A Pacu, which appeared in the Johnny Depp film 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' has been found a new home after fans of the fish launched a campaign to help save him.
The fish, named Rufus, has been living in one of more than 100 tanks in the shipwreck-themed Bahooka restaurant in Rosemead, California, since it opened in 1977, where he's grown from a tiddler to a 30lb tankbuster. But Bahooka closed last year and since then a former cook at the restaurant has been coming by to feed him every day.
Rufus was popular with diners for his raw carrot-crunching antics. He also appeared in the Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas movie after some of the scenes were filmed in the restaurant.
When Bahooka closed and staff asked customers to write their memories down in a book, almost every page carried a mention of the gentle giant, reports The Beverley Hills Courier.
Now the new owners of the premises are re-designing the interior and getting rid of all the tanks. Worried Rufus fans launched campaigns on Facebook and Twitter to save him and an online fundraising page has so far raised $900/£540 towards his move and the cost of keeping him in the future.
And it's all paid off, as a new home has been found for Rufus and his aquarium at another restaurant, this time at Damon's Steak House in Glendale. Now it's just a case of actually moving him...
Why not take out a subscription to Practical Fishkeeping magazine? See our latest subscription offer.
Don't forget that PFK is now available to download on the iPad/iPhone.