Red-bellied pacu fish don’t belong to Michigan, but come from South America, and have been captured thrice in July, may be because of their pet owners who have stopped caring for them, as per the state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR). There were reports of three pacu on the eastern side of Michigan. Any angler reeling in a red-bellied pacu, with human-like teeth would be shocked to know this.

Scientifically called Piaractus brachypomus, the red-bellied pacu is most common across the continent's Amazon basin, but are brought into the US and internationally.

The fish aren’t considered as invasive by officials, despite knowing that it is a non-native fish to Michigan. The DNR said that according to a 2012 US Fish and Wildlife Service assessment, the risk posed by pacus in the US wasn’t certain due to inadequate research on the negative impacts of the fish.

The square teeth of the fish look scary, but are used to crush nuts and seeds. In case the pacu of an aquarium owner has outgrown its tank, several options can be considered to properly take care of it instead of throwing it away in the closest waterway.

Paige Filice of Michigan State University, said, “If your pacu has outgrown its tank or begun to feed on your other fish, rather than releasing it into a pond or stream, consider donating or trading it with another hobbyist, an environmental learning center, an aquarium or a zoo”.

Filice, part of a statewide campaign to Reduce Invasive Pet and Plant Escapes, or RIPPLE, added that the owner could check with the pet store also from where the fish was purchased as they could take the fish back.

The DNR mentioned that if you come across a strange fish, keep it and save it on ice, instead of placing it back in the water. Thereafter call Seth Herbst, a DNR aquatic invasive species biologist, at 517-284-5841 or contact through email [email protected] for identification assistance.