illegal
- Thread starter LiCiD187
- Start date
yes. there is too much of a danger of them becoming established in the local waters and putcompeting nativ species if an irresponsible aquarist released some. in most northern stares they are legal, because there is no way that can survive the winters up here.
Yes.
They are illegal in some states in the United States. (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.)
They are illegal in some states in the United States. (Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.)
How big of a tank do you need to keep Pacu? The only place I've ever seen them is at Ripley's Aquarium in Myrtle Beach, SC... and they're HUGE. Same deal for the arowana in the same exhibit... about 3' long probably. I don't even want to guess at how big the pacu was.
Pacu get HUGE. I would imagine properly housing a full grown Pacu or two would require a tank of well over 100g(probably closer to 200g).
But it'd sure be a conversation piece, no?
-sj
But it'd sure be a conversation piece, no?
-sj
Well I take back what I said. I now HAVE seen pacu kept in a tank. At the LFS today, they had a huge tank, probably 250g, with 2 pacu and 2 oscar in it. $50 for the pair of Oscars, $100 for the pair of Pacu. Now, that was BIG tank, and those thing still looked as cramped in it as most fish do in the little 10g holding aquariums that most stores keep them in. It would require something massive to really keep pacu and be able to appreciate them.
Keep in mind also that some states aren't too fond of Pacu. I know they've already been released into Florida waterways and have started taking up residence there. Unlike Pirahna which could wreak havoc, I believe pacu are mostly vegetarians, but they eat whatever is available to them. Regardless, it's pretty much a common belief that you're not supposed to release any foreign species into our waters, lest you screw up the whole ecosystem, hence the hub-bub about snakeheads around VA/MD this last year or so.
Keep in mind also that some states aren't too fond of Pacu. I know they've already been released into Florida waterways and have started taking up residence there. Unlike Pirahna which could wreak havoc, I believe pacu are mostly vegetarians, but they eat whatever is available to them. Regardless, it's pretty much a common belief that you're not supposed to release any foreign species into our waters, lest you screw up the whole ecosystem, hence the hub-bub about snakeheads around VA/MD this last year or so.
Pacu's get really massive, when full grown, 1000 gallon is more in the ballpark. Someday when I get my 2000 gallon tank ( the wife will ove that one), I will own a pair of pacu's and maybe a tiger shovelnose or irredescent shark as well
I think those are generally called "swimming pools"
Along the same lines as Pacu... what's required for arowana? I've seen a few 4-5" ones at the pet stores, but the ones at Ripley's Aquarium were huge!