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The Freshwater BarracudaA Difficult Fish to Raise in a Home Aquarium
The Freshwater Barracuda is a predatory fish by nature, expensive to feed, needs lots of aquarium space and caution must be taken when finding compatible tank mates.
The Freshwater Barracuda or Hujeta is a gar-like characin that lives throughout the Amazon and Orinoco in South America and its many tributaries. The color of the fish can range from white to silver and this varies depending on the environment and mood of the barracuda. Although it’s not aggressive, the Freshwater Barracuda is a fierce predator. Characteristics of the Freshwater BarracudaAll fins on this fish are very rounded plus the dorsal and anal fins set far back; almost at the location of the caudal fin. There is a black ocellatus mark at the rear of the fish. The body of the Freshwater Barracuda is elongated and spiny. The mouth extends to just below the eye and it forms a beak-like snout full of rows of very sharp teeth. Large nostril flaps are seen towards the tip of the mouth. In some species, there is a noticeable bulb at the end of the upper lip. When ready to attack its prey, it coils itself into a shape resembling the letter “s”, then springs forward in a powerful lunge. Once caught in its powerful jaws, it is unlikely any prey will get away. The barracuda then moves the prey into position which is head first and then swallows it. In the wild, barracudas hunt in schools and devour many other types of schooling fish. Keeping a Freshwater Barracuda in an AquariumIf kept in an aquarium, a minimum of a 135-gallon six-foot tank would be needed (or even bigger). In the wild, Freshwater Barracudas reach 28 to 30 inches in length but in captivity, they may only reach ten inches in length. This is still a large fish for an aquarium. Provide dense vegetation, driftwood and rocks as hiding places in the tank. The Freshwater Barracuda is a top swimmer, so a well-sealed aquarium lid is needed. Because these fish grow big, you should add a little weight on the lid so it doesn’t get knocked off. The water should have a neutral PH and a temperature of 70 degrees to 84 degrees and well-aged before introducing the fish to your tank. The water should be kept well-filtered and aerated in order for your Freshwater Barracuda to grow and thrive. Feeding a Freshwater BarracudaThese fish eat live food such as feeder gold fish, worms and other soft bodied organisms. It is very difficult to get Freshwater Barracudas to eat frozen, dehydrated or flaked foods. Freshwater Barracuda CompatibilityThe ideal tank mates are fish that are peaceful and big enough to not be swallowed by the Freshwater Barracuda. Other large predatory characins such as cachorros are ideal for sharing an aquarium. Breeding the Freshwater BarracudaTo set up a breeding colony, it is recommended to have two males for every female fish. The tank water temperature should be around 80 degrees. The biggest drawback to raising Freshwater Barracudas is the requirement to maintain a large-sized aquarium and the need to keep their food alive until it is eaten.
The copyright of the article The Freshwater Barracuda in Freshwater Fish is owned by Douglas DuHamel. Permission to republish The Freshwater Barracuda in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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