Keeping Freshwater Barracudas

by Tom Lorenz

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First off let me thank Brian Scott and TFH for originally publishing this article almost a year ago. I've really enjoyed sharing this information and all of the feedback and continued success of people taking care of these fish! These are all pics of my cudas that I have kept. I have no problem with people using them, just give me credit for them (cash would be nice too! ) The above pic is everywhere on the internet, they were my first falcatus, fantastic fish!



Salt-water barracudas are remarkable predatory fish. This is demonstrated by their famous name, which is even used outside of fish references! They have no close fresh-water relatives but this doesn’t prevent the application of this descriptive moniker. Several fresh-water fish share the name “barracuda�. Livebearers of the genus Belonesox and gar characins of the genus Ctenolucius are two examples, both being sharp toothed freshwater predators that snatch food with speed.

The prize for speed and visible teeth, however, goes to a dozen or so characins belonging to the genus Acestrorhynchus. These fresh-water barracudas (or “Acestrorhynchin� or “acestros� or “aces�) are an exclusively South American group of small predators (usually under 12�) with huge eyes, toothy jaws, and a rapid attack largely reserved for fish prey. Their savage attacks and looks, as well as their common name, provide an idea of a fish quite different from what ends up in the aquarium. This creates many problems that often lead to the cuda’s demise in captivity. Fortunately, it is easy to avoid these pitfalls and enjoy a very unique animal.

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Figure 2. I had to show a pic of how you can get beautiful irridescence on falcatus. They're not just shiny Monster'''''s!


About half of the fifteen species are found in the hobby. This is fine, considering that the range of body plans and sizes are still covered by what’s available. The biggest problem with finding cudas is that they are rarely in more than a couple locations at any given time. The other problem is, again, this name game. Often other fish are listed as fresh water barracudas, and 90% of the time sellers do not know which of the species they have. Understanding the names (common and scientific) of the more common cudas will help.

Species of Acestrorhynchus

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Figure 3. Similarly sized acestros go well together, as with this falcatus and falcirostris. Always remember the 2/3rds rule: they can eat fish 2/3 their own size!

I divide Acestrorhynchus into three or four groups (by morphology, not necessarily taxonomy) for the purposes of determining what tank conditions to keep them in.



The first group would be the smaller sized animals that have longitudinal stripes. They are rarely over 6�, usually under 4� (with one exception). These fish include A. isalinae, A. nasutus, A. maculipinna, A. minimus, and A. briskii. Two important notes; A. nasutus actually gets large (up to 10 inches), but the only member of this group that you will likely ever see is A. isalinae.

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Figure 4. Acestrorhynchus isalinae. Lately a lot of these are being grown out into less striped and larger individuals. Seems to be a mystery waiting to be solved.

Isaline’s fresh-water barracuda is a beautiful species that has been reported to be a fin nipper (although I’ve never seen it). Like all acestros, they prefer the security of a school (just three fish actually works). Unique to these small barracudas is the fact that they appreciate cover, which usually doesn’t members of this genus. Prey size is limited to the guppy/mosquitofish range and they become prey when kept with larger species of this genus!

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Figure 5. The humeral spot is not always that visible. Compare these falcatus to the ones in the first pic.

A loosely organized second group could include the Acestrorhynchin that have a ‘humeral spot’ (a spot behind their gill plate). These fish are more robust, higher bodied, and larger. Examples include A. falcatus, A. lacustris, A. pantaneiro, and A. altus. The most common of these would be A. falcatus (but altus are occasionally available and pantaneiro is found in European aquaria). Acestrorhynchus falcatus is often listed as the “red-tailed barracuda� and is possibly the most available species of Acestrorhynchus. This is good because they are one of the hardiest members of the genus. Their size can reach 8 to 10 inches and the redness of the fins is complimented nicely by subtle iridescent hues in the body. They are impressive animals when kept in a pack, they excite each other at feeding time and are quick even at larger sizes. Because of their size and speed they need to be kept in large aquaria.

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Figure 6. Impressive and skittish all at once. A. falcirostris are often the hardest ace to observe feeding. This cuda used to have many name confusions but is the most distinctive species.

