Pacu fish. Myths and reality

Some inhabitants underwater world we are familiar with others, we have eaten others, and not everyone even knows about the existence of others. There are species of fish that we didn’t even know existed. They are completely different: huge and tiny, dangerous and not so dangerous, with bizarre shapes and strange names. From this article you will learn that there is, for example, fish with human ones; it is probably not known to every person. Many strange fish live in the underwater depths, we will also talk about them. So, let's begin our journey into the fascinating and exotic world of fish.

Paku

This is the most real fish with human teeth. Pacu is a freshwater inhabitant of many rivers in South America. It is also found in the Orinoco and Amazon basins. She also reached Papua New Guinea, where they began to artificially breed her in order to raise her to a higher level. high level Fish with human teeth belong to the same genus as piranhas (Serrasalminae), although their preferences and habits differ. Piranha is a carnivorous species, but pacu eats absolutely everything and prefers vegetation.

Fish with human teeth: why is it called that?

The most important difference between pacu and piranha is the structure of the teeth. Piranha, as we know, has sharp teeth, which many compare to a razor. But a fish with human teeth has a completely different jaw structure, which is why it is called that. If you look into her mouth, you can really get scared and horrified. Her teeth are square and straight, very human-like. Fish use them mainly for chopping fruits and nuts, although they can also feast on invertebrates. It was her craving for nuts that once deprived two fishermen of their genitals in Papua New Guinea. As you can see, although the pacu is not such a predator as the piranha, the strength of its jaws can still cause irreparable harm. But in the USA, the fish is legal, and anyone can purchase it and place it in an aquarium. But for some reason people don’t take into account that a pacu can grow up to a meter and weigh about 30 kg. Therefore, then the owners simply release her into the nearest body of water. This can explain the fact that fish appeared in Denmark and England. Some sources report that pacu is already available even in Russia.

Lion fish

Continuing to talk about what worlds exist, we cannot lose sight of this cute creature. The lion fish is mostly motionless among the corals, only sometimes swimming from one place to another. It attracts the attention of people and numerous aquatic inhabitants with its unusual coloring, dorsal and pectoral fins, which resemble a large fan. However, behind the bright appearance sharp needles secreting poison are hidden. A fish will never be the first to attack a person, but if he accidentally steps on it or even touches it, then just one injection will greatly worsen his general well-being. And after several injections, a person will not be able to swim to the shore on his own; he will need help.

frilled shark

This predator is called that because of the brown formation on its body that looks like a cape. And thanks a large number folds on the skin are also called corrugated shark. Scientists believe that such formations on the skin serve as a reserve of body volume to accommodate large prey in the stomach. Due to its teeth bent inward, this inhabitant of the waters is unable to crush food, so it swallows its prey whole. This is where folds in the skin that can stretch can come in handy. You can see a shark in any ocean, but not in the Arctic.

Blob fish

Some types of fish are truly capable of striking with their appearance. The drop fish is one of them. She looks so unattractive that she is considered one of the most scary fish available on the planet. They live off the coast of Tasmania and Australia, and in this moment there is a threat of their complete extinction. The body of this ugly fish consists of a gelatinous mass, the density of which is less. It has absolutely no muscles, but this does not prevent it from lazily opening its mouth and swallowing everything that swims in front of it (if it is edible).

Big Mouth

This unusual individual lives in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. The body of the largemouth is narrow and long (up to 1 meter). And the mouth is gigantic in size (a third of the entire body length), and can even stretch. This one has unusual inhabitant oceans have no scales, ribs, or normal bone structure. Slim body on the tail it turns into a thread, at the end of which there is a luminous organ. Due to the presence of only light cartilage and deformed bones in the skeleton, the fish is very light, it has tiny eyes and a very small skull. The size of the mouth allows the largemouth to swallow prey that is larger than itself in size.

Bagswallow

More of this deep sea inhabitant called the black devourer. This fish grows no more than 30 cm in length, and it was named so because of its ability to completely absorb prey that is several times larger than itself. For example, it can easily swallow prey that is 4 times longer and 10 times heavier than the bag swallow itself! Its jaws are very large, and its fangs help hold the prey while the fish pushes it into its stomach. When food begins to decompose in the stomach, a lot of gas is formed there, which is why the fish involuntarily rises to the surface of the water. Very little is known about these inhabitants, since it is simply impossible to observe their way of life in their natural conditions.

