View Full Version : Barracuda
wcolwell88
07-31-2007, 9:56 PM
I've read a lot about how hard it is to keep sharks. I originally wanted to get a big tank and a shark. Last time I was at the not so local fish store, I noticed that they sell Barracudas. They are about 4" long for $60. Does anyone here know the requirements for these. I assume they are probably similar to sharks because they are also large predatory fish. I probably won't buy one because I want a peaceful tank, but I wanted to know yalls opinion on them.
Grins
07-31-2007, 10:19 PM
If you want peaceful fish you're looking in the wrong direction if being drawn to sharks and barracudas. ;-)
Andrew_Murphy
07-31-2007, 10:46 PM
How large is your tank?
Amphiprion
07-31-2007, 11:32 PM
The only species commonly available is Sphyraena barracuda--the great barracuda, which tops out at a bit over 6.5'. Not being rude, but you nor your LFS have any prayer of keeping this fish for any amount of time. They are extremely active hunters (fascinating to watch, in fact), but a waste to buy and import (shame on the LFS). Most public aquaria even shy away from them. Please do the right thing and NOT buy any of them to discourage the ill-informed LFS from getting them again.
Mgamer20o0
07-31-2007, 11:50 PM
even a better to catch...... very active fish i dont think you have the tank space needed for them.
Ursula
08-01-2007, 12:03 AM
Having seen and been followed by an over 4' barracuda in the wild, no way.
I'm still have nightmares about that guy :headshake2:
Grins
08-01-2007, 12:05 AM
It followed you?!!!
Mgamer20o0
08-01-2007, 12:07 AM
Having seen and been followed by an over 4' barracuda in the wild, no way.
I'm still have nightmares about that guy :headshake2:
i would have got my knife out.... they good eating.....
Ursula
08-01-2007, 12:18 AM
It followed you?!!!
Yep.
We lived in St Croix, just moved there, and went snorkling. I told my dad and brother (I was 10 at the time) that I saw something fast, long, and silver flash by me. They laughed and told me I was being a sissy-girl.
We were in about 12 feet of water when he showed himself. He would eyeball you, then sink, eyeball you, then sink. I will never, ever, get over that *&^% fish. My dad still swears that I "walked on water" when I swam back to shore. I'm nervous about swimming in the ocean, to this day. :(
BTW: My dad and brother now also have respect for barracudas :) We found out later that the locals had even named him: "Charlie." He was a wise, enormous, very scary fish...
Tikidude
08-01-2007, 9:19 AM
When we went snorkeling in Belize, they advised that all jewelry be removed as the Baracuda in the water would be attracted to the sparkle. We have a picture of my mother-in-law waving at the camera and you can see a BIG baracuda swimming behind her. She didn't even know it was there until the pics were developed.
You going to need pretty big house for a tank big enough for a barracuda!:rofl:
Riverserver
08-01-2007, 9:45 AM
Yeah they would need a pretty big tank. But how cool would that be, then you could do stuff like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6FtI2sbTMs
Subliminal
08-01-2007, 10:25 AM
On a total tangent, nice avatar OP. You obviously keep it gangsta.
On a total tangent, nice avatar OP. You obviously keep it gangsta.
lean like a cholo...
Mgamer20o0
08-01-2007, 1:20 PM
When we went snorkeling in Belize, they advised that all jewelry be removed as the Baracuda in the water would be attracted to the sparkle. We have a picture of my mother-in-law waving at the camera and you can see a BIG baracuda swimming behind her. She didn't even know it was there until the pics were developed.
all those hours with a jig..... i didnt know i could jump in with something flashy and they come right to me..... i would have had my bag full in no time.....
Squawkbert
08-01-2007, 1:36 PM
Except for being large & toothy, they're nothing like sharks, and they're not good eating beyond 3-4'.
I'm not sure abt the flashy thing... may be them too, but Wahoo really go for bling bait.
Yep.
We lived in St Croix, just moved there, and went snorkling. I told my dad and brother (I was 10 at the time) that I saw something fast, long, and silver flash by me. They laughed and told me I was being a sissy-girl.
