Monster Fish Rescue Website

THE PACU One of the most problematic monster fish in the United States, these beasts grow to over 30” and can weigh up to 50 pounds!! Often sold at Walmart as “great companions for cichlids”… There’s two different kinds of pacu. The black pacu and the red bellied pacu. If you find yourself in possession of either one you may want to give me a ring. LOL! In order for pacu to be happy and healthy they need HUGE confines. Not to mention they’re happiest in schools. Pacus will mimic piranha for protection when young. But as they grow, who’s gonna bother a three foot fifty pound fish? For more facts on the black pacu (the more common one sold) check out this site, especially the third entry: http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_pacu.php	Piaractus brachypomus The Black Pacu Colossoma bidens The Red Bellied Pacu	THE OSCAR The oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) is commonly sold at pet stores around the world. While they make great wet pets they do get big, not only do the get big but they're very messy. It's important to give them the space they need and to have "over-filtered" water. These brutes stake out large territories in the wild when they spawn and males will simply not tolerate each other in small quarters. Absolute minimum size tank for these guys is a bare 55 gallon, meaning no decor. Ideally a single specimen would be comfortable for life in a 75 gallon. You can give them a ping pong ball for something to play with and you can use sand or gravel as a substrate. On rare occasions oscars will grow to 16" but most will stay around 12"
Silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum) The Silver arowana is another large growing species of fish from the Amazon basin. They can grow to four feet and also require large confines. They are graceful swimmers and are often available to purchase at your local pet shop. There are many varieties of arowana but the silver aro is the most common. Please think twice before purchasing one of these eating machines as they too grow at a fast rate	Silver Arowana (Osteoglossum bicirrhosum)	The South American Redtail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus) This is one of many large growing readily available catfish. These catfish can grow to five feet and require very large aquariums. The grow extremely quick and can live for a very long time. The recommended holding tank for something like this is at least a 2000 gallon stock tank. The circular shape of a stock tank is perfect for this fish. If you're not prepared to give one of these fish the space it needs then please do not purchase this fish!	The South American Redtail Catfish (Phractocephalus hemioliopterus)
The Common pleco (Liposarcus pardalis) The common pleco is sold as an algae eater and most will do a fine job until they reach about 6". At that point it seems as if they give up on keeping your tank free of algae and start going to the surface to eat or waiting for prepared foods to hit the bottom. They've got a big appetite and can grow to over two feet! Common plecos are becoming a problem in the southern United states as most people who don't know what to do with them release them into their local bodies of water.	The Common pleco (Liposarcus pardalis)	The Clown Knife The Clown Knife fish (Chitala (Notopterus) chitala) is another common monster sold at even Walmart (I'm rolling my eyes) These guys get up to 30" if not bigger! They require huge confines to live comfortably. They're a graceful fish and don't let their small looking mouth fool you. It opens very wide to eat live prey.	The Clown Knife (Chitala (Notopterus) chitala) Photo credit: Clare and Karl Baxter
Tiger Shovelnose Catfish (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) often referred to is also another fast growing South American catfish. As a pup it's a very attractive fish but will grow to 20" in it's first year of life! Like most of these large predatory cats they require pristine water conditions which means you'll need to be prepared to do lots of water changes, not tomention one of those 2000 gallon stock tanks to provide it with a home for its 30 years of life.	Tiger Shovelnose Catfish (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum)	The Asian Redtailed Catfish (Hemibagrus wyckioides) These guys are quite possibly the most aggressive fresh water fish on the planet. If kept with other fish that won't fit in it's mouth it will simply tear chunks off of them. They grow to approx. 30" and pack quite a punch! Be careful when putting your hands in the tank with these brutes! They're not recommended for the faint of heart!	The Asian Redtailed Catfish (Hemibagrus wyckioides)