Macropinna smallmouth

It is impossible to see this fish and not scream in fear and surprise at the same time. Why? Because she has a transparent head! The barrel eye (second name) can easily track prey through such a head with its tubular eyes. The specimen was discovered only in 1939. In her usual environment, she is motionless, and if she decides to move, she does so in horizontal position and very slowly. Previously, it was completely unclear how the eyes of a fish work, because there are olfactory organs right above its mouth, and the eyes are located right inside its surprisingly transparent head, and they only look up. In 2009, scientists finally found out that macropinna has an extremely unusual structure of the eye muscles. It turns out that the eyes of a fish are usually in a vertical position, and if there is a need to look ahead, then it moves them to a horizontal position! Once this happens, she can see her mouth and grab her prey!

Anglerfish

This is a real deep-sea monster. It is called not only an angler fish, but also a devil fish. This one has bare skin, a spherical body shape, and the female has a “fishing rod”. This predator hunts thanks to a special growth on its back - during the process of evolution, one section of the dorsal fin was separated from the others, and at its end a transparent sac appeared in which bacteria live. What's most interesting is that the angler fish can make these bacteria light up! He regulates this himself, narrowing or expanding blood vessels. The female can grow up to 65 cm, and the male - only 15-45 mm! When the male ends puberty, he attaches himself to the female with sharp teeth (usually from the side). Soon he fuses with her tongue and lips, and his teeth, intestines, and eyes are reduced in such a way that he becomes a simple appendage that has lost its independence.

Conclusion

From this article you learned what unusual fish exist (photos above). It doesn’t matter whether they pose a danger to humans or not, you shouldn’t be afraid of them. After all, the main thing is to have information and know what each individual is capable of.

Black pacu (lat. Colossoma macropomum) which is also called the herbivorous piranha pacu or tambaqui, is a fish of the characin genus, that is, its brothers are neon and tetra. But the coincidences end with the name of the genus.

The black pacu is the largest characin living in South America and in no way resembles its smaller counterparts.

Pacu fish reach up to 108 cm in length and weigh about 27 kg, which is impressive. However, more often they are about 70 cm, but this is prohibitive for an amateur aquarium. No wonder it is also called the giant pacu.

Habitat in nature

The black pacu (also called the brown pacu), also known locally as the tambaqui, was first described by Cuvier in 1816. We live throughout the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America.

Also called pacu, giant pacu, tambaqui, gamitana and cachama.

Video about natural reservoir in Brazil, at the end of the video there is underwater footage, including a flock of pacu

In 1994 they were brought to Guinea as commercial fish, into the Sepik and Ramu rivers. They have also spread widely throughout South America, including Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras. And Northern - USA.

Solitary, they feed on insects, snails, decaying plants and small fish.

Adult fish swim into flooded forests during the rainy season and eat fruits and grains.

The commentator says that they feed on fruits that have fallen into the water, which are abundant there.

Description

The black pacu can grow up to 106 cm and weigh up to 30 kg and live up to 25 years. The body is laterally compressed, the body color is gray to black, sometimes with spots along the body. The fins are black.

Very often, black pacu are confused with piranhas while they are small. The juveniles are very similar, but black pacu are rounder and wider than piranhas.

The easiest way to identify it is by the lower jaw; in piranhas it protrudes forward.

Difficulty in content

This is a very large fish and it is better to keep it in commercial aquariums, since not many people can afford it at home. Although she is very unpretentious and simple.

It is not too demanding on water parameters, as long as they are not extreme, and the same applies to feeding.

The black pacu is an interesting, very unpretentious fish in keeping and feeding, which even has its own personality. Sounds like perfect aquarium fish, is not it?

But the most a big problem in terms of content, this is that the black pacu grows quickly and hugely; it quickly outgrows even very large aquariums.

The problem is that careless sellers often sell them very small under the guise of piranhas. Although these fish are very similar, the pacu is less aggressive and not as predatory.

However, this does not change the fact that the black pacu will swallow any small fish in the aquarium without a second thought.

The black pacu is definitely not a fish for everyone. To keep one, you need 1000 liters for juveniles, and about 2000 for adult fish. For such an aquarium you need very thick glass, since in fright a black pacu can break it.

