Mystery Fish - DPChallenge Forums

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

08/10/2008 05:41:16 PM · #1

This is Buttercup. We're not sure what it is, but would really like to know. My younger brother in one of his not so much brighter moments got it from a guy at the local mall for free because he didn't want it anymore. Needless to say, we're not sure of it's species, or if we're even supposed to have it (legally). Any help would be awesome, we're making a trip to the pet store tomorrow with a photo to see if they know too.

pixelpig

Sony Alpha a55

Sony DT 1.8/50mm SAM

08/10/2008 05:54:24 PM · #2

I think it is a Piranha. May be illegal.

vxpra

Pentax K100D

08/10/2008 05:54:56 PM · #3

My first thought is that its a Tambaqui. But the nose looks more rounded- probably the same family.

That is one big fish. I am guessing the tank its in is a 55, and is way too small for that fish- which is why the guy at the mall was probably wanting to give it away.

From Wikipedia

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

08/10/2008 05:58:14 PM · #4

Originally posted by pixelpig:

I think it is a Piranha. May be illegal.

I was assured it's not a carnivore, that it eats red lettuce.

Originally posted by vxpra:

I do know the tank is too small for it, we're trying to find another home, but it was living in a cardboard box when we got it. Thanks

vxpra

Pentax K100D

08/10/2008 06:01:03 PM · #5

Originally posted by Krystle:

I do know the tank is too small for it, we're trying to find another home, but it was living in a cardboard box when we got it. Thanks

I actually didn't man anything by my comment, beyond the cost of a tank larger than 55 gallons skyrockets, not to mention the space required for one is an issue in most homes.

How did he have it in a cardboard box?

Message edited by author 2008-08-10 18:01:29.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

08/10/2008 06:04:43 PM · #6

oh just wanted to say it anyway :) did some other looking at the species you mentioned, and it looks like my fish has a rounder head?

he had it in a plastic bag full of water, in a large cardboard box lined with styrofoam, with an air pump into it.. so even this tank is better than it's earlier home.

JamesKW

Canon EOS-5D

08/10/2008 06:08:47 PM · #7

Originally posted by pixelpig:

I think it is a Piranha. May be illegal.

That is what it looks like to me as well.

Piranha

rcrawford

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 16-85 f/3.5-5.6G ED VR

08/10/2008 06:11:17 PM · #8

Might be a Red Bellied Pacu. Click Here

JamesKW

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

08/10/2008 06:13:44 PM · #9

After looking some more...."The piranha's vegetarian relatives, known as pacus." from this article:
Article
Although is does say that Piranha's will eat vegetables.

Message edited by author 2008-08-10 18:15:06.

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

08/10/2008 06:16:45 PM · #10

That looks like a pacu to me. Good luck finding an aquarium big enough. It's a vegetarian piranha that can grow to over 30" in captivity. Their teeth are rounded, but the can still give a very nasty bite. Don't even think of dumping it in a lake. The good news is that they supposedly taste similar to rainbow trout. ;-)

chesire

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/10/2008 06:17:20 PM · #11

Maybe your local zoo has an aquarium??? I've seen fish like that in ours, but they're.. well huge like 4-5 feet head to tail.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

08/10/2008 06:21:15 PM · #12

Originally posted by chesire:

Maybe your local zoo has an aquarium??? I've seen fish like that in ours, but they're.. well huge like 4-5 feet head to tail.

that's... um... very large for an aquarium fish.. or at least the ones i'm keeping cause i'm only 5' long....

Originally posted by scalvert:

well, it doesn't have any teeth, i went and stared at it and fed it some so i could see, no teeth. :) so i guess we'll go with a pacu.. and if it has to go away, don't worry, i won't flush it or throw it in the lake, of course!

Falc

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

08/10/2008 06:21:41 PM · #13

Pacu

Message edited by author 2008-08-10 18:22:45.

chesire

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/10/2008 06:24:57 PM · #14

Originally posted by Krystle:

Originally posted by chesire:
Maybe your local zoo has an aquarium??? I've seen fish like that in ours, but they're.. well huge like 4-5 feet head to tail.

that's... um... very large for an aquarium fish.. or at least the ones i'm keeping cause i'm only 5' long....

It's a rather large aquarium :) about 100 yards in lenght 50 feet deep. Has a tunnel built into it so you can get up close to fish. Including Rays and sharks and that kinda thing. I'll look for a picture.

Nuno

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/11/2008 06:04:53 PM · #15

It shure looks a lot like a Piranha.

Piranha is a flesh eating fish and in the wild the large groups of piranhas are capable of eating an ox in a matter of minutes.

they are illegal in most areas because they are very mean and resistant, and there are cases where people had them in small tanks and they grew up a lot and they where "set free" in local pounds and lakes, and female piranhas that where pregnant gave birth to a lot of piranhas that withough any predators dizimated the native population of those areas.

Know in pet stores they only sell the vegetarian variety because of this.

no0rmally th eflesh eating spicies have a red tommy, but you can do a simple test with a piece of meat or shrimp.

Good luck!

kenskid

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

08/11/2008 07:26:46 PM · #16

You dummies...

....this is an easy fish to identify.

It's scientific name is Toobigisfish forhistankus

chesire

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

08/11/2008 07:34:28 PM · #17

Hey so what did you find out???? Did they know what it was?

Foolish Ice

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

08/11/2008 08:16:48 PM · #18

If I had to guess from the picture it's a Black Pacu.

//www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pacu.php