Hi guys in my last post i posted i had a Pahrana. But i was searching around and theres a fish called a Pacu. I saw some pics between the two but nothing with little ones. Is there any way to tell if it is a Pacu because i had the fish know for 2.5 weeks and the thing is getting big. he was only about 1.5 inchs long when i got him and know hes a easy 2 to 2.5 inches. The fish is really shy like i read Pahrana's are He has a black strip on the end of his tail and one where the body and tail meets he has spots on his body. He has red on his fine on the bottom rear and red where his gill is to. all of these match a red belly pahrana but im lost this fish is growing fast and i really hope hes not a red belly Pacu, because the size they get. any help i tried to take pics but hes shy and swims way to fast.

your best bet if you cant get a picture is to search for images and find the one that looks like yours. if you have a pacu then a very large tank is necessary. if you have a pirahna they only grow to about a foot long but it is recommended to keep them in shoals of 6 or more so you will need a big tank.
i guess either way it looks like if you decide to keep him youre going to need a big tank...

well i have 120 gallon hes in with my oscar but im thinking on building a jumbo tank that i listed in the DIY forum about a 720 gallon i know thats plenty but i dont know yet if i am have to approve from my gf soon to be wife.

send a pic to pirhana warehouse or the pirhana forum they will tell you everything you need to know not all pirhana need to be kept in a shoal most pirhana are kept alone rhoms etc

from wikipedia on red belly pirahnas.


"Re-Bellied Piranha, despite their fearsome reputation, can be kept as aquarium fish. Their diet in nature consists of live prey and dead animals and fish. They readily eat other food as well, live feedings are not advised as they can introduce diseases. Red-bellied piranhas can grow to be 12" (30cm) long but they may eat any fish regardless of size. They may be kept with certain armoured catfish such as Hypostomus plecostomus. Red bellied piranhas should be kept in small shoals of at least six individuals"

as i said NOT ALL can be keptin a shoal

Dalton wrote:



jonny dangerous wrote:


true but the original question is related to red belly pirahnas. not pirahnas in general but one specific sub species

ok i snaped a couple pic sorry there so blurry there from my phone and he kept swimming.
s566.photobucket.com/albums/ss110/daltonj82/

That's definitely a red belly piranha you got there mate, better get him some budies

how can u tell?

I've seen a fare share of both. Also only red bellies have the spots.

see thats what i thought to but look at this pic www.mysarcasticmind.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/pacu.jpg