Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yes, they are "vego's" but they actually prefer fruits and nuts. They tell a bit of a joke saying that if you ever catch your Pacu eating fry, fingerlings, fingers, a rabitt, or your dog, take it back to the pet shop,... they accidentally gave you a piranah.

Wadeo, just curious, you said you can vouch for their growth rates, ... do you know what kind of Pacu you have? Red Bellied, Black, etc. ??

and just why would they so dislike this fish?? it is not a predator, and does not breed at all profusely, and seems to not compete with much of anything. Very curious. (I know they look scary to some people, with their human looking teeth).

It is a shame you pay some much over there, we can get them here for $5-7 each, in larger quantities they are cheaper of course.

We have very strong customs and quarantine laws in australia, to try to maintain our unique ecology.
We have had some problems in the past, rabbits, foxes, cane toads, european wasps, european carp, tropical abalone, southern pacific sea star, crown of thorns.
These are all having a detrimental effect on our environment.
There are a couple that aren't doing much damage, but only a couple.
So, our strict quarantine laws, ban what they don't understand.
Slowly but surely some things are allowed that were previously banned, but popularity but go pretty high before that happens.
because we are an island nation, it is much easier for us to maintain our quarantine, and for that we are lucky, even though we're restricted.

hmm, ok.

Hey Wade, good to see you posting finally

Matthew, just think of carp in the USA and how nice it would have been if they were never introduced.

There have been many a fine trout lake ruined in the USA because someone decided that it would really benefit from a few Northern Pike.

And, once the exotic is loose, there is no turning back.

Hmmm, you all got me thinking - I know someone here who harvests fish for aquariums - if these Pacu are that popular up there, he will have them for sure. If I remember right, I can buy whatever fish like them from him for a dollar each or less. (hey, we are near the source!)

CRTD, I think you may start annoying certain people again

Just imagine how annoying it is going to be to see the backhoe leveling my aquaponic area next week...

Nah, F&F has had one of them for ages... he's already the envy of the AP community. You'd just be a copycat

Great, someone to take the pressure off!

Forget a backhoe, I used a 160 ton excavator. Barely fit behind my house, but it made short work of frozen ground....

I can see a trend here - some of us just don't know the meaning of excess...

So can some one tell us a little more detail about Pacu? Where are they from? What sort of conditions do they like? What do they eat? Growth rate, Breeding? Where would one get them?

Hi TC, I've found some stuff and will get it posted later in the evening.

Amacatfish,
Cool thanks. I hope you will also share some of your knowledge on channel catfish in the channel catfish thread I just started.

Thanks