Bala Sharks (Balantiocheilus melanopterus) Yet another common misplaced fish that's sold in the pet trade as a great community fish. These "sharks" grow to over a foot and they enjoy the company of their own kind. Which means in order to properly house them they need lots of room. It seems they prefer to be in numbers of three or greater and they are fast swimmers, so long tanks are required!	Bala Sharks (Balantiocheilus melanopterus) Photo credit: Richard Brown	The Iridescent shark, (Pangassius hypopthalmus) The Iridescent shark is another readily available tank buster fish that is sold to unwary fish keepers. Make no mistake, thease guys get big, 36" big! Not for your average aquarist, yet they're sold for under $5 at most stores. Some claim they only grow to about 12".... Take it from me they get much bigger!	The Iridescent shark, (Pangassius hypopthalmus) Photo credit: Gage Merrell
The tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) The tinfoil barb is a fast growing Asian fish that is often sold for cheap prices at pet shops simply because they take up to much space. Often sold around the 2-8 inch mark, they can reach 12 inches or more in length. Your going to need a 75 gallon tank to house these guys, not to mention they prefer to live in groups. Written by, Artemis	Please be patient! Work is being done to improve the site for you! Pictures and more info will be added! Thanks!	Peacock Bass (Cichla ocellaris) (butterfly peacock bass) The peacock bass, or Tucanare is one heck of a fish. Reaching three feet in the wild, and able to swallow fish half it’ s size, this fish puts Godzilla to shame. Often sold at pet shops, this fish it a big hit in many due to it’s pretty colors. There are many varieties to choose from. Written by, Artemis
Clown Loach (Chromobotia macracanthus) Sadly, the clown loach is sold at most pet shops, and few realize the can grow to 16’’ in length. Luckily, it this fish takes ten years to grow to it’s full length, growing a mere one inch a year after it hits two inches. Written by, Artemis		Piranha The piranha is often found in the hobby because of it’s reputation of a fearsome predator, the piranha is a lot more subtle than many think. Never the less, the piranha is very present in the hobby. Able to reach sizes of up to 14 inches, not to mention preferring to live in schools, few owners of this animal can actually care for it properly. I would recommend a tank of at least 100 gallon for a school of four to five individuals. Written by, Artemis
Giant Gouramy (Osphronemus gouramy) If you find yourself in possession with one of these monsters, you better call us, and quick! Although only growing up to lengths of two feet, this air-breathing fish is just as high-bodied! Please think twice about buying these “cute” little fish found at many pet shops. Written by, Artemis		Dorado At first sight, the dorado looks like a gold colored trout, hence the name dorado. A member of the characins family, the dorado can easily grow over a foot and will eliminate other tank- mates at ease. Not a good choice for the average aquarist. Written by, Artemis
Arapaima (Arapaima gigas) The arapaima is the ultimate monster fish. Easily the biggest fish on this list, a fully grown arapaima could measure over ten feet! Often sold at small pet shops, your going to need a 10,000 gallon tank to keep ones of these happy! Not only this, but this endangered fish will happily gulp down anything under three feet! Written by, Artemis		Lima Shovelnose(Sorubim Lima) Also known as the duck-billed or common shovelnose catfish, these fish are not much different from they’re tiger patterned counter-parts. Although much smaller, generally growing from 16-20 inches, these interesting shovel-nosed catfish have a big appetite in the home aquarium. Please don’t buy this fish unless you have an aquarium of at least 125 gallons. Written by, Artemis
SnakeHeads (There are two genera, Channa in Asia, and Parachanna in Africa, consisting of 30 species.) Here’s a fish that shames piranhas. There are several varieties, but none are as fearsome as the red snake head. Often growing over three feet in length, this fish has a bite powerful enough to require stitches! Please think twice before purchasing one of these fish. Written by, Artemis		Zebra Shovelnose(Merodontus Tigrinus) The zebra shovelnose is the tiger shovelnose all over again. Often much more expensive and harder to find, the zebra shovelnose is just as swift and predatory as the TSN. Luckily, this fish reaches only two feet in length when fully grown but still needs large confines! Written by, Artemis
Lungfish a group of fish belonging to the families Ceratodontidae and Lepidosirenidae Known for it’s ability to breathe air, the lungfish is a popular pet. If you order one from an online supplier, you will receive a package of mud. Put the mud in water, and a lungfish, very much alive will swim out. Sadly, these fish are suitable for only the dedicated hobbyist, growing three feet long, and requiring aquariums of at least two hundred gallons. Written by, Artemis		Ripsaw Catfish(pseododoras niger) The ripsaw catfish is luckily one of the less common monster fishes to find, but never the less, they’re out there, and they get BIG! At first sight, they look like a giant corydoras catfish with spines running down it’s back, and actually, this is exactly what it is. Written by, Artemis