pacu-dente
Myleus pacu
Pacu from the Essequibo River basin in Guyana, reaching 20 cm. Feeds mostly on plants and is an important food fish.
Also called: pacu-dente, pacu
- maximum
- 20 cm
who is the pacu-dente
The pacu-dente is a freshwater serrasalmid of the family Serrasalmidae, reaching 20 cm. It occurs in the Essequibo River basin in Guyana, in tropical water at 22 to 28 °C. Adults feed almost only on rapids plants (Podostemaceae) and, more rarely, on seeds. During the rainy season it makes long migrations into small streams, where it breeds. It is an important food fish, and it has strong teeth that cause serious bites, so handling calls for care.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the pacu-dente; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Deep-bodied, flattened, silvery fish with the strong dentition typical of the Serrasalmidae family. Reaches 20 cm. It can be confused with the piranhas that also live in Guyana, such as the black piranha (Serrasalmus rhombeus) and the red-bellied piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri). Diet is what separates them: the pacu-dente eats plants and seeds and is not a fish predator.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Essequibo River basin in Guyana, in tropical freshwater.
Habitat: Freshwater rivers of the Essequibo basin, with migrations into streams in the rainy season.
rules for the pacu-dente
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
Has strong teeth that cause serious bites. Use pliers or a cloth to remove the hook, and release it carefully.
in the kitchen
An important food fish, with commercial fishing and aquarium use.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.02399, b = 2.99; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Myleus pacu (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Myleus pacuNames by country and language.
