Scalz

These are species of fish that I personally do not recommend to most aquarists!

Pacus (Colossoma) and Relatives-True gluttonous giants! Some of these fish are very endearing as youngsters but have a voracious appetite for plants, growing to over two feet in length and over 35 lbs in weight! They only do well in very large tanks or heated ponds!

Red-tailed Catfish (Phractocephalus hemiliopterus)-A beautiful but dangerous giant, the appetite of the young fish quickly grow them up into mature adults over 48″ in length and well over 120 lbs in weight! These should only be kept if a large pond or aquarium over 8 x 4′ and their feeding behavior is aggressive!

Peacock Bass (Genus Cichla)-These should only be kept by those aquarists willing to house these fish in very large tanks over 200 gallons! As juveniles, these gorgeous fish do fine as specimen fish and may get along with each other. As they mature, they become quite aggressive and territorial! They also have tremendous appetites, gigantic mouths, fast metabolism and are susceptible to disease!

True Gars (Genus Atractosteus and Leiopesthes)-Very difficult to acclimate, these strong and toothy predators are illegal to possess in some states and grow very large and very quickly! They command a lot of respect and are prone to jumping or injuring themselves in tight quarters! In some states they are illegal to possess because of their potentially invasive nature.

Giant Asian Shark Catfish (Pangasianodon and Pangasius)-Some species are imperiled in the wild and all species are prone to injury in aquarium conditions as they require lots of swimming room as they mature. They quickly rub their eyes and snouts raw as they swim along the sides of their enclosures! Should be left in the swift rivers where they are from. Sadly, they are overharvested for food in the wild!

Freshwater Stingrays (Potamotrygon and Relatives)-Absolutely dangerous creatures, some people have died from the wounds inflicted by the jagged barbs of their stingers! Most grow too large for home aquariums and often, they do not adapt to captivity well. If you plan on keeping these then please do research on legality and husbandry needs first!