Getting back on topic...
We really need to know the background of these fish. If they are bought at the same time and are around the same size its doubtful that the Pacu will eat the FMC. This is considering that you only buy one Pacu.
I was basically raised around Pacu. My dad has had TONS of them since...well, for as long as i can remember. Ive also owned 15-20 over the years. Ive come to one conclusion...Pacu are the Pit bulls of the fish world. They are so alike in the way they should be raised and how they act because of their upbringing. A Pacu, much like a Pit, will be much more docile if its alone...and more viscious when its with a school(the "Pack mentality") because now it has direct competition for food, mates, tank space, etc.. Also, people keep talking about how Pacu are schooling fish. This is true to a certain extent, but they only school at certain times. Like their cousin the Pirhana, they prefer to be alone until its time to feed or protect their "turf". A single Pacu will live an extremely happy life by itsself in the right conditions.
If the Pacu and FMC are raised together then i dont think the Pacu will eat it unless its underfed. Feeding is also a key to these fish thriving together. The Pacu should be fed a mix of fresh vegetables and live food. If the Pacu will be with smaller fish that he could eat i like to feed them earthworms or "maxworms". This way they dont immediately identify the other fish as food(only if underfed). The pacu i just got rid of was 9 1/2" and it stayed in a 55 with 7 BA tetras and 3 small clown loaches that he couldve easily eaten, but he didnt pay them any attention. My dad had a 210gal tank with a 14" pacu and probably 30-40 other small schooling fish that he couldve snacked on, but he left them alone.
People think of Pacu as easy to care for, and those are the same people who have ones that eat other fish and plants and cause many other issues. Until Pacu are extremely large, they require alot of care and attention.
btw-Dont feed them redworms and nightcrawlers bought from the store as fishing bait. These worms have no nutrients and are known for carrying parasites. Get them from your yard, or do what ive always done and get them from your compost heap. If youre like me and throw basically anything thats natural in there then you know the worms are stuffed with benefecial nutrients.
We really need to know the background of these fish. If they are bought at the same time and are around the same size its doubtful that the Pacu will eat the FMC. This is considering that you only buy one Pacu.
I was basically raised around Pacu. My dad has had TONS of them since...well, for as long as i can remember. Ive also owned 15-20 over the years. Ive come to one conclusion...Pacu are the Pit bulls of the fish world. They are so alike in the way they should be raised and how they act because of their upbringing. A Pacu, much like a Pit, will be much more docile if its alone...and more viscious when its with a school(the "Pack mentality") because now it has direct competition for food, mates, tank space, etc.. Also, people keep talking about how Pacu are schooling fish. This is true to a certain extent, but they only school at certain times. Like their cousin the Pirhana, they prefer to be alone until its time to feed or protect their "turf". A single Pacu will live an extremely happy life by itsself in the right conditions.
If the Pacu and FMC are raised together then i dont think the Pacu will eat it unless its underfed. Feeding is also a key to these fish thriving together. The Pacu should be fed a mix of fresh vegetables and live food. If the Pacu will be with smaller fish that he could eat i like to feed them earthworms or "maxworms". This way they dont immediately identify the other fish as food(only if underfed). The pacu i just got rid of was 9 1/2" and it stayed in a 55 with 7 BA tetras and 3 small clown loaches that he couldve easily eaten, but he didnt pay them any attention. My dad had a 210gal tank with a 14" pacu and probably 30-40 other small schooling fish that he couldve snacked on, but he left them alone.
People think of Pacu as easy to care for, and those are the same people who have ones that eat other fish and plants and cause many other issues. Until Pacu are extremely large, they require alot of care and attention.
btw-Dont feed them redworms and nightcrawlers bought from the store as fishing bait. These worms have no nutrients and are known for carrying parasites. Get them from your yard, or do what ive always done and get them from your compost heap. If youre like me and throw basically anything thats natural in there then you know the worms are stuffed with benefecial nutrients.