The third group includes one distinctive species, Acestrorhynchus falcirostris. This is the largest species of Acestrorhynchus (up to 12 inches). It also has the distinction of a hooked nose (hence the name “falci-rostris�=�fake-nose�) and a very slender body. They have huge eyes and a slight yellow tint to their tail. The common names and scientific names around this fish were a mess that took me some time to sort out. The classic common names are “slender freshwater barracuda� and “yellow-tailed barracuda�. The scientific name is often erroneously listed as A. falcatus or A. nasutus. This is strange when one considers how different of an animal this is from either of those fish.

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Figure 7. That big shnoz may work as an impact cushion. They have no problem diving into the substrate after fish. Comes in handy for glass walls too!

Acestrorhynchus falcirostris is, by far, the most skittish of this already flighty genus! Their hunting technique is very slow and meticulously thought out. They abandon their eerie stalking of prey often enough to make even the most captivated human observer give up on watching them eat! They require a good deal of space as well.


A last group in my arbitrary organization contains a hodge-podge of fishes. Again, not necessarily a true evolutionary group, but they functionally work as a group for the hobbyist because they are all of intermediate size. They range in between the size of a falcatus and an isalinae (usually around 6 to 7 inches). Species that could be thrown in here include A. microlepis, A. grandoculis, A. apurensis, and A. guianensis.

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Figure 8. Very frustrating is the identification of the "microlepis" types. Outside of lateral line scale counts, these are tough fish to guess at

The most notable of the group would be A. microlepis. This fish can look very different when seen from different locale and the question of where to draw species lines comes up with this species and it’s relatives. They are relatively slender fish but not as much as A. falcirostris. They are also more “angular� than falcirostris and lack the fake nose. Another member of this group would be A. grandoculis. This species is unique in that the species has an unusually large eye (but the higher body form like falcatus) and is occasionally available.


Out of all of the species in this genus, only half a dozen comprise what is available. In order, the most common fish I’ve seen are falcatus, falcirostris, isalinae, microlepis, altus, and grandoculis. Falcatus and falcirostris probably constitute 90% of imported cudas.



Flightiness and Feeding (Keeping Aces)

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Figure 9. Ow! Smashed face from hitting the side of an aquarium. Lights going on or off, feeding, fear of people, and fear of imaginary things all set this off. Large tank is the ONLY way to go. They are TOO FAST to keep in small aquaria.

So how do you care for these unusual predators? The water conditions are simple, you need to replicate a tropical South American river: pH from 6 to 7 and a temperature 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Clean water is best, make sure the tank is well established.

Most difficulties with acestros are not water quality related, they are behavioral; namely, their flightiness and their feeding habits. Flightiness has to be the number one problem. It is, however, ridiculously easy to solve. These fish can be rather jumpy, and it varies with individuals and species (falcirostris is extremely flighty, for example). When smashing into the glass happens, it can turn a hard to acquire fish into the fish-equivalent of a car wreck. So what’s the simple solution?



The easiest way to understand a behavioral problem is to find out what causes it. Flightiness is first a natural behavior so it needs to be dealt with. It also is in response to aggression. Tank mates of all kinds work with these fish. However, aggressive tank-mates should be avoided in all but the very largest of tanks. Acestros are not aggressive at all, unless you fit in their mouth!

A lack of space for the fish not only causes panic, it also provides the increased opportunity of smashing into a glass wall. Sadly, many cudas end up with smashed or raw noses, which greatly reduces their appeal. The number one piece of advice I can give anyone for these fish is to provide a long tank (at least 5 feet). Besides all that space, there should also be a lack of cover. Yes, a lack of cover.

Sound strange? Imagine patterns in fish. If you live on rocks you have a blotchy pattern, if in weeds or plants you usually have stripes. Besides the little striped acestros, most of these fish are silvery. Where is silver an effective camouflage? In open water. Cover can actually make these fish nervous. I’ve kept them with sword plants and slate but have always had large open areas available to them. Guess where they spend all of their time? Feeder fish can even survive for a week or so if they figure this out and stay in the cover! This makes for a nice effect and more natural situation feeding-wise.


