The Pacu Piranha? Or Merely Piranha's Ugly Cousin?

The pacu is often mistaken with the piranha because they share similar

features such as color, general shape, etc. However, they are not the

same. This article will begin with the similarities/differences of

each.

Similarities

* They are from the Serrasalminae subfamily, which essentially makes

them cousins.
* They are both freshwater fish
* They are usually found in the major river basins in South America.
* Both can be kept as pets in home aquariums


Differences

1. Eating Habits

Piranhas are carnivores and for the most part they stick to small

animals that live in or close to water. They also snack on snails and

plant life. Pacus are mostly herbivores and normally stick to

vegetables, seeds and nuts that fall in the water. They also eat other

fish when the mood strikes them.

2. The Teeth

Piranhas have very pointed razor-sharp teeth which allow them to shred

almost anything within seconds. Many also have an underbite. Pacus on

the other hand have straighter teeth which are square shaped. If fact,

they look sort of human and are extremely powerful. Their underbite is

not as severe as the piranha, and in some cases they may even have an

overbite.

3. Size

Pacus are much larger than piranhas once they are fully grown. Adult

pacus can reach up to 3 feet and weigh up to 50 pounds in the wild.

Wild piranhas usually grow to 12-15 inches and usually weigh no more

than 7-8 pounds.

Pacus as Pets?

Owning a pacu as a pet is possible however you must keep in mind that

the biggest challenge will be its size. Contrary to what certain

people say, pacus are not limited by the tank size. They will grow to

whatever size they are destined to grow to. Aquarium pacus have been

known to reach up to 2-3 feet and 35-45 pounds. If you decide to bring

one home as a pet and it becomes unmanageable, do NOT throw it in the

nearest river or lake. Instead, visit your local pet store to see if

there is anything else that can be done. They may be able to take it

off your hands or at least point you to someone who might want to take

it on.

The other thing to keep in mind is the cost of aquarium equipment.

Pacus need a lot of filtration power to keep their homes clean. Some

pacu owners often have 2, even 3 filtration systems to handle the work

load.

Please make sure you visit my Web site for more information about

piranhas!

http://worldofpiranhas.com/

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