Pacu's (Vegitarian Piranahs)?

Question

I have two Pacu's when i bought them i was told they were vegitarians. I have a 125 gallon fish tank, in that fish tank i have the 2 pacu's, 5 black skirt tetras and 2 bottom feeder plecostamus. Over the period of a month i have lost 4 of the 5 tetras. Mom said their is no way for the plecostamus to eat them, he has no teeth and sucks on his food, but my pacu's are suppose to be vegitarian even though they are both over a foot long and could easily devour your finger much less another fish. My boyfriend is blaming it on my plecostamus and i am blaming it on his pacu's. Has anyone ever had an experience with Pacu's before? Any suggestions appreciated.

Answer 1

Plecos won't eat fish unless they're dead.

No matter what people say, Pacus WILL eat ANYTHING. They are not vegetarian as most people say. They're just much less aggressive than any other big fish.
check out this site:

http://badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile86.html

"I forgot to add that the Pacu's do and will eat small fish without hesitation. This is a warning, not a recommendation" (from above site)

I know someone who used to give steak to his pacu. Also, the pacus will be too big for the 125 gal., the min. everyone recommends is a 300 gal., otherwise you'll be upgrading each month.

Answer 2

While Pacus are primarily Vegitarian, like most fish they are opertunistic feeders. Meaning, if they get the chance they will often eat small fish, insects etc. For that matter, even your pleco will eat a small injured, sick or dead fish if it happens apoun it. My bet would still be on the Pacu's tho.

On to your bigger problem. While you think of a 125 gallon aquarium as being large, it is WAY WAY WAY too small to house a pair of Pacu's. Full grown they will get well over 2 feet, some as large as 3 feet.

Good luck

Answer 3

I grew to alter right into a vegetarian while i substitute into 8 and my mom and dad have been continuously very supportive (i'm now 30 and nonetheless a strict vegetarian) which i'm particular your son gets exhilaration from! The British Vegetarian Society and the yank Vegetarian Society post books aimed in direction of toddlers and would additionally provide you a brilliant style of nutritional advice. eating habitual smart this is lots much less complicated than it was once, there are vegetarian sausages, burgers etc interior the freezer. i could purchase a veggie cookbook, see what your making and ideas on a thank you to adapt it.

Answer 4

The fact is, Pacu's almost exclusively veggie eaters in the wild and this is the reason they're considered herbivorous - because of what is available to them, not because they're making some sort of enlightened decision. Any fish will eat meat if it's available because food is food.

Answer 5

pacus eat meat i dont care who the hell says they dont. ive had a couple of these guys and they beat the oscar to the feeders every time. if you got them at wal-mart im not suprised you were told there vegitarians. i work at a pet store and get people all the time telling me the local wal-mart told them the same thing. so now you know, now your pleco is a vegitarian but i have seen them eat dead fish never a live one though

Answer 6

Pacus are distant cousins of the Piranha. They are aggressive meat eaters.