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Figure 10. This tank HAS A LID!!! DO NOT keep acestros without lids, they jump! Notice the relatively open spaces for swimming.

Along with having a long tank with open space, feeding techniques have made acestros the lowest maintenance fish I have. Funny thing that feeding is so often a complaint!

Feeding can be easy. Remember that you’re trying to keep an open water, fish-eating specialist in an aquarium. The extra room and a supply of healthy fish go a long way with members of this genus. Choosing what fish to feed, or attempting to get them off of live food is a little tricky.

Note that these fish go crazy for fish prey and that it’s an interesting aspect of their behavior. They are really really good at catching fish! Again, the tankmate issue comes up here. Tankmates need to be more than two thirds the length of the cudas or they will, in fact, become part of your feeding program. The good side of this is that they are not picky eaters as long as you are a fish!

My best results come from using shiners as feeders. I use mosquitofish to feed the juveniles and the small acestro species. Shiners can be purchased at bait shops and mosquitofish can be found wild if you live in the Southeastern United States. If you don’t, feeder guppies are a favorite. I choose against goldfish for a variety of reasons, including their spines.

There is one more important step to this. These feeders should be quarantined. During this quarantine I feed the feeders dry pellet food and I remove any dead or diseased feeders. After a few days I introduce these fish into the aquarium and watch the incredible fireworks. The size of prey that they can consume is amazing, as are the bulges in their belly (that resemble silver balloons!).

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Figure 11. I also have a pic of a white worm coming out of an isalinae. Condition your feeders (or get off of live) and they seem to get better on their own.

Quarantines raise the nutritional value of the feeder significantly. It also seems to help with disease prevention. In general, I have only seen two disease factors that affect the genus Acestrorhynchus in captivity. One is parasites, the other is fin rot. Both are extremely preventable and even treatable.

The parasite load of my first acestros were so bad that nematodes protruded from their bodies. It is essential to know that they are currently all wild caught and that wild fish often carry parasites. A large amount of the scientific work on this genus is in fact describes the many parasites they carry! The key to dealing with parasites is how you feed the cudas once they are in your possession. It is most probable that they come to you with internal parasites.


Medication always seemed to produce negative effects on my fish. After hearing about dry food anecdotally affecting parasite loads in some livebearers, I decided to take the next logical step and feed dry food to the feeders. The results were dramatic. I have never had a parasite problem since and I have dissected cudas that die by other causes (jumping out of the aquaria, smashing into the side of the tank) and have found them to be parasite free in their intestines. Either the quarantine removes sick fish, well fed feeders are healthier food, or (most likely) both of these things are true.

Fin rot seems to be an issue when aquarium conditions really deteriorate or, more commonly, after a stressful shipping. For best results, acestros should be shipped with empty stomachs (not fed for two days or so) and as quickly as possible. They shouldn’t be chilled either. If any of these things stress them out, they can develop a terrifying case of fin rot. A bit of whiteness forms around the edges of the fins, most commonly the tail. Then it eats away the tissue and eventually reaches the body and kills the fish.

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Figure 12. The beginning of fin rot. If you see this, react IMMEDIATELY. It will not reverse itself. By far the most common ailment of recently shipped aces. Once the cuda is established it is very rare to see this happen.

Although I prefer to improve tanks conditions to treat sick fish of other species, in this case immediate medical treatment is crucial. Fungus eliminator saved the lives of a couple of barracudas that I was sure were goners (and may have saved others if I had only known how treatable this was).

Enjoying your barracudas

The keys to enjoying the barracudas are partly up to you. You can go with a species tank of falcatus, a mixed tank of similar sized falcatus and falcirostris, or perhaps a planted tank with isalinae. Many people would rather have a member of some other fish group, however! Again, the key here is that the fish should be at least two-thirds the length of the cudas and non-aggressive. If you are mean or small, cudas will respond to you as a bully or a snack, respectively. Cichlids should be mixed in with caution. It’s been done successfully many times, but if the cichlids focus on the barracudas at all there is little the acestro can do to defend itself (the teeth are to hold prey, only!).

