Red-bellied Pacu

About

The red-bellied pacu (Piaractus brachypomus) is one of the largest scaled fish in the Amazon basin, native to the vast river systems of the Amazon and Orinoco drainages, with records extending as far south as Argentina. It is closely tied to seasonally flooded forests, where it forages on fallen fruits, nuts, and seeds. A diet that has driven the development of broad, cusp-shaped teeth that look remarkably similar to human molars. Those jaws are powerful enough to crack hard nuts and can deliver a painful bite during tank maintenance, so take care. Juveniles carry bold patterning that mimics the red-bellied piranha, apparently as a deterrent to predators, which has also led to unscrupulous sellers marketing them as novelty "vegetarian piranhas." In the aquarium this species is generally peaceful toward fish too large to swallow, but it grows relentlessly, adults routinely reach two feet in captivity regardless of tank size, and the space required to house even one adult responsibly is beyond what most hobbyists can provide. Young fish school, but adults become more independent and can harass tankmates when cramped. Arowana, large cichlids, and big catfish are among the few realistic companions. Breeding has not been accomplished in home aquaria. This is a species to admire in a public display rather than take home.