Invasive Pacu Fish Reeled In by 11-Year- Old Boy in Oklahoma Community Pond was Exotic Pet Let Loose

In Oklahoma, Charlie Clinton, 11, reeled in an invasive Pacu fish from their neighborhood pond. According to authorities, an exotic fish was most probably a pet once that was illegally released by its owner.

Exotic Pet Fish in Oklahoma Community Pond

A Pacu is a Piranha-related fish from South America. The pacu is an invasive, foreign species that could harm regional ecosystems.

The public was cautioned not to release their exotic pets into the wild by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Even while these fish are typically safe for humans to eat, native wildlife suffers greatly when unwanted pets are dumped in waterways. The agency was adamant that they were not that kind of pet owner, FOX25 reports.

Catch-and-Release

The Clintons contacted a game warden after posting a picture of the strange fish on their neighborhood's Facebook page. But they released the pacu back to the pond before finding out where it came from.

Considering they didn't know any better at the time and because it is a catch-and-release pond, they regrettably did let it back.

People on social media later identified the fish in the comments, claiming it was invasive and should not have been released.

The young angler has been pursuing the invasive fish that appeared to have human teeth ever since.

Adding that her son has been waking up early and remaining at the pond late in the hopes of catching another bite from that pacu, Clinton claimed that the youngster did stay at the ponds very late in the evening trying to catch it again.

A neighbor has promised to eat the pacu if Charlie is successful, but Clinton has other plans.

She promised that they would mount the pacu for him if he caught it once more. which Clinton considers to be a significant award that her kid merits. She assured him that they would make the fish appear to be grinning to reveal its teeth, NPR reports.

Also Read: Invasive Lionhead Rabbits Take Over Florida Community, Rescue - Neuter - Rehome Efforts Underway 

Pacu Fish

The freshwater fish known as pacu (Colossoma macropomum) are related to piranhas, but they have a few notable differences. The term "pacu" refers to several different fish species.

Freshwater habitats, wide and flat bodies, and fins on their backs, stomachs, sides, and tails are some characteristics that these fish all share.

They are called "vegetarian piranhas" and have teeth that resemble human teeth.

No threat exists to the pacu. All around the world, they are cultivated and eaten.

The major foods that pacu consume are plants and insects. They also eat seeds, nuts, and other items that fall into rivers from trees.

Despite having molar-like, square, straight teeth, pacu has strong jaws and a fairly forceful bite. Pacu was once thought to be a fish that would perform well in home aquariums, but due to their rapid growth and the extent to which their size may reach, it's now believed that they don't make ideal pets, Audubon Nature Institute reports.

Related Article: Invasive Black Carp Fetches Bounty of $100 Per Carcass in Mississippi River