In warm climates, black pacu is sometimes kept in ponds, but due to its dark color, it does not look very good there.

If you are not afraid of the volumes required for this fish, then otherwise keeping it is not difficult.

Feeding

What to feed the paku? Black pacu are omnivores, and in nature they eat fruits, grains, insects, snails, invertebrates, and carrion. The aquarium will have both artificial and live food.

Anything goes for him - snails, worms, bloodworms, fruits, vegetables. AND small fish, so it’s definitely not worth keeping with those that the pack can swallow.

The main requirement is a very large aquarium, for adults from 2 tons. If you can afford one, then the difficulties end there.

They are completely undemanding, disease resistant, and eat anything. The only thing is that they need very powerful filtration, since there is a lot of dirt from them.

They live in the middle layers of water and need free space to swim.

The best decorations are driftwood and large stones; you don’t need to plant plants at all; they are food for the black pacu.

They are a little timid, there is a sudden movement and they panic, throwing around the aquarium and hitting objects and glass...

Compatibility

Adults are solitary, but non-aggressive. Young people are more cocky. Adults will eat any small fish they can swallow; large fish are not in danger.

It is best kept alone or with an equally large fish.

Sex differences

The male has a sharper dorsal fin, has spines on the anal fin, and is brighter colored than the female.

Breeding

The black pacu is not bred in an aquarium due to its size.

All individuals that go on sale are bred in ponds and on farms.

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(Colossoma macropomum), or large colossoma, belongs to the small genus Colossoma, widespread in South America, which includes four more species quite large fish: C. brachypomum - black colossoma, C. Bidens - red-breasted colossoma, C. oculus - toothed colossoma and C. orbignyanum - orbignian colossoma.

The largest representative of the genus. In the Amazon basin it is the second largest fish after the arapaima. Individual specimens can reach a length of more than one meter and weigh about 30 kg, with 10% of their body weight being fat.

The Colossoma genus belongs to the Characidae family, which includes such popular aquarium fish as neons and tetras.

It was first described in 1816 by Cuvier.

The existing classification of the family is quite complex, and is still controversial.

In body shape, all colossoms are very similar to the common piranha, notorious for its bloodthirstiness.

Some taxonomists even distinguish black pacu and the common piranha into a separate subfamily, Serrasalminae ("Serrated Salmonidae"), all members of which have a serrated keel running along the abdomen.

Despite the significant difference in size, black pacu and piranha have the same number of teeth, very different in shape, which indicates differences in the feeding habits of these species.
If piranhas have pointed, razor-shaped teeth, triangular in shape, and their lower jaw protrudes noticeably forward, then in pacu the upper jaw protrudes forward, and the teeth are square in shape and somewhat reminiscent of human ones.

The teeth of the black pacu are square in shape and somewhat reminiscent of human teeth.

Strong teeth allow fish to crack hard shells of nuts that are inaccessible to other herbivorous fish.

Black pacu widespread throughout almost the entire Amazon basin, with the exception of the upper reaches large rivers with black and clear water. Judging by the tributaries of the Rio Madeira and Rio Negro, this species lives in them only at a distance of about 150 km from white-water rivers.

Period high water falls between mid-December and mid-June.
When river water levels begin to rise rapidly, adults black pacu gather in schools and swim to spawn in white waters. The exact location of the spawning grounds is still unknown, but they appear to be located along flooded grassy levees. After spawning, the schools break up and the fish migrate to floodplain forests filled with black and clear waters, where they feed on fruits and seeds.

Black pacu collect their favorite fruits and seeds from floodplain flora in the order in which they fall into the water. They readily consume large seeds of both dry and juicy fruits. For example, the seeds of the rubber tree (Hevea spruceana, Euphorbiaceae) make up about 58% of the total amount of fruit consumed by fish at this time. Hevea fruits are capsules that, after ripening, explode and the seeds contained in them scatter in different directions. Hevea seeds are about 4 cm in size and are covered with a very durable shell that can only be destroyed by jaws. black pacu. The fish gather under the rubber trees, waiting for the seeds to fall into the water.

Second most important in the diet black pacu, are considered to be large palm fruits (Astrocaryum jauary), which are covered with an equally hard shell.

During this period, fish accumulate a significant amount of fat, which they will need later, when the water level becomes low and the amount of food is sharply reduced.