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Figure 13. Dem chompers! Second most impressive attribute, second to the speed these fish are capable of.

Feeding fish is one of the most enjoyable aquarium experiences that gets taken to another level with this lightning fast fish. I once saw a young falcatus swim in three rapid circles trying to grab a guppy. The fourth time it caught it. The amazing thing is that the guppy’s reflexes couldn’t react at all to any of the four passes! That’s fast. Feeders also can form schools that peacefully live alongside the cudas for a while. Not only is this aesthetic, it also makes acestros very low maintenance (just put in a school of fish and don’t worry about it for a week or two).

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Figure 14. More teeth. The teeth are only for holding prey, and most of the teeth are hidden most of the time.

If you wish, different tricks can train your cuda to eat something besides live fish. You should not bet your life savings on this working ( have a plan regarding where you will be getting live fish from). Hunger helps, although these fish can fast for very long periods as adults. The other tricks involve presenting non-fish foods in a fishy fashion. Using a clear acrylic stick to make food move like a fish or presenting food in any way that moves like a fish can do the trick. I’ve had my fish eat shrimp and have even heard of them being trained for dry foods. Again, don’t count on this working every time, they are very highly evolved fish predators.

Spawning has been observed but no fry have been raised in aquaria. It is presumed that the best bet is to have multiple males vying for one female (as works in many other tetras). Perhaps a simulation of the dry and rainy seasons (water changes in spring, perhaps) could help with this behavior as well. Breeding is the ultimate complement from the fish to the aquarist, and successful rearing of fry is the ultimate complement from the aquarist to the fish. I hope that with Acestrorhynchus it is only a matter of time before someone achieves these goals using the tricks that I have listed in this article.

The tricks to keeping Acestrorhynchus are really not difficult when compared to other complicated fishes. A long tank with neutral to low pH, quarantining of feeders, and choosing tankmates wisely will go a long way towards successful keeping of these fishes.

Great job! Some nice additions to the original article.

Great pics and article! I would think this needs to be pinned somewhere!!

Scott

amazing article

Thanks guys. One other thing I'd add is a change to non-live was never something I needed to do (condtioned feeders work great). But recently I've gotten some off of live food and found an additional benefit; less glass smashing. That cuda that smashed his face did it when I wasn't home, possibly while trying to feed. I've seen feeding cudas mess their noses up too. When I fed thawed out fish I realized that I was controlling where the strike occurs...AND that it was no small deal being able to do that. Just a little "food" for thought!

Hello


Wow Great pics and article !

Gilf

Thanks Gilf!

I hope it translates well. Either way, your aces are looking excellent and healthy!

Again, thanks to arowspace I've learned how to edit! I got the pics put in with captions. Let me know if that helps it read better.

Hello

The Pic from the Nose of Acestrorhynchus falcirostris Looks like an Alien
Very Nice

Gilf

I've also heard 'crocodile' and even 'dinosaur'. Funny how things change post-mortem and under a dissecting microscope.

very impressive artical, i learned alot

Thanks VS, now where's Dirty Evo? He spurred this idea of internet-izeing the article...

Hello Acestrorhynchus

Please let me see a Tank-pic From you .

Gilf

From this article there's one in it (10th pic).

Right now I dont have falcatus, I have what were supposedly isalinae. I should have another old pic of that falcatus tank somewhere, however, if that's what you want.

This was my tank (with a LID! okay I'll let that go. )

Let me pin this before I lose it...

Hello

Zitat:another old pic of that falcatus tank somewhere, however, if that's what you want.

Yes that's what i Want !



Gilf

Okay, here's another pic, a little closer.

Great work, Tom! I've never kept Acestros because of my reluctance to purchase fish that are dependent on feeders. Your input regarding the use of frozen/thawed fish may nudge me over the edge.

nice looking fish and tank

you know jesse...
i have two red tailed and i have to say that i really have forgotten all the other fish i want and just want to keep these with some Rays and Payara's.

