Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Evaluating and adjusting fish populations Pacu

This Pacu was 1 3/4" long 15 months ago. He is now 20" long and 5lbs. I stocked 100 on March 24 05. A poacher has taken about 60, I have taken 6 and will remove any others that are caught. They are eager eaters, there is no plant life in the pond. He was caught on a hotdog, I caught another one a few minutes later on a commercial bread mix that was strawberry flavored. They eat most anything. A really good fighter, many runs and several jumps.
A friend from Sweden is holding the fish.

Neat fish, Rad. Neat trellis, too.

Rad,

Interesting post...those Pacus really grow. The fish pictured looks exactly like the small red Pacu I have now in a micro pond.

Is the Pacu going to become the next Tilapia? I doubt it, but the fish has some great potential as a better grass carp. The fact it dies in the fall due to low water temps is a plus in my mind. If they could help pond owners eliminate the need for chemical weed control and not have the negatives of grass carp, then this may indeed become an option in the future.

Nova pond will have Pacu's next spring as part of an experiment to determine their utility as a replacement grass carp. Rad, I'm sure interested in anything you observe relative to these fish. Thanks.

I am not much of a fish eater, but the pacu was really quite tasty. White meat with a buttery flavor. I read some where that they were difficult to market as filets because of a y shaped bone along the back that was difficult to remove. I over pick at my fish anyway so didn't notice any extra. Couple of interesting things, I can feed them any where in the pond other than the normal feeding site and they will show up, it may take a couple of extra minutes for them to arrive, but they show up. None of my other fish do this, even when all of the pacu are eating. I have never caught more than two at any one time. If I catch any other fish first they will usually not bite. I am not sure if they communicate, but it looks that way. If I were tank raising them I might condition them to eat vegetation before introducing them into the pond. Probably won't make a difference, they chew on every thing, but it might be fun to observe their eating habits. It's fun to watch them attack a half head of cabbage. They surface all day,allover the pond, some times three or four at a time. The frequency increases as it gets closer to feeding time. They are real spooky and several times during the feeding they will panic and fish will fly in all directions, some times traveling 10 to 12 feet in the air. Fun to watch, their colors flash brighter when fighting or flighting, though mine are mostly silver, some have a lot of red, others orange, some have a horizonal black band on their tail, maybe different sexes I don't know. I mentioned before that I gave one to another pond owner and it turned black within a week in his pond. It is a small pond with a fountain and filtration. The fact that they don't breed in a pond and die off in cold water should simplify their management.

Rad,

Is that your pond in the background? If so how big is it? It looks quite large.

Anything you can do about this poacher? How serious does the local law enforcement take poachers?

Rad :

Thanks for the pic. It looks like someone on the far side of the pond and a lady/girl possibly feeding the fish bottom right. The pond looks a little bigger than 3/10s. BTW that brick walk is great and the flowers. How are the Aussie fish ?

Ewest,

Looks a lot bigger than that to me. I guess we'll find out when he emails again.

Re: pond size, I think that it is just deceptive photography. I have a photo taken from the 2nd floor of the house and the pond looks more like a swimming pool.

Law enforcement has no interest in my problem. All of my neighbors, with ponds, complain about fish thieves. I placed a lot of bamboo along the shoreline and that helped protect the larger fish. Then about the time the barramundi were large enough to eat fish in the 1" range the poacher took almost all of my fish in the 1" to 4" range. The pond has yet to recover from that. But, the poacher has not been back since either. The poacher I complain about is using a cast net, I have other poachers using cane poles, one used my hoe to dig my worms, to catch my fish, which he took home in my paint bucket. I should be moving into the house soon and that will stop all but the most determined. I was surprised at how hard I took the first loss and it was even worse when the small fish were taken.
I have not caught a barramundi since the first one. I think I see them, but am not sure. Something has the 4" to 6" tilapia scared, they usually feed on the surface in large numbers. Now only a handful are present. I will start fishing again after I move in and we will see.

That pond is one of the neatest things I've ever seen.

Once again....only on Pond Boss.

Bruce,
Thanks for the kudos,I'll pass it along to the lady/girl as ewest so aptly described her. She is the green thumb.

We were at a nice sized pet/pet supply store yesterday and spent some time in the fish section. I was looking at the tropicals and noting the "Max Size" dimensions (5 inch, 6 inch, 10 inch, etc.). Then I got to some Pacu that look like little brothers to the one Rad's friend is holding above and it says "21 inches." That would be quite a fish! No wonder they get turned loose after growing too large for people's aquariums.

I think the pet store maybe fibbing a little, the world record is near 40 pounds, Don told me he caught one that was 12#. But, you are right many out grow their tanks.

Rad,

Very interesting post - thanks for the pictures and info + best wishes on eliminating the poachers.

Gator

Sunil and Gator,
Thanks for the thoughts.

When I started the pond I never would have guessed all of the facets that were going to be involved. The degree of my emotional involvement was a big surprise to me. Feeding the fish, watching them grow, walking the edge and seeing the new babies, getting angry with a 6 inch tall king fisher when she took my babies to feed her babies.
Feeling good when I provided water for the village during a dry spell, or give fish away to my poorer neighbors, feeling bad when someone takes the fish or plants.
I mean, it is just a small body of water, stocked with store bought fish, whats the big deal?

You know, Rad. You know.