Knife Barracuda
freshwater barracuda compatability?
I have a 500 gallon custom made tank. Is there a type of freshwater barracuda that will be able to fit in there and what can it co-exist with. I’ve never owned one before but have been lookin up on them. And can you find them only online because every petstore i have been to doesnt have them and they seem kind of reluctant to even order them
Also in the tank: 2 senegal bichirs, knife fish, lima shovelnose catfish
….and dont copy and paste wikipedia please….
Freshwater Barracuda are from the family Acestrorhynchidae. They are closely related to Tetras (Charicins) and come from South America in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, with a few species further south. There are about fifteen species. The most commonly available in the pet trade is Acestrorhynchus falcatus, the Red-Tailed Barracuda or Spotted Cacharro. They reach a length of about 10 inches and are predatory, feeding on live fish. They are difficult to get onto frozen/prepared foods. The tankmates you describe would be fine together with this species. Be warned though, it is an extremely good jumper so make sure the tank is covered. They are also fast swimmers and need plenty of space, which you obviously have, so no problem there.
Another species often sold as a freshwater barracuda is the Hujeta Gar, or Rocket Gar/Pike (Ctenolucius hujeta hujeta). These are smaller species from the family Ctenoluciidae, also a relative of the Characins. They only reach a length of about 6 inches, so would probably be dinner for the other fish you have.
The only other concern is acquiring a specimen at least half the length of the largest fish in your tank, to prevent someone getting eaten.
Knife Fight: Barracuda vs. Box