What do you think about a barracuda?

aquaknight

Active Member
Tasty only when young, to avoid ciguatera....

Oh, yea, definitely not sustainable for ANYONE'S
tank. Most public aquariums also avoid this species...
Because no one can really house a 6 foot missile that is known as a Barracuda....
 

crypt keeper

Active Member
Originally Posted by Skidemon95
http:///forum/post/3171152
ok... any reasoning behind that?
because they grow bigger than most people will kill anything you ever put in there and they need an entire ocean. The fact that your lfs has one is sad.
 

ophiura

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cranberry
http:///forum/post/3171162
Those things are longer than I am tall.
Completely and totally inappropriate for any hobbyist to keep, and yes, I have experience with their husbandry in a 50,000g+ tank.
Of course that is assuming it is what they say it is.
 
J

jabari

Guest
Originally Posted by crypt keeper
http:///forum/post/3171159
because they grow bigger than most people will kill anything you ever put in there and they need an entire ocean. The fact that your lfs has one is sad.
My lfs has had a foot long baracuda in their 180g for about a year or so, along with a big trigger, a big wrasse and a couple of other fish and it doesn't seem the least bit aggressive to them
 

cranberry

Active Member
Read a little about them. Look at the adults in the wild. You will quickly learn they are not a peaceful little fish.
 

crypt keeper

Active Member
Originally Posted by Jabari
http:///forum/post/3171382
My lfs has had a foot long baracuda in their 180g for about a year or so, along with a big trigger, a big wrasse and a couple of other fish and it doesn't seem the least bit aggressive to them
Take pictures. I dont believe it. Also a foot long Cuda is a baby. This fish is an aggressive predator. Divers are told to stay away from them when they go out. Just let it be. Yes it would be awesome as hell to have one but dont be that guy who has a barracuda they can no longer house. Nobody will take it off your hands.
 

srfisher17

Active Member
Possibly the worst candidate for the home tank that I've ever seen on the market. One online dealer that carried them for a while (they advised "only for large public aquaria") told me 90% die before they ever reach the hobbyist. I once saw a fish at a lfs labled " barracuda"; it wasn't, I'm sure it was a small Spanish mackerel. they're fun to catch on light tackle, fun to swim with, and small ones taste great, though. At $60, I doubt the fish at the lfs are the real thing. The space demands and mortality rates of this fish would drive the price much higher. Are you sure that this isn't a FW fishAcestrorhynchus falcatus?
 

srfisher17

Active Member
Originally Posted by Jabari
http:///forum/post/3171382
My lfs has had a foot long baracuda in their 180g for about a year or so, along with a big trigger, a big wrasse and a couple of other fish and it doesn't seem the least bit aggressive to them
Cudas don't bother fish that they can't eat whole; they don't take bites like sharks do. Also, most big predators know not to try swallowing a triggerfish. I could be wrong, but if they've had a fish for a year in a 180; I doubt that it is a real barracuda.
Edit: I assume we're talking about the Great Barracuda, common in the Keys and all over the tropical W. Atlantic & Caribbean. I always forget about Pacific Barracuda, a much smaller and less vicious looking fish; I've never heard of them being sold to hobbiests, though.
 

dragonzim

Active Member
Species that should absolutely be left in the wild. I've seen them while diving in Mexico. Easily get to 6 feet long and will eat ANYTHING they can catch, and they can catch anything. They will also go after anything shiny so if you reach in the tank with any jewelry on your hand can end up a meal
 

skidemon95

Member
Originally Posted by srfisher17
http:///forum/post/3171444
Possibly the worst candidate for the home tank that I've ever seen on the market. One online dealer that carried them for a while (they advised "only for large public aquaria") told me 90% die before they ever reach the hobbyist. I once saw a fish at a lfs labled " barracuda"; it wasn't, I'm sure it was a small Spanish mackerel. they're fun to catch on light tackle, fun to swim with, and small ones taste great, though. At $60, I doubt the fish at the lfs are the real thing. The space demands and mortality rates of this fish would drive the price much higher. Are you sure that this isn't a FW fishAcestrorhynchus falcatus?
the one at my lfs is the real deal. he had 2 like 2 months ago and someone bought both. they were like 6-8'' long.
 

ophiura

Active Member
The barracuda does not "appear" to be an aggressive fish. Frankly, nor do sharks. Its not like they all swim around attacking everything. Barracuda are ambush attack predators. They lurk and wait, and typically are predatory at twlight (dawn and dusk), though other opportunities won't be ignored.
The one I assisted in caring for had one of the tell tale signs of barracuda in captivity - a bashed snout, from running at high speed into the tank wall.
 

scsinet

Active Member
If you like that particular shape/style of fish, set up a large freshwater tank and put an arowana in it.
 
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