Depending on the nature of the floodplain and the water level, fish remain in the flooded forest for four to seven months. When the water level drops, most of black pacu rolls down into the original river beds, and some of the fish remain in floodplain lakes.

As soon as major representatives The genus Colossoma appeared in aquariums, they immediately began to be called pacu.

The word pacu is of Brazilian-Indian origin. In the Amazon, this name is given to representatives of the genera Metynnis, Mylossoma and Myleus, smaller compared to Colossoma macropomum, which in its homeland is better known as tambaqui.

Juveniles black pacu and the common piranha are very similar. Medium-sized dark spots are scattered across the silver-steel body. This coloring, coupled with their unique shape, makes them attractive objects for keeping in aquariums.

Expressive coloration as it grows black pacu loses contrast and turns from light brown to almost black. Anal and pectoral fins painted to match the body. And on the caudal fin two wide, black, vertical stripes are distinguishable. One of which runs at the base of the caudal fin, the other borders it.

The intensity of the shades is affected by the transparency and color of the water. In black water, colored by humic acids, as in the Rio Negro, the color of the fish is very dark, while in white water, it is much lighter, even light golden.

A heat-loving species, the optimal water temperature is 25-27°C, a value of 14°C can be considered critical, below which the fish die.

The hydrochemical parameters of water are not particularly important: total hardness can range from 2 to 20°, pH from 6 to 8 units. The main thing is that the aquarium has effective filtration and periodic water changes.

Resistant to low oxygen content in water.
The water added to the aquarium must be well settled, since the species is sensitive to gases dissolved in water, which can cause gas embolism in the fish, which can result in the death of the fish.

Despite the large size black pacu relatively peaceful fish, besides, their mouthparts are not very suitable for hunting other fish.

Any medium and large non-aggressive species are suitable for joint keeping, in particular herbivorous chain-mail catfish, which will pick up leftover food from the ground.

Being frightened, it can hit the glass of the aquarium hard, and if it is not thick enough, then there is a high probability of its destruction with the ensuing consequences.

In an aquarium appropriate for the size of the fish and at proper care black pacu can become responsive pets.

However, you should be careful when having these fish in your aquarium. Despite the fact that the diet black pacu Unlike the diet of piranhas, which consists mainly of food of plant origin, their strong jaws, capable of crunching very hard seeds and nuts, can pose a serious danger.

So in Scotland, at the Edinburgh Museum “The World of Butterflies and Insects,” he bit off the finger of a child who carelessly dropped it into an aquarium. After which the child required emergency surgery.

A similar incident occurred in Fort Worth (Texas, USA), when a sixty-centimeter one jumped out of the water and bit off the nose of its owner, who was leaning over an aquarium.

In the pet trade it often appears as a herbivorous piranha. The juveniles sold usually measure 5-8 cm, but sellers often forget to warn potential buyers that the small size of the aquarium will not be able to contain the growth of these fish. As a result, frivolous aquarists who failed to create decent living conditions for the purchased black pack, who have outgrown their aquariums, release them into natural reservoirs.

Being tropical fish, black pacu die in too cold water, but adapt well to warm waters, where they often become competitors to local species.

Thanks to such carelessness of aquarists, various types of pacu appeared in many rivers of the United States.

In the nineties of the last century, it was introduced as a commercial fish into the Sipik and Ramu rivers (Papua New Guinea). Local conditions turned out to be so favorable that the fish began to grow to sizes that had never been reached in their homeland.

Despite this, the natives do not like black pacu because they are reducing the number of local species, including young crocodiles. There are even rumors of an attack black pacu on people.

But in the tropical part South America, black pacu- a favorite subject for aquaculture, due to its amazingly fast growth rate and high palatability of meat, which is famous for its tenderness and sweetish taste, reminiscent of a cross between tilapia and rainbow trout meat.
During the first year of life, juveniles black pacu gains weight of more than one kilogram.

Under optimal conditions, life expectancy black pacu in an aquarium can reach 25 years.

Diet of black pacu

Black pacu They are omnivores; they consume both animal and plant foods. But excessively high-calorie food can quickly lead fish to morbid obesity, so animal feed should make up no more than 10% of their diet. This primarily applies to adults; for adolescents, the share of animal feed may be higher, about 40%.

The main attention should be paid to plant foods, since in nature fish prefer them.

