Same Fish In Queens Petshop For 41 Years

I have 4 Pacus in a 600 gallon tank in my basement. They are about the same size if not bigger. We do not feed them feeder fish because of the quality that feeder fish actually are. I make them a special frozen dinner that consists of fresh veggies and food grade fish chunks. Yes, I agree that this guy should be in a bigger tank, however, changing his home now would probably stress him out and kill him. Pacus get to know their tank and boundaries pretty well. They are pretty awesome fish and have great personalities. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK STEVE!

i wonder if that fish has ever actually kissed somebody's butt. that would be pretty horrific, especially for the fish.

+10 for the Beatnuts reference.

You won't think that fish is so cool when he gets into the sewers and starts eating people.

His distant cousins are already in the Gowanus Canal, quietly eating everything that falls in and waiting...patiently waiting...for the hipster gentrifiers.

I knew about the fish because I grew up in Richmond Hill and I had seen it since the early 80s. My Dad said he saw the fish in the 1970s. That fish has outlasted almost every business on Jamaica Avenue. Whenever I would go back to Richmond Hill I'd go get a slice from Alfie's and go visit that fish.

the georgia aquarium website says pacus live 30-35 years, so i guess one living for 41 is possible.

Awesome! The stories revolving around the fish, especially with the holocaust survivor buying and returning the fish then getting into that horrific accident, is worthy of a Will Eisner graphic novel.

And the guy coming back from Nam, recognizing the fish, and deciding to keep it!

I cannot believe this fish is still alive! I remember it from when I was a kid!

I can't never understand the perversion of capturing flying species and imprisoning them in cages much less capturing fishes from their natural habits to keep in small tanks.

I can't vouch for birds, but for fish, these days many fish are aquacultured, especially the more common species. They then lead much happier lives in (properly maintained) fishtanks, where they are fed consistently, and safe from predators. The trick is to be educated about how to properly select and care for fish.

tl;dr - fish are cool in tanks. but you gotta read up first.

cool for you perhaps not for the fish you are deprived of their natural home. Why take them from the vast water to dump unto a tank. shame.

Cool for you perhaps but not the fish. You deprived them of their natural habit. Why take them from the vast waters to dump them unto a tank. shame.

You weep for the fish.

I can't vouch for birds, but for fish, these days many fish are aquacultured, especially the more common species. They then lead much happier lives in (properly maintained) fishtanks, where they are fed consistently, and safe from predators. The trick is to be educated about how to properly select and care for fish.

tl;dr - fish are cool in tanks. but you gotta read up first.

How does one know if a fish is happy? Does it smile?

Obviously they don't smile, but similar to other animals that live in captive vs. wild scenarios, there are behaviors that indicate normal life. For example, a "happy" Clownfish will attempt to "host" somewhere in an aquarium, will exhibit normal eating patterns, will defend it's territory, will have clear eyes, and bright coloration.

A stressed/unhappy clownfish will swim in circles, hide in rockwork, aggressively attack its neighbors, abuse non-predator invertebrates, attempt to jump out of the tank, swim continuously against the tank wall, lose color, ragged fins, etc.

Pacus, I have no idea about, I'm a saltwater guy.

Seriously, get the fish a BIGGER F*CKING TANK!!!! How would you liked to be cooped up in a tight little spot like that for 41 years!??

well it's obviously survived for 41 years already, so...

75 gallons is pretty big.

Yes, 75gal is big. But its really not enough for that monster.

Probably a 125gal. Or better yet, put it in a pond on ground level.

Like my work cubicle?

Are you are confined there 24/7? And unlike the fish, you obviously have the internet to relieve the tedium.

John kuhner, are you the same John Kuhner from this story?

Hey John Kuhner, are you the same John Kuhner from this story:

http://gothamist.com/2009/07/07/smart_guy_gets_rounded_up_in_late_n.php

That's awesome...but maybe he deserves a larger tank after all these years?

for serious.

looks like that place hasn't been cleaned since 1970 either.

Pacus eat leafy vegetables too. A fish on a feeder-fish diet will never live that long, the percentage of goldfish that have diseases is very high given the way they breed them.

Uh, apparently he has lived that long eating other fish. Also, newsflash: animals eat other animals. Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone!

I grew up on Queens and used to frequent Cameo pet shop when I was in grammar school in the 80's. That fish was there in the early 80s.

How much blow did he do in those days?