I think that would be an incredible mix. I think with what I've written and with other facts people are finding, these fish are not so difficult once acclimated. They REALLY get used to you feeding them to the point of hitting anything that hits the water.

i agree...
when the two RTB's hang out above the rays it really is a cool site to watch...they look great together and they dont bother my ray one bit.

and my god...when a minnow hits the water look out...my smaller one doesn't take a second before it has one in its mouth and just destroying it...its crazy the way they hit and take in a fish..
its not a big gulp and a swallow...these fish will take that minnow and just demolish it with those teeth the way they shift it back and forth...
truely a very fun fish to watch

fantastic article.... thanks for posting.

Yeah, I would agree they are not necessarily too hard to keep. I am not the most diligent hobbyist. Sometimes skip a waterchange, or no feeding for a few days, and I SELDOM check my water conditions.... and my RTB is doing fantastic, no worries. Very tough and hardy. I am surprised. And as everybody says, he hits thawed silversides as soon as they hit the water. They are such aggressive and fast feeders, that even when feeding them silversides, its just as exciting and cool as live feeders.

When I get myself more disciplined in regards to water quality and maintenance, I also want to try a ray with my aces. That sure sounds like a really cool mix!!

Anybody who wants to try aces, go for it... they really are not difficult to take care of.. kinda like a big ol' tetra with wolf teeth.

I'm glad the hobby is up to speed now on aces. I hope someone takes it to the next level and breeds them. Frank (hastatus) has observed courtship and somewhere somebody saw eggs released. But no young acestros yet...

I'd advise being careful with water conditions, however. You can end up fighting the fin rot problem if water conditions slip too much. Leaving them without feed is a great luxury, though! I also agree that it is very close to the same level of excitement feeding thawed fish.

oh, an also, I TRULY APPRECIATE you going through the trouble to post this. Very cool. Also cool to see all the different pics. NICE. I have had so many questions and you have been real patient and helpful. thanks

I'm guessing you've seen that "shower of shiny scales" from the rough handling? Sort of a beautiful and deadly display. Aces will eat smaller fish and it's probably worth mixing in a couple of them just to see the speed they are capable of. I'll never forget the triple spin a young falcatus did at a guppy. That gup never moved and got eaten and the 4th spin!

heres a shot of what it looks like
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Well you and others seemed to really want and need this reference. I'm happy to be patient and helpful, I truly enjoy these fish and the continued appreciation of them. I was stunned at how little was out there and how much name-game confusion there was (and still is somewhat). Brian Scott and TFH deserve a lot of credit for giving me the opportunity to share info with a large audience and forcing me to organize most of my knowledge and ideas.

yes i have...and yes it is a very beautiful and very deadly display.
Besides rays...it has to be the coolest looking aquatic i have ever seen eat.

[quote=Venom Stinger,May 23 2005, 06:09 PM]
[quote=Dirty Evo,May 23 2005, 05:57 PM]

When I get myself more disciplined in regards to water quality and maintenance, I also want to try a ray with my aces.  That sure sounds like a really cool mix!!



heres a shot of what it looks like


[/quote]

If it weren't for your healthy fish (and Gilf's), I'd be on a goldfish rant. Somehow you guys aren't having any problems. I'd expect nutritional problems (and problems with that dorsal spine). Any insight here?

im glad you brought this up...
i dont feed them Gold fish anymore...but i do feed the Minnows.

i am wondering,how healthy are these anyway?

Thanks Ace,
V.

Oh, cool! Minnows made those falcatus I had into the healthy, thick Monster's that you see in the pics (and my avatar). That just leaves the mystery of Gilf's fish.

Because this is an informative thread I'd say, as a rule, avoid goldfish. They have thiaminase (destroys vitamin , have spines, and are usually a sickly fish when there are often better alternatives.

In snakes (I know, a little off topic) there can eventually be convulsions and death (it takes a while). My question to those who want to feed goldfish is; do you want to find out if this happen in fish too? I dont, I've seen it in snakes and it was so sad.

