Posts tagged "pacu"

Cyborg Cat; Kiefer's Cattle

by Evan Jacobs (Subscribe to Evan Jacobs's posts): Jan 29th 2010 6:00PM Filed Under: Chew on This

Rounding up our favorite animal stories, photos, and videos on the Web each week!

Kitty: Salvation

She's the first cat to get an artificial knee. Combining cats with machines? This is a slippery slope to Terminator-cats. [via People Pets]
Ancient Egypt Called...

The newest fad is sharing your coffin with your pet. That's going to be awkward in the zombie apocalypse. [via ABC News]
Cattle Con

In the most recent episode of 24, Jack Bauer was roped into a million-dollar scam involving cattle. Oh wait, that was real life! [via USA Today]
Heptakaidecamom

This dog just gave birth to 17 puppies. In your face, Octomom! [via kcra.com]
RIP Pacu

A 62lb fish that's been eating burgers for 30 years is dead. Didn't see that one coming. [via wesh.com]

Buttkiss, the 41 Year Old Pacu

by CJ Arabia (Subscribe to CJ Arabia's posts): Oct 1st 2009 6:00AM Filed Under: Fish, Pet Health

Photo: Gothamist

Buttkiss, a 20 lb. black pacu (related to the piranha), has been living in the same Queens pet shop since the Summer of Love. That's right, he was born in 1967, and 41 years later he's still going strong. Why is this so special? The average life expectancy of a pacu is 2 to 20 years -- so pet shop owner Steve Gruebel must be the reigning king of pacu care!

Gothamist reports that the pacu was sold to a man named Kurt Emerick in 1968. At the time, the fish was only about two inches long but soon grew to be much bigger and became very aggressive. Emerick wasn't so psyched when the pacu started knocking things over in his fish tank, so he returned him to the pet shop, where Gruebel named him after linebacker Dick Butkus. (Gruebel likes to spell it Buttkiss.)

Gruebel has been working at the Cameo Pet Shop in Queens, New York for 47 years. He now owns the shop that originally belonged to his wife's father, and Buttkiss has been there pretty much since the beginning. "He's my mascot," Gruebel tells Paw Nation.

Buttkiss even does tricks. He comes to Gruebel's hand because he knows that's where the grub comes from. (Okay, so maybe it's not the most impressive trick, but the fish is elderly! Cut him a break!) When asked if Butkiss bites, Gruebel laughs, "Well, I stick my hand in there all the time to clean the cage and he just goes and lays in the corner."

Asked if Gruebel has done anything special to keep Buttkiss around so long, Gruebel says, "No, just feed him 20 goldfish every day, every other day depending." So why has Buttkiss lived so long? Gruebel shrugs, "I don't know." And the mysteries of longevity continue...

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Camouflage Animals

Madagascar Day Gecko
The green Madagascar Day Gecko lives in the dry regions of forests in Madagascar and neighboring islands. They usually grow to be between four to six inches long. Their tail makes up almost half of their length.

Getty Images

Camouflage Animals

Argentine Horned Frog Reptiles
The Argentine Horned Frog, also known as the Horned Frog or Pacman Frog, originated in South America. The green and black amphibian, which can grow up to six inches long, is a popular pets and can live for as long as 10 years.

Camouflage Animals

Walkingstick
The Walkingstick takes its camouflage abilities to the next level by creating the appearance of a stick or twig to hide from predators. While they normally stand still, these insects are able to walk around as though they were a twig caught in the wind. They can be found in tropical forests or woodlands all across the world.

Camouflage Animals

Dwarf Puff Adder
Found in Nambia, the venomous Dwarf Puff Adder hides from the hot desert sun by burying itself in the sand, where only its eyes show.

Camouflage Animals

Stonefish
Often resembling a rock, the brown colored Stonefish camouflages itself perfectly in the ocean. With 13 venomous dorsal spines on its back, the Stonefish can cause tissue damage and respiratory distress, which can lead to cardiovascular shock if left untreated.

Camouflage Animals

Chameleons
Chameleons, the quintessential color-changers, can transform their skin color when their mood, temperature or the amount of light around them is altered. Their hue, which can vary from yellow and pink to brown and black, is also altered when they communicate.

Camouflage Animals

Green Anole
Often confused with chameleons, Green Anoles turn brown when they're stressed or sick. Found in the trees and shrubs of the Southeastern United States, these lizards are popular pets.

Camouflage Animals

The Eastern Wood Frog
The Eastern Wood Frog tricks competitors by changing colors to match its surroundings. Found in North American woodlands, the frog also has a dark black patch from its eye to the base of its front limb that can change colors.

Camouflage Animals