Red-bellied pacu

Care at a glance

Overview

This fish is sold at a few centimeters long but grows into a slab sided giant approaching 80 to 90 cm and many kilograms, so it is one of the most commonly dumped aquarium fish. It needs a very large custom tank or an indoor pond measured in thousands of liters, not a standard home aquarium. It is not aggressive, but its sheer size, appetite, and powerful bite make it a serious commitment for specialists only.

In the wild

Ranges through large river channels and seasonally flooded forest in the Amazon and Orinoco. During the floods it moves into the inundated forest to feed on fruits, seeds, and nuts that drop from the trees. Young fish shelter in vegetation while adults roam open water.

Good to know

Piaractus brachypomus is a close relative of the true pacus and the piranhas, but it is mainly a fruit and seed eater with flat, human like molar teeth for crushing. Fishbase records a maximum length of about 88 cm and a weight near 25 kg. Juveniles are often confused with red bellied piranha in stores.

Did you know

Its molar like teeth and taste for fruit have earned it the nickname of a vegetarian piranha, and it can crush hard seeds and nuts with ease.

Related species

• 

  Black Pacu

  Colossoma macropomum

  39.4 in (100 cm)660 gal (2,500 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Tiger pacu

  Acnodon normani

  5.1 in (13 cm)46 gal (175 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Disk tetra

  Myleus schomburgkii

  15.7 in (40 cm)170 gal (645 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
• Black piranha

  Serrasalmus rhombeus

  15.7 in (40 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Red-bellied Piranha

  Pygocentrus nattereri

  12.6 in (32 cm)160 gal (605 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)

• 

  Redhook

  Myloplus rubripinnis

  9.8 in (25 cm)70 gal (265 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)