Minnows can bring a huge host of parasites, but if conditioned and quarantined they are usually fine (you'll see the really diseased ones drop like flies). It is probably best to go the route of thawed silversides, as this has worked as a staple for many other preds.

sounds good but i was going to set up a 5-10 gallon tank to hold about 4 dozen minnow to treat and get get healthy.

hey man...im a freak..i love to watch them chase fish !!!!

also..how would i feed them silversides..do i need to get some type of wire and dangle it in the tank ?

What you're planning is what I did (and still do) over the last several years; it works. There are clear acrylic tubes that salt water enthusiasts have used for years to trick fish like lionfish into feeding on silversides. But those aces should be getting used to feeders hitting the water. A simple "splash" as you introduce the silversides might work.

got ya...
and that might work for the smaller one..but my bigger one likes the chase.he doesnt eat them right away...he will chase them for a while and then hit.
ill try it out though

Thanks alot for all the help,
Gary

No prob. I understand what you're saying about feeding habits. Falcirostris in particular would be hard to trick without the acrylic 'wand' with the food attached to it. I've never heard of them eating non-live. I've had falcatus that were wary as well.

If you have the means to get and treat minnows, no worries!

Jesse, these isalinae are very easily tricked into feeding thawed fish, if you want to choose an easy ace to trick.

Tom, isalinae are beauties but their small size means that they will likely become feeders for my other preds. I'm thinking of possibly some A. falcatus for my 100 gallon datnoid grow-out tank.

For my larger tanks, I'm loving the low maintenance dorado/brycon shoal. Of course, those guys are far too rough for Acestros. My 360 gallon is like a war zone!

ok..so if i start feeding these guys minnows all the time they will be ok?
ill try the frozen silversides in a few weeks.

thanks again,
V.

thanks for resizing my picture..because im a dumbass that doesnt know how too.

Yeah, I did the minnow thing for years, I still do. I've only tried non-live a couple of times. Life in the south has the benefits of many available feeders!

For the pic, I'm just proud that I know how to do that! I'm slow with that stuff myself...

Hello

A Picture from my Giant-Altus (27cm)





Gilf

Very nice! Note that healthy aces always have undamaged noses, that's one of the first things I look at. To be that big and not banging his nose, you must have a good sized, low stress setup!

damn those flaky contractors... got a 180 sitting empty cuz I can't get anybody out there to brace my floor... I want to get mine set up so I can have a tank 1/2 as cool as Gilf. Gilf, your tank and your fish are fantastic. really cool man!!!

Question for Acestrorhynchus: how do you tell the difference betwee A. Altus and A. Falcatus?? My "red tail" that I thought was a falcatus sure looks an aweful lot like Gilf's Altus. Real high, thick body. About same "mass" as my Odoe of same length. Definite heavy body. Maybe its an Altus???

Gilf,

question for you: you have several aces in one tank... what is your longest and your shortest lenght in same tank. I am guessing your altus in photo above is your BIG guy.... what is the smallest you have in same tank without it getting eaten??

I haveing trouble finding same size as I already have, so I will need to buy by next 3 slightly smaller. I am worried about them becoming expensive food for my current Falcatus (or altus... whatever he is!!). Current guy is in 6-7" range. Biggest I can find to buy is about 4".

do they eat their same kind?

I've just got into RTB had mine about 3 months no. when i bought them they were 4 in. now they are 7in. and as healthy as one could be. I've fed them minnows since i got them and they just destroy them. i only have 2 for now, but plan on getting more when i update my tank. I recently tried something with my RTB (don't ask me why) but i grabbed a minnow by the tail and put him in the tank letting it dangle in my fingers and a half a sec later one of my cudas ripped it out of my fingers, i stood there in awe!?!?! i couldn't believe he/she did that!! crazy but i loved it. has anyone ever done anything like this before or even seen it done???

well..i used to hand feed my rays

oh yeah...welcome to WW Drew!

Hello

Thank You !!!!!


I can understand you but i cant answer in english,Can you tell me who i can Find a Translater-program ???????.

Sorry i tell in German .............
A.Altus haben einen Kreisrunden Schulterfleck und A.falcatus einen Dreieckigen .
Der größte meiner A.Altus hat ca.27cm und der kleinste ca 22 cm .


Sorry ............

Gilf

try google