Barracuda?
- Thread starter smurf04
- Start date
pinkie
New member
I don't know much, but I do know that they get around 3' in length, need extreme amounts of swimming room, and are so aggressive that they will even cannibalize their own species. Had it happen to me on a fishing trip as I was reeling one in. Thats a species best left to the ocean!
That is the important question. People with big enough tanks to house something like that are rare. Even rarer are people with large enough tanks with both the space and wiliness to take something like that when it outgrows your tank in short order.
Most of the time, aquariums and zoos will not take fish from hobbiest. IMO, this is a poor way of thinking....no one should buy a fish they know they will not be able to properly house in the future with the idea that they can just donate it later...
Besides this, I don't think you specified what species it is. Do you know?
Besides this, I don't think you specified what species it is. Do you know?
smurf04
New member
no need to flame someone for showing interest in something! There is a reason for asking questions instead of just jumping into stuff. If the intent was to buy and get rid of later then I would have already done it, instead I asked questions!
And no i dont know the species yet?
And no i dont know the species yet?
I worked at a LFS and we got a couple of them by mistake. We had a pretty big fish only display tank. The fish were only about 4 inches or so. They were very shy at first but became very aggressive and I don't think they are really appropriate for captivity. they get so big and are such fast swimmers I doubt there are many tanks out there that are appropriate for them. I don't know about you, but baracudda tastes pretty good. If it got to big for my tank I think I would probably eat it.
badbrady06
New member
I'M WITH JAMES WHEN IT OUTGROWS YOUR TANK LEMON BUTTER N PEPPER THROW IT ON THE GRILL
smurf04
New member
While it might be far from it to you its pretty insulting to say that I have a poor manner of thinking. I understand that full grown it can be thousands of gallons the thread was to show interest and gather information not to express ones opinion on weather its wrong to keep on in captivity, although i realize it can be cruel but, "you dont know what you dont know"
cybrsufr
In Memoriam
Even at 4" it would not be appropriate for a personal tank unless you had something in the 500-600 gallon range. The reason I say this is that Barracuda's are a very fast fish and they are what is called a pelagic fish and require extreme amounts of room to swim. Pelagics are fish that do not stay around a reef or close to shore, their primary home is the open oceans far away from land. Being a Master Wreck Diver, I see these guys all the time. There are a couple different species with the smallest getting to around 3 feet in length fully grown and the Great Barracuda's can exceed 6 feet or more. They are VERY aggressive and I have personally witnessed them on more than one occasion literally ripping through a fish with one run. It hit the fish and just sliced it in half instantly. All of the teeth in its head are RAZOR sharp and it is VERY capable of removing your finger if it is in the way or it thinks it is food. This would be as others have said like keeping a shark or other large pelagic fish in captivity. Best left to the Professional Marine Biologists in huge aquariums or left in the ocean. Thats just my two cents worth though.
<font color="sienna">WreckDiver </font> </b>
<i><font size="1"><font color="teal">aka: CyBrSuFr</font> </font> </i>
<font color="sienna">WreckDiver </font> </b>
<i><font size="1"><font color="teal">aka: CyBrSuFr</font> </font> </i>
Saltwaterstart
New member
There was a 1' barracuda in the LFS in Kitchener Ontario for quite a while actually. It had a lot of personality, but it was only in a 50 gallon tank. It looked incredibly cramped. I don't know whether it was bought or died in the tank. It was pretty cheap as it went for only $500.
If you don't have a tank over 1000 gallons, I don't know whether it is a good idea to get one.
They are a great looking fish though!
If you don't have a tank over 1000 gallons, I don't know whether it is a good idea to get one.
They are a great looking fish though!
Red Crayon
New member
Hold it, look what I found
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1110
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?pCatId=1110
cybrsufr
In Memoriam
I wonder if that is the same species Smurf saw in the LFS. I had never heard of a freshwater Barracuda until now. That is interesting. I wonder if it is true freshwater or Brackish and could be acclimated to a SW aquarium. I also wonder if it has the same real nasty disposition of its SW cousins.
<font color="sienna">WreckDiver </font> </b>
<i><font size="1"><font color="teal">aka: CyBrSuFr</font> </font> </i>
<font color="sienna">WreckDiver </font> </b>
<i><font size="1"><font color="teal">aka: CyBrSuFr</font> </font> </i>
It's a true Freshwater fish in the Tetra (Characin) family. The same family as Neon Tetra's and Piranah. They are a highly predatory fish, just like the Barracuda that they superficially resemble. You'd need a freshwater tank for them, but you wouldn't have to worry about them growing to 6' 
