Piranha Relative Caught By Fishermen In West Texas
SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) — A couple of fishermen hoping to land some catfish from the Concho River in San Angelo wound up hauling in a 21-inch-long and almost 8-pound relative of the piranha.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials say they believe the red bellied pacu originally was a pet that likely got tossed into the river by its owner because it outgrew its aquarium.
The fish is indigenous to Indonesia. As a pet, it needs a very large tank.
Michael Price of the San Angelo Nature Center told the San Angelo Standard-Times on Friday people who buy the fish don't realize how big they can get.
Dumping the fish is illegal. The fish, at least temporarily, is being kept at a San Angelo bait shop.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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