To go big:
There are even ways to mount clear windows on plastic barrels and large plastic tanks - for cheap... Might be for the garage, not in your house in case of leaks... Lol.
@@bubblerings Perfect! the garage is where all my tanks are already!
How many month did it take to grow I need to grow mine
They grow very fast, up to 1 inch a month if they are given enough space, food and clean water
Oh thx for the information
Are they safe with other fish?
Yes as long as the other fish is not small and slow enough to be eaten.
how long do pacus usually live?
There is someone on UA-cam who had one in a 75 gallon tank for over 40 years!
@@TheFishBeastThat seems like a small tank for a 40 year old pacu.😢
@@jeremyfrost2636 it really is! They are so tough (like goldfish) that they can survive in conditions like that. That fish was in some guy’s pet store and spent its entire life in the tank. The dude fed him goldfish too 😭
Can pacu live around 90 gallon to 150 gallon tank?
For about 1-2 years by itself might be ok. But please… don’t get a pacu unless you can house it for its entire life (up to 30+ years)
What type of nuts you recommend to feed?
Hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, etc.
@@TheFishBeast ok thanks
I dont have a huge budget or anything but pacu is cheap here like below 1 dollar(from India) and i can afford for a small fishtank
Is it ok like 1 feet fishtank or something?
Nope. Get some guppies… Watch the video, pacu get big very fast. If you’re in India just do an outdoor pond!
Bro yesterday I bought a pacu I have a doubt what is the food of pacu. And I bought some goldfish for pacu and he is not eating goldfish plzz rply broo
They’re pretty easy to feed! Try using a high quality vegetable-based pellet or wafer. You can feed banana, nuts, etc. I don’t recommend feeder fish like goldfish, etc in general due to chance of disease. Hope you have a huge tank for it!
@@TheFishBeast thanks s bro
Do they bite?
Not due to aggression, just hunger
If they think you're being mean to them they'll defend themselves. There's a video on here of one really messing up Jeremy Wade's finger in an episode of River Monsters, but he was kind of manhandling it.
he said "generally peaceful" , yeah tell that to my other pacu, he got comped on and eaten
Dang. Yeah riding on a bike is generally safe but there is still a chance you could wipe out and die
I just wanna know if it tastes good😂🎉😋
Legend says that it is delicious grilled with lemon slices! 😂
My pacu always bites my filter tube. 😭 And doesnt like to see light. I dont know why
Haha that’s crazy! They do get spooked pretty easily
Same
I’m a pacu
Hello Pacu!
Well, if one of my favorite fish is on UA-cam I'm damn well gonna subscribe.
@@jeremyfrost2636 thanks bro! Appreciate it.
From 3 inch to 10 in 1 year is pretty slow
Mine grew from 1.5 inches to 10 in around 6 months
Yeah, I was super careful not to overfeed it and may have stunted it a little. 😬
For piranha which food gives
Fish meat I guess?
paano mgpa etlog ng red pako?
Kailangan sa fish pond cguro, they are hard to sex. So mas mabuti kung may mga at least isang dosena ka sa pond, tapos sila na bahala. usually after umulan or something mangingitlog yan. Very easy to breed.
Your Red belly pacu turned into black color when he matured ?
Yes their color fades as they mature, only a small and faint area of red remains in the chest
What kind of food did you feed for pacu fish?
Veggie wafers, Brazil nuts, worms, broccoli, carrot, pellets, etc
This is a female I believe.
How can you tell?
@@TheFishBeast Round small fin is female,triangular is male
Oooh thanks! That is good to know@@ajnicks3251
bawal
Ini adalah ikan pacu, berbeda dari bawal
@@TheFishBeast whats the defference?
@@burhanudinrr different species. Pacu is Piaractus brachypomus (freshwater fish from South America), bawal is Brama brama (a saltwater fish) - both delicious 🤤
@@TheFishBeast how about tambaqui🤔
Today I bought 5 of them . The pet shop man said they are PIRAHNA'S 🥲 . I was cheated
Oh no! Did you take them back to the store?
I'm gonna feed my juvenile pacu to my bichir (2.5 foot dragon fish). I don't think my tank can sustain this monster