They willingly eat pieces of soft tropical fruits (bananas, figs) and vegetables (tomatoes, pumpkin, lettuce, cabbage, etc.); they can even eat watermelon rinds without much difficulty.

Reproduction of black pacu

In nature black pacu, as a rule, stay alone.
Their spawning is seasonal and occurs during the rainy season, when the water level in rivers rises greatly, causing a decrease in hardness and pH.

At this time, adult individuals gather in large flocks and migrate deep into the flooded jungle, where they spawn in areas rich in vegetation.

Juveniles black pacu prefers floodplains of black-water rivers, where it feeds on insects, mollusks and decaying vegetation.

Sex differences in black pacu poorly expressed. Sexually mature females, raised in optimal conditions, are noticeably larger and plumper than males. Distinctive feature females are shaped by the shape of their abdomen.

In an aquarium, obtain offspring from black pacu quite problematic, the limiting factor here is the volume of the spawning tank. The minimum dimensions of which are 160X60X80 cm. Spawning black pacu reminiscent of carp spawning.

During industrial breeding, reproductive products are taken from the producers, after which the fertilized eggs are incubated in special containers.

The fertility of females ranges from 50 to 200 thousand eggs. The eggs are glued to the substrate (water hyacinth, fishing line, etc.) or scattered along the bottom. At a temperature of 26-29°C, the larvae swim on the 5-7th day.

Their starting food is the smallest plankton or high-quality fine-grained dry food with the obligatory addition of plant components.

The role of black pacu in nature

In nature black pacu act as seed distributors. The fish swim to distances of up to several kilometers from the place where the seeds were swallowed. Moreover, the seeds are distributed over territories in which it is convenient for plants to grow, along flood valleys in river floodplains.

Black pacu in nature

It is likely that black pacu Together with land animals, they play a key role in seed dispersal in the Amazon. Large individuals are most effective in such work, as they eat more and swim further. But there are fewer and fewer such specimens in nature every year. Overfishing has reduced some populations by 90%.

Given the role that black pacu play in the spread of trees, it can be assumed that the disappearance of fish may lead to a reduction in the area of ​​tropical rainforests.

You can add a little exoticism to your artificial pond by purchasing such extravagant aquarium fish as piranhas. It would seem that keeping such a person could threaten not only the other inhabitants of the aquarium, but also the aquarist himself. But this is a common misconception, the reason for which is their belonging to a fairly wide family of Piranhas, about which real bloodthirsty stories are made.

Scientists have proven that only about 40% of representatives of this species can threaten human health, and the rest can easily consume food of plant origin as food. And this is exactly what the popular Paku fish belongs to, which will be discussed in today’s article.

Description

You can meet these aquarium fish by going to the Amazon delta. But it’s been 200 years since you got one like this exotic pet Just go to the nearest pet store. Paku piranhas gained their high popularity among aquarists throughout the feast due to their low maintenance requirements, large sizes and growth rate, which made it possible to use it for commercial purposes.

As for the structure of the body, it is necessary to allocate the same number of square and straight teeth. The weight of an adult can reach 30 kg.

Kinds

Today there are several types of Pacu fish. But the most common ones include:

1. Red Paku.
2. Black Puck.

Let's talk about each of the presented types in a little more detail.

Red

Red pacu

IN natural environment The habitats of representatives of this species can be found in reservoirs located near the river. Amazons. The Red Paku is distinguished by a flattened body shape, which is completely covered with small scales with a silvery tint. As for the fins and abdomen, they have a red color. Sexual dimorphism is weak.

Females differ from males in their smaller size and distinct abdominal structure. The maximum size of adult individuals in their natural habitat is 900 mm. In captivity, the size can vary from 400 to 600 mm. These aquarium fish are long-lived. The maximum recorded age was 28 years, but most often their lifespan is around 10 years in captivity.

It is worth noting their rather peaceful nature. They consume vegetation as food. To maintain them, artificial reservoirs with a minimum volume of water of 100 liters are needed. Ideal water values ​​include a temperature of 22-28 degrees and a hardness of 5-20 pH. In addition, do not forget about regular water changes.

As for the soil, not very fine soil has proven itself to be excellent. It is also not recommended to plant aquarium plants, as they will quickly become food for the red Pacu.
Important! It is recommended to introduce them into the aquarium in a small flock of up to 6 individuals.

