Edit Piaractus brachypomus
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Name
Scientific name
Piaractus brachypomus
Described by
Not recorded
Family
Serrasalmidae
Common names
Red-bellied Pacu
Photograph credits
All 4 credited
Summary
The red-bellied pacu, Piaractus brachypomus, is a serrasalmid from the Orinoco and Amazon basins in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and …
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
880mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 300 cm, Minimum depth 90 cm, Minimum height 90 cm
Water
Water conditions
Temperature 23–28°C, pH 4.8–7.5
Hardness
0–15dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Peaceful
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Not recorded
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Amazon, Orinoco
Writing
Etymology
Not written yet
Distribution
Native to the Rio Orinoco and Amazon basins in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and Brazil. Introduced populations are thriving in various parts of the world…
Habitat
Inhabits main river channels and flood plains, moving into flooded forests during the rainy season. It tends to prefer shallow, slow-moving areas with overhang…
Aquarium size
Sadly adults are all too often seen living in cramped conditions. If you want to house one of these for life you're going to need an enormous tank measuring at…
Maintenance
The size of the tank and filtration used are much more important than the choice of decor. Strictly speaking, decor isn't necessary for a tank containing an ad…
Water conditions
Temperature: 23 – 28 °C pH: It's an adaptable species provided extremes are avoided. Somewhere within the range 4.8 to 7.5 is ok. Hardness: 0 to 15°H
Diet
Stomach analyses of wild specimens show it to be primarily a herbivorous species, feeding on fruits, nuts and seeds. It is an opportunist, though, and also tak…
Behaviour and compatibility
Small fish will likely be eaten but in general it's quite peaceful with bigger species. It can bother sedentary or shy companions with its constant activity, t…
Sexual dimorphism
Mature females are a little rounder-bellied than males.
Reproduction
Not achieved in the hobby, although it's being bred in some numbers for food in both South America and various Far Eastern countries. The fish are often induce…
Notes
Know as the pirapitinga in its native countries, this is the one of the largest species of scaled fish found in the Amazon basin. This alone should tell you mu…
References
References
No references