pacu and piranhas?

Question

whats the difference?

can pacu and piranhas be mixed? can oscars and piranhas be mixed? can oscars and pacu be mixed?

Answer 1

They are cousins, but they are very different fish.

Pacus are much larger (reaching 30-36"), and they are herbivores (they will sometimes eat small fish, insects, etc, but normally eat vegetation and seeds).

Piranhas are considerably smaller (6-10"), and they are voracious carnivores.

So, piranhas have pointed, sharp teeth in a pronounced underbite, whereas pacu have square, straight teeth in a less severe underbite, or a slight overbite.

They are both from South American rivers.

Answer 2

They are both from the same family but are different species. Evolution has it that Pacus as juveniles are very similar to Piranhas. However Piranhas are far more aggressive than Pacus. Pacus eat anything from fruits, chopped meat, opellets, etc. Piranhas are mainly carnivores.
Yes Pacus and be mixed with Piranhas though I would suggest that the Pacus are bigger than the Piranhas when you put them together. Also both Pacus and Piranhas can be kept with Oscars provided that they are similar in size and have been kept together from the time they are juveniles.

Answer 3

Pacus are pirahnas are very similar in shape and appearance when young. Pet stores often mislabel them as one or the other. Pacus should not be sold as an aquarium fish since almost all species will outgrow any household aquarium.

Although oscars and pirahnas originate from the same waters, they should not be housed together, as pirahnas will nip the fins of oscars, and a shoal of pirahnas would definitely eat an oscar.