Had to euthanize Pacu's over the weekend
- Thread starter jagarundi
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pacu
At the lfs there is a huge (500gal?) metal ten with a 4 foot alligator, pacus from people who made that mistake, and 1'+ overgrown cichlids. just an example of just how much they can take at that size.
At the lfs there is a huge (500gal?) metal ten with a 4 foot alligator, pacus from people who made that mistake, and 1'+ overgrown cichlids. just an example of just how much they can take at that size.
Sorry to hear you were unable to find them a home, but that's not unusual for large fish. The albino channels will likely need the cinderblock next, or a good cajun recipe. The Connecticut State record channel cat was an albino presumably released from an aquarium owner. At 29 lbs and 37 inches it could nearly eat your pacus.
My worst too big fish was a red snake head that ate a few favorite catfish including an albino channel cat given to me because it outgrew the owners 55 gal. The snakehead would swallow the fish as far as it could then simply bite through them, often leaving the head and organs to survive and need to be euthanised. I was only a teen at the time and the snakehead (20" +/-)died of my poor housekeeping.
Today it's a real pet peeve of mine to see pet stores selling animals that virtually no one can properly care for. In addition to those already discussed I'd add about any fish that typically exceeds 18" but certainly anything over 30". As you stated you were admirable and purchased larger housing, about as big as most people could fit/afford, but still it wasn't sufficient. Considering I like reptiles as well, Burmese pythons, Anacondas, Monitor Lizards, etc would also be added to my boycott list if I knew of any stores that didn't offer these animals when available.
Sorry to ramble but as you can see you hit a nerve with your story.
My worst too big fish was a red snake head that ate a few favorite catfish including an albino channel cat given to me because it outgrew the owners 55 gal. The snakehead would swallow the fish as far as it could then simply bite through them, often leaving the head and organs to survive and need to be euthanised. I was only a teen at the time and the snakehead (20" +/-)died of my poor housekeeping.
Today it's a real pet peeve of mine to see pet stores selling animals that virtually no one can properly care for. In addition to those already discussed I'd add about any fish that typically exceeds 18" but certainly anything over 30". As you stated you were admirable and purchased larger housing, about as big as most people could fit/afford, but still it wasn't sufficient. Considering I like reptiles as well, Burmese pythons, Anacondas, Monitor Lizards, etc would also be added to my boycott list if I knew of any stores that didn't offer these animals when available.
Sorry to ramble but as you can see you hit a nerve with your story.
I'm terribly sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your story. I've never experienced anything like this, but have been frustrated before by not doing my homework and not receiving more information at the point of purchase. Especially since about a week ago I had to take my pleco back to the store after having him for over a year. He had grown to nearly (if not more than) 12" and was terrorizing my tank! Well, that's a strong word, but he was getting aggressive at dinner times and was knocking everything all over the place. I was very upset about it, but we have a great store here and the owner is awesome. When I bought him, I had no idea how large he would get.
TheMightyQueenPixie
Best Invention EVER!
so sad.........
Sorry to hear about your predicament...Unfortunately very common as many species sold at the LFS are totally unsuitable for the average enthusiast....In the long run it was probably the right move, albeit, a tough one...good luck to you in the future...
Sorry to hear about your predicament...Unfortunately very common as many species sold at the LFS are totally unsuitable for the average enthusiast....In the long run it was probably the right move, albeit, a tough one...good luck to you in the future...
I'm glad that my post generated such responses. As a matter of fact, the store where I purchased these fish from no longer sell Pacu's. As for the Albino Catfish, they are fast approaching tank buster status but I plan on having my 300 gallon tank in place by then. I hope to have this tank in my possession within another 4 months.
Uh-oh
undefinedI hate to hear what you went through,, unfortunately I just recently purchased 4 red belly pacus and have them in my 150g tank, I guess like you I should have researched them more. I know how hard it must have been to put them down , by far my pacus are my favorite out of all my fish. Then again it gives me the reason to go buy that big 520g tank that ive been wanting. Good for pacus and my neverening growing clown knife.By the way you want some good little tough fish to replace your pacus with get you a school of tiger barbs awesome little fish I have 14 and they do not fin pick if you school them, and they are very cool to watch.... :dog: undefined
undefinedI hate to hear what you went through,, unfortunately I just recently purchased 4 red belly pacus and have them in my 150g tank, I guess like you I should have researched them more. I know how hard it must have been to put them down , by far my pacus are my favorite out of all my fish. Then again it gives me the reason to go buy that big 520g tank that ive been wanting. Good for pacus and my neverening growing clown knife.By the way you want some good little tough fish to replace your pacus with get you a school of tiger barbs awesome little fish I have 14 and they do not fin pick if you school them, and they are very cool to watch.... :dog: undefined
http://community.webshots.com/myphotos?action=viewAllPhotos&albumID=404349869
My Pacu "Big Fishey" jumped through the top of my tank a few months ago. I always had the lids on but he hit the outside edge of the tank and broke a 10" section of the tank top. Found him on the floor dead as a doornail. He was in a 167 gallon tank and I was on the look out for a bigger tank.
Pacu's are neat fish with pretty cool personalities. Their intake of food starts to get a little expensive when they get big. I had to stop buying the expensive frozen food at Petsmart and started buying beefheart by the pound at the grocery store. But unless you have the means to feed and properley keep them, they are best left at the fish store.
RIP Big Fishy, March 2002 - July 2005
My Pacu "Big Fishey" jumped through the top of my tank a few months ago. I always had the lids on but he hit the outside edge of the tank and broke a 10" section of the tank top. Found him on the floor dead as a doornail. He was in a 167 gallon tank and I was on the look out for a bigger tank.
Pacu's are neat fish with pretty cool personalities. Their intake of food starts to get a little expensive when they get big. I had to stop buying the expensive frozen food at Petsmart and started buying beefheart by the pound at the grocery store. But unless you have the means to feed and properley keep them, they are best left at the fish store.
RIP Big Fishy, March 2002 - July 2005
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hey
wow.. wow.. wow... that is some nice writting your given us.... i respect it very much, and i would have seen this before my sitaution i had... but it is very true they r nice loving fish, so peaful and nice. and acually have a personallity... i am really sorry about it.. and i do miss my pacu too.. mine was 8 inches... and now is in a 130g tank at my uncles house.. moved him in a cooler... but i know for sure in 6 months.. 130g tank will b so small for him and there will b a problem, but im sure he is happy in that big tank... sorry agian. and thanks
wow.. wow.. wow... that is some nice writting your given us.... i respect it very much, and i would have seen this before my sitaution i had... but it is very true they r nice loving fish, so peaful and nice. and acually have a personallity... i am really sorry about it.. and i do miss my pacu too.. mine was 8 inches... and now is in a 130g tank at my uncles house.. moved him in a cooler... but i know for sure in 6 months.. 130g tank will b so small for him and there will b a problem, but im sure he is happy in that big tank... sorry agian. and thanks
Pacus would really look cool in a old pool or something if you lived in florida or so cal. Imagine a small school in a 7,000 gallon pool. You could go swimming with your fish. Other than that I cant imagine a traditional glass aquarium big enought for one of these guys.
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