🐟 Red Pacu (Piaractus brachypomus)
A Disc-Shaped Body With a Red Belly and Fins, a Close Piranha Relative • One of the Largest Fish We Sell, Reaching 80cm or More • Needs a Serious, Concrete Long-Term Tank Plan From the Start
 
This species grows very large, commonly reaching 80cm or more in the wild and frequently 50-60cm even in captivity, and we recommend a minimum aquarium size of 750L, with 3000L or more for a fully grown adult. Bringing one home means a real, concrete plan for its eventual size, most Red Pacu outgrow a typical home aquarium within a year or two, so this is a long-term commitment, not an impulse purchase.
 
The Red Pacu, also known as the Red-Bellied Pacu or Pirapitinga, is a close relative of the piranha, sharing a similar disc-shaped, laterally compressed body, though its temperament and diet are entirely different. Juveniles have a silvery body dotted with black spots, with red colouration on the belly, pectoral, and pelvic fins.
It comes from a wide range across South America, in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins, naturally feeding on fallen fruit, nuts, and seeds beneath overhanging riverside trees, aided by remarkably strong, blunt teeth capable of cracking tough shells. Every Red Pacu we ship is feeding well.
Despite its size and its visual resemblance to piranha (a mimicry that likely deters predators in the wild), this is a genuinely peaceful species toward tankmates of a similar size. It's not suited to community tanks with small fish, which it may eventually eat, and it needs a large, open aquarium with excellent filtration to handle the substantial waste a fish of this size produces.
 
💡 Highlights
🔴 Red Belly and Fins: A striking colour against a silvery, spotted juvenile body
🦷 Powerful Crushing Teeth: Strong enough to crack nuts and seeds
⚠️ Grows Very Large: Commonly 50-80cm or more, needs a serious long-term tank plan
😌 Genuinely Peaceful: Calm toward similarly sized tankmates, despite its piranha-like looks
🍉 True Omnivore: A varied diet of fruit, vegetables, and protein