Black

These aquarium fish live in the Orinoco and Amazon river basins. The first mention of them was back in 1816.

You can use snails, small fish, plants, fruits and even cereals as food.

Black pacu

It’s not for nothing that this Paku fish is called a giant fish. Largest size adult individuals can reach more than 1 m in length and weigh 30 kg. Their maximum lifespan is about 25 years. The external color, as the name suggests, is made in dark colors. The body itself is simplified on both sides. An interesting fact is that due to this color and body structure, young representatives of this species are often confused with piranhas. To avoid such confusion, you should pay attention to the lower teeth of the latter, which protrude significantly forward.

It is worth noting that although these fish do not require special care, due to their size they are quite difficult to keep. Thus, the minimum volume of an artificial reservoir is about 2 tons. water. If anyone can afford one, large stones and driftwood can be used as decorative elements inside such a vessel. An interesting fact is that, despite their impressive size, these aquarium fish are very timid and at the slightest sudden movement they panic, leading to chaotic movements around the aquarium and possible impacts on the glass.

Breeding

These fish are considered sexually mature after they reach 2 years of life. But it is immediately worth noting that reproduction in captivity is much more difficult than in natural conditions. And although there are practically no specific recommendations on how to stimulate this process in the public domain, experienced aquarists have found several main points that can have a positive effect on the appearance of future offspring in Pacu fish.

It is worth emphasizing that, first of all, the issue of breeding representatives of this species will require considerable time, patience and, of course, adherence to fairly simple criteria from the aquarist. So, they include:

• the corresponding volume of the artificial reservoir;
• varied and plentiful diet;
• predominance of males over females.

Also, the choice of spawning tank should, first of all, be determined by its capacity. As a rule, its minimum volume should not be less than 300 liters. Next, it must be thoroughly disinfected before the future parents are transplanted into it. Also, as a good stimulation, you can use gopophyseal injections followed by intensive feeding.

As for the diet, the ideal option would be to add food of animal origin to it. Once the fish are ready to mate, they are placed in a spawning tank. Special attention care should be taken to ensure that there are an overwhelming number of males in it. Once the spawning process is complete, adults can be returned to the community aquarium.

In order for newborn Paku fry to actively develop, they need plenty of nutrition. Artemia is perfect for this purpose. It is also especially worth noting the importance of sorting young individuals. If this is not done, then larger brothers may eat smaller ones.

Favorite by many lovers aquarium fish Pacu is a real exotic. By mistake, this beauty from South America is considered one of the bloodthirsty fish. And the reason for this is that it belongs to the wide subfamily of Piranha fish, about which real legends are formed. Actually this is not true. Of all known species of this subfamily, only 43% are aggressive predators. The remaining 57% can safely be called semi-predators, who feed mainly on plant foods.

It is precisely for vegetarians that our Paku fish, which first came to our continent more than 200 years ago. It appeared in domestic aquariums at the end of the last century and in a short time managed to become a real favorite of aquarists. The natural habitat of this species is the Amazon River delta and adjacent reservoirs. Due to its large size and rapid growth, the fish is considered a commercial fish.

Description and types of Paku fish

Only a few species of these fish are most widespread among aquarists:

• Red Pacu (Piaractus Brachypomus) or two-toothed colossoma;
• Brown Paku; (Colossoma macropomum).

Red Pacu fish photo, which can be viewed on this page, has a flat body, painted in a characteristic color scheme. Almost its entire surface is covered with silvery scales. Only the pectoral fins and the abdomen with the anal fin have a red tint. The caudal fin of the fish is edged with a dark stripe.

Inhabited in natural environment(Amazon and Orinoco rivers), Red Pacu fish can reach a length of up to 1 meter. At the same time, the weight of one such adult individual can reach up to 25 kilograms. In aquarium conditions, fish grow up to 40-60 cm in length. Which requires an appropriate aquarium volume.

Brown Paku The body shape is not much different from the red one. It is also compressed on the sides and has an impressive height. But its coloring, as you already understood from the name of the species, is completely different. It can be in different variations, from black to silver-gray. At the same time, the abdomen and pectoral fins of adult individuals have a brownish-bronze tint.

