Pirapatinga

Water parameters

Minimum tank: 2500 L per individual at harvest size.

Feed and growth

Feed protein

30% target

Daily feed (warm)

1.20% of body weight

Daily feed (cool)

0.50% of body weight

Max density

30 g per litre

A 8000 g adult eats about 96.0 g of feed per day at optimum. 10 fish at adult size: ~960 g daily.

Legality

Rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Verify with your local fisheries or wildlife authority before stocking.

Unlisted jurisdictions default to "check local regulations".

Origin and habitat

Native to the Amazon and Orinoco River basins in South America, particularly Brazil, Venezuela, and Colombia. The species (Piaractus brachypomus) is closely related to tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) and shares the same family (Serrasalmidae) as piranhas. Often called red-bellied pacu or pirapitinga, the species has a distinctive red-orange ventral coloring, particularly in juveniles. Adults reach 80 cm and 20 kg in the wild; culture harvest size is typically 0.8–2 kg. Pirapatinga are omnivorous with a strong herbivorous tendency, feeding on fruits, seeds, insects, and plant material in wild flooded forest habitats. The species is widely cultured across South America and has been introduced to aquaculture operations in tropical Asia, particularly in Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The flesh is white, firm, and mild with moderate fat content.

Climate and outdoor ponds

Climate

tropical (needs warm water year-round)

USDA zones

10–13 (winter low around -1°C or warmer)

Heating needed

yes

Cooling needed

no

Care notes

A warm-water food fish for tropical aquaponics, very similar in care requirements to tambaqui (black pacu). Optimal temperature is 24–30°C; growth slows below 22°C and stops below 18°C. Growth: 0.8–1.5 kg in 10-14 months on commercial pellet (28-35% protein). FCR is 1.4-1.9, slightly less efficient than tambaqui. Like other large pacu species, pirapatinga eat plant material, fruit, and vegetable waste, which reduces reliance on commercial pellet in integrated aquaponics systems. Stocking density: 15-30 g/L. Water quality tolerance is moderate to good: DO above 3 mg/L, pH 6.0-8.0, ammonia below 2 mg/L. Pirapatinga are schooling fish and do best in groups of 3 or more. Cannibalism is not a major concern because the species is primarily herbivorous, but size-grading is still good practice. Fingerlings are available from hatcheries in Brazil, Colombia, and tropical Asian countries. In the US, pirapatinga is regulated similarly to other pacu species; check state regulations. The species is often hybridized with tambaqui in Brazilian aquaculture (the hybrid is called tambacu) to combine the fast growth of tambaqui with the cold tolerance of pirapatinga.

Further reading

• Aquaponics water chemistry: balancing pH for fish and plants
• Fish for aquaponics: tilapia vs everything else