Pacu Problem

[Landon]

Hello Everyone,

I have a problem and I want to know if some of you guys can help me. I have always kept 'monster fish' and am a big fan of any tankbuster. A month ago I was in my LFS and saw an amazing looking 12" pacu available for only $30, being a big pacu fan I had to bring this guy home. When I first got him he was badly beaten and bruised, it was obvious to see that he had been through some ruff times. I paid for this guy and brought him home and placed him in a 30g round koi holding container and medicated him, this container was black and made of a hard pond material and I felt safe placing him in it for the time being. After 48 hours I moved him to a 55 gallon aquarium, where he still is today. He shares his aquarium with a 5" Black Shark, 4" Pleco, and four 3" Sun Catfish. I know that this is a small aquarium for this guy but it is only for the time being. I am moving in a couple of month to a location where I will have a 300-500 gallon indoor pond which will house this guy and a few other large fish as well. Though the problem is this; im worried about where he is right now, I want to make him feel comfortable and happy, though is the 55 gallon aquarium he is in right now really that bad?

The aquarium runs on an AquaClear for 70 gallon aquariums, 1 small water pump and an airstone for circulation. I also perform daily %20 water changed on this aquarium and feed him twice daily. I really care about this fish and all of my others and am worried that he is not happy. He can easily turn in the aquarium, though as will all pacus when he 'spooks' I become worried for the aquarium its self. Other than that this pacu is very healthy and 'seems' happy, though im not sure about how he really feels. Is there any way that this guy will be okay in this aquarium for two more months? Ive seen pacus much larger kept in a 55 gallon aquariums but I dont want to be known as one of 'those' pacu keepers. Also; how does his setup look, is there anything else I can do for this guy?

When I first got him home:


Petting him, hes rather friendly:


Today in the fish room:








Your help is very much appreciated!

[Lexus]

I wouldnt have bought him to begin with. No the 55g is not big enough. If he flipped out he could jump out or maybe break a heater, light fixture or something else. Plus he looks big enough to eat your catfish. I'd say he could be kept there for a few months before you move with the indoor pond. He does look kindof uncomfortable.

Also its not healthy to pet your fish, it will disrupt their slime coat

[flamingo]

I would say get rid of it as soon as you can or get a bigger pond than a 300 gallon, a 300 won't even fully cater to it's huge size requirements. Of course, it's better than a 55 but still.....

It could be okay two months, just try not to stress him. When I got my first pacu it grew about a foot and flipped out and smashed it's head into the side of the tank and died. Also, like said, your catfish may be in harm. They are herbivorous creatures but any animal will eat meat if given the chance. Mine used to eat feeders for my other fish in the tank all the time.

Also, he does look good, prolly just a little stressed. What are you feeding it? It's scales are nice, nose doesn't have rub marks... seems fine except the size issue.

Just remember these fish have know to get 36 inches, they never really stop growing. Yours is a black pacu also and they tend to get a little bigger then red bellies.