We were in about 12 feet of water when he showed himself. He would eyeball you, then sink, eyeball you, then sink. I will never, ever, get over that *&^% fish. My dad still swears that I "walked on water" when I swam back to shore. I'm nervous about swimming in the ocean, to this day. :(
BTW: My dad and brother now also have respect for barracudas :) We found out later that the locals had even named him: "Charlie." He was a wise, enormous, very scary fish...
Yikes, I encountered a Portugeuse Man O War just a few years older than that and people laughed at me too until they heard the Lifeguards's booming voice ordering everyone out of the ocean. Teaches you respect for the ocean fast huh?
Yeah they would need a pretty big tank. But how cool would that be, then you could do stuff like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6FtI2sbTMs
That fool is lucky he still has fingers.
Subliminal
08-01-2007, 4:44 PM
Ha! But he has such a cool bathing suit!
Touche, how about stocking a tank with him instead?
wcolwell88
08-01-2007, 10:48 PM
I'm not interested in buying one, just curious about the details. Also, just for the record, I'm pretty sure I have enough room in this house for a tank big enough to put him in, but I wouldn't waste the money or the space just to keep a Barracuda. The house is about 9800 Square Feet not including the garages. I would like to eventually get a large tank for a shark but not until I am pretty confident that I can take good care of it. For now, I am working on sitting up a 29 gal. FOWLR in my bedroom. That will probably be my only saltwater tank for awhile. Maybe get a bigger one once I have more experience and more space. Thanks again for the info on the barracuda.
Kudos to you for asking before you get one of either. The shark will need more than a big tank, some say they eat as much as they do and that they make a mess not only eating but around the tank due to slapping the water around.
Bagshaw
03-15-2008, 9:52 AM
A few days ago i saw a type of barracuda at my lfs. It was a blue colour. I believe it was being sold as a blue gill barracuda. It was freshwater btw.
Any one have ideas on what type of barracuda this is?
I haven't been able to find them online?
Robin Alv
03-15-2008, 10:30 AM
Until today I had wanted to go snorkeling!!!
Boltster
03-15-2008, 6:02 PM
Until today I had wanted to go snorkeling!!!
If you love the marine world, it's something you just have to do. I've snorkeled in Cancun, St. Johns and St. Thomas. You forget about all of the dangers as soon as you adjust to breathing under water. My dream is to scuba with the rays in the Grand Caymans. ( and a nice trip to the Greaf Barrier Reef!!!!!)
mandy21
03-15-2008, 10:17 PM
If you love the marine world, it's something you just have to do. I've snorkeled in Cancun, St. Johns and St. Thomas. You forget about all of the dangers as soon as you adjust to breathing under water. My dream is to scuba with the rays in the Grand Caymans. ( and a nice trip to the Greaf Barrier Reef!!!!!)
This is how I guess it to be. We only vacation to Avon, NC so not really scuba/snorkeling area, but if I ever vacation elsewhere I'll get SCUBA certified so I can do that. I'm sure it's an amazing experience. Heck, i'd hop in my own tank if I had one large enough lol.
fishcatch22
03-15-2008, 10:58 PM
i'd say you would need a 1000-2000 (if not larger) gallon tank for one as a full adult, preferably with no decorations at all to simulate their pelagic habitat and completely round to allow it to swim continously and to stop it from harming itself by crashing into the glass, peferably with a diameter of at least 20 feet. these fish can swim VERY fast, and once it got large enough you'd probably need to feed it whole fillets of fish, IF you managed to train it to accept dead food..... definetly a fish best left in the wild unless you are crazy rich with a craqzy huge house and passion of crazy, possibly fatally dangerous fish.
Miss my puffer
03-16-2008, 12:03 AM
My dad had one follow him diving one time. I only got a glimpse of one when my wife and I were diving, did see the mother of all porcupine fish though. Can't wait to go diving in the ocean again. The only thing that scared me underwater was a sponge (we were diving a shiwreck and when I swam down below the deck there was a hand thing sticking out. Scared the daylights out of me at first). Until we get back to the ocean its great lake wreak diving (and 30 degree water temp) for the wife and I.