What kind of fish do I have?

Question

3 days ago I got 6 fish from Walmart and apparently the tank was labeled wrong. It said my fish were gold barbs, but they don't look like the gold barbs on the internet. These are disc shaped (kind of) and have gold flecks on their bodies. They are grey/dark grey and have dark grey/black fins on top and red fins on the bottom. They are very active and bump into each other like they are either fighting or playing. They ate a smaller fish I already had in the tank. Walmart doesn't sell pirahana does it? Any help would be appreciated. I have looked forever on the internet and can't fins a picture that even look close. HELP!

O.K. I have looked up all the suggestions and nothing fits. Walmart has no idea and I am at my wits end. The closest fish that they looked like was the piranha. Only these haev smaller mouths and don't have the teeth. They don't bother my algea eater at all. Any website would help. They range from 2-5 inches long and are not AS disc shaped as a dicus fish, more almond shaped than that. HHHEEELLLPPP!

Well, Thanks to this question and y'alls help, I have determined that my fish are red belly pacus. (which really upsets me, because I bought these fish thinking that I was doing the right thing.) They should have a good home and because of walmarts ignorance, I will have to do something with them since they grow sooooo large and My tank will be too small. I have a 20 gallon tank and the lady at the store said that the so called gold barbs stay pretty small. Not the case with pacus. I am doing some reading to educate myself on how to care for these fish to the best of my ability. Why would walmart sell these fish?? Thanks for helping! Any ideas on what else they may bee or how to care for them would be good.

Answer 1

They are most definatly red belly pacus. Walmart unfortunatly sells them. They grow to be 3 ft and can be quite nasty even tho they are a vegetarian reletive of the piranha. They lack the teeth but look alot like baby piranha. As it gets older it will get darker in color. They grow FAST and if you cannot get atleast a 300 gallon tank, find them a new home or kill them. Zoos and aquariums will not take them and most petstores wont either, they are unforuneatly being released into local waterways and killed because people buy them thinking they are cool and then they either realize they cant take care of them or they lose interest in the fish. Never release a fish where it isnt native to because it can damage the local ecosystem and it is a federal crime and it will cause laws to be passed that will restrict the good and responsible fish keepers.

Answer 2

Try looking up, Myleus Rubripinnis (Redbook), Serrasalmus Nattereri( Red Belly Piranha) or Discus Fish. WalMart says they do not sell Piranhas, however my mom found herself in the same situation as you, only she purchased oscars, and when she got home there was a fish in the bag, who did not look like the other oscars, he was a Red belly Piranha, and lived very well with the oscars. He did exhibit similar behaviors you described, but check the fish listed about, that might help.

Answer 3

Look for discus fish, it could be that. Can we get a picture? Size? Do they swim on the bottom like freshwater catfish, or sharks? Do they swim in the middle ot top range? and if walmart cant even identify their own fish, go to petco or another good petstore, with a picture of the fish, or the actual fish (in a bag of water). Then you can ask them about the ideal temperatures, or PH levles...you know.

Answer 4

Google up the name "pacu", that could be what you have. They are vegetarians though and aren't usually agressive toward other fish unless it is small enough to get into their mouth.

Answer 5

Japanize fight fish, thewalmart dept should never sell',fish they donot no anything about!

Answer 6

go back to walmart and ask the people who work ther