Deep lands jaws ... the fish with a friendly bite: Amazon's Pacu related to piranha

THEY are related to the piranha, are two foot long, weigh 30lbs and are swimming all the way to The Deep, the worlds only submarium, which is located in Kingston Upon Hull.

Pacu are set to become a popular attraction but visitors might be relieved to discover they prefer to eat nuts, seeds and berries. Pacu, the name given to several species of omnivorous South American freshwater fish, have been brought up to Hull from London Zoo to form part of the Deep new Amazon Flooded Forest display, its first freshwater display.

It was a delicate operation, bringing the Pacu from London to the Deep. "We had to catch the fish individually and we have to take a softly, softly approach," said The Deep curator, Katy Duke. "On bringing them back, we have to make sure the water remains oxygenated and is at about 25C." The fish will be put in quarantine for a couple of weeks where they will be monitored. They should be settled into their new tank in time for half-term later this month.

The Deep has concentrated on saltwater displays in the past, but decided on a change after being approached to sponsor an Amazon range. The programme has been led by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA). But staff, who only take unwanted fish if they meet The Deep’s strict policies, have also received two to three phone calls a week from desperate owners of Pacu, which have been mistakenly sold as the much smaller piranha at pet shops. "Pacus have been bought as pets by people thinking they are piranhas and can't cope when they grow to such a big size," said Ms Duke.