In terms of its size, the brown-colored Paku is a large fish. In terms of length and body weight, it is one and a half times greater than its red relative. Fishermen in the Amazon managed to catch individuals that were more than one meter in length. And their weight reached 40 kilograms. However, as practice shows home care, representatives of this species do not grow more than 60 centimeters in an aquarium.

Choosing an aquarium for Paku fish

When planning to purchase one or another type of Paku, it is very important not to miss the size of the fish aquarium. A huge role in determining the volume of a home reservoir for keeping these exotics is played by such criteria as:

• Fast growth of fish;
• Lifestyle.

As we mentioned above, individuals of this species grow very quickly. In just three months, young Paku fish measuring 3-4 centimeters in size grow to 28 centimeter giants. And their growth doesn’t stop there. By the age of one year, they gain weight up to 4 kg and reach and increase in their linear dimensions up to 40 cm. Thus, for comfortable maintenance of one individual, at least 100 liters will be required.

According to your lifestyle Red Paku, however, like Brown, refers to schooling fish. Even if we take 4 representatives of the subfamily, the minimum volume for an aquarium will be 400 liters. But for more comfortable maintenance, you will need a reservoir of 700 liters or more.

When the volume of the aquarium has been selected based on the number of fish, it’s time to clarify the situation with its dimensions. Due to the large size of Pacu fish and their rapid growth, it makes no sense to use short containers. The optimal length from which to base your selection in this case would be an aquarium of 1.2 meters or more. Width also plays a significant role. Fish need room to maneuver freely. Therefore, the width should be at least 60-70 centimeters. The height of the home pond should not be less than 60 cm.

As we mentioned above, a minimum of 1 cubic meter of water is required to maintain one Paku individual. It is very important to observe the following parameters:

• Comfortable temperature - 22 o C28 o C;
• Hardness range - 5 o 20 o;
• The acidity of the medium is pH 6-7 units.

But this is not entirely enough. The fish will need to be provided with water, for which an internal and external filter is installed. A prerequisite for comfortable keeping Paku fish in the aquarium is the presence of an aerator that saturates the water with oxygen. And, of course, you need to change the water weekly by 1/3 of the total volume of the aquarium.

It is best to line the bottom of the aquarium with coarse gravel. Having a small one will cause certain difficulties when caring for pets. It is very difficult to clean it from fish waste products.

Caring for Paku fish The video we invite you to watch involves planting a small amount of vegetation. There shouldn’t be a lot of it, as it will be eaten anyway. It is better to replace the main part of the vegetation with artificial plants. This will create a more comfortable atmosphere for large people. And in order for the fish to feel protected, decorative caves and grottoes can be placed in the aquarium, allowing them to hide.

Feeding the Paku fish

Red and Brown Pacu have excellent appetites, so feeding them should be regular and not excessive. It is fashionable to give plant food to fish as food. As fans note, piranha-like pets eagerly eat chopped lettuce, dandelions, and cabbage. They also love to eat fruit.

In addition to plant foods, you can also give live food. Here it is appropriate to give fish, tubifex, and earthworms. Paku's teeth allow fish to cope with meat. Some aquarists practice feeding minced meat. However, food of animal origin should not be abused. It is best used as an occasional addition to plant foods. If you feed meat on a regular basis, your fish may develop aggressive behavior.

Breeding in a home aquarium

Paku fish reach sexual maturity at the age of one to two years. However, at home, these fish reproduce with difficulty. It is very difficult to find any useful and specific information on this matter. This is what we managed to find out from experienced aquarists.

Breeding piranha fish of the Paku species must be approached thoroughly. It is very important to adhere to certain criteria:

• Aquarium volume;
• Abundant and varied feeding;
• Superior numbers of males.

When choosing a spawning tank for producers, its volume is very important. It should not be less than 300 liters. After its disinfection, they begin to prepare the producers themselves. To stimulate spawning, you will have to resort to pituitary injections. After which the Paku fish begin to be fed intensively. The Paku's diet should be varied with a predominance of animal proteins.

After the producers are ready to reproduce, males and females are placed in the spawning tank. In this case, the number of the former should exceed the number of females. As a rule, after spawning, parents forget about their offspring. And therefore they can be safely placed in a common aquarium. In order for the fry to grow intensively, they must be fed abundantly. Artemia will be used as food for little Pacu. As the juveniles grow, they need to be sorted. If this is not done, the larger ones will eat the smaller ones.