RB Piranha

[RBP Guy]

Can a red belly piranha get larger than 12in? Also, can anything else sucessfully live with these guys? Thx :confused:

[yashinfan]

Piranha will eat just about any other fish animal you keep in the tank with them. Once it is the dominant fish in the tank no other fish, even Piranha, should be introduced other than for feeding. Multiple Piranha can live together in a tank if they are all introduced at the same time. Piranha are naturally schooling fish, but if they are raised in a tank alone they will eat any Piranha you introduce later. At maturity Piranha can reach 12 inches in the wild and sometimes larger in aquarium environments.


I hope that helps :)

[RBP Guy]

Thanks for the info. I have 4 rbp`s in a 55gal. rangeing from 5-3in and 1 algea eater about 6 1/2in long. They don`t touch the algea eater though. I had an oscar in the tank but I gave him away cause the kept him finless.:eek:

I think these fish are great! They seem like they can handle any water conditions bad or good and these guys keep going.:)

[RBP Guy]

One more thing. How much larger can a rbp get if it gets bigger than 12in:D

[yashinfan]

It is recommended that you provide 15 gallons per piranha when they are fully grown, so that's 60 gallons for your's. Since you're in a 55g you have enough time before you might have to upgrade. So in your tank I cannot imagine them being longer but I have heard of piranhas in optimal conditions that are three inches bigger, but that's EXTREMELY rare!

[RBP Guy]

Thx for the info. I`m kind of new to the fish game. I want to do this thing right. Luckly, none of my boys have died and they dont nip each others fins to much any more. Is that because I try to kept there stomachs fully?

[yashinfan]

Yes, indeed it is. They are much less aggressive when they are well-fed. :) Good luck!

[RBP Guy]

Thanks

What is the best thing to feed them?

[yashinfan]

Piranhas kept as pets prefer to eat brine shrimp and small fish when they are small. As they mature they will eat larger fish and more of them as their appetite grows. They will also eat pellet food and even vegetable matter.

[RBP Guy]

Ok, thanks

I didn`t think they would vegatable matter. Is it also ok to give them like little pieces of meat ex. ham, bologna, etc...? Also, if they eat it, make sure they eat it all right then and not let it sit in the tank.

[yashinfan]

Do you have any idea how old they are? Because if they are still young than its probably not too good for them. It's better to stick with fish meat if it has to be any sort of meat in particular. It is very important to make sure that it does not rot!

[chevyII]

yashin you can't be serious right? your complaining about 5 gallon difference?? I think his fish will be fine with 2" less water

[yashinfan]

lol, I know that's not much of a difference but we're just talking bare minimum here. It was just a suggestion :o

pS- have to account for his large algae eater as well!

[RBP Guy]

My RBP are 6-7 months old. My largest one looks like he is some much bigger than the other. When I look at them it seems like they have they favorite spots in the tank. Also, it looks like a dominant to less dominant order. Even when they feed. The largest one seems to eat the most. The two smallest one will fight over food. Like if one gets a hold of a feeder the other one try to take it from him. However, they don`t try to take food from the largest one nearly as much.

[yashinfan]

Usually there is a dominant one, usually a male. As long as they are all getting food I wouldn't worry about them. 6 or 7 months is fine to feed meat but remember- stick with meats that are natural to their environment (ie- cows are not found in water therefore, don't feed beef). So fish meat is good if you want to feed meat.

[RBP Guy]

I like to give them feeders. There messy as far as biting and leaving fish parts in the water but they eat all of that mostly at nite untilll there is nothing left.

Also, will giving them feeders make them get larger or larger faster?

[RBP Guy]

One more thing, how can I get them to breed?

[yashinfan]

Originally posted by RBP Guy
One more thing, how can I get them to breed?

http://www.aquariacentral.com/articles/piranha3.shtml is where I recommend for you to look. It doesn't sound like you have enough room for them to mate nor do your piranhas sound mature enough yet. But if you really want to... good luck!

[RBP Guy]

Thanks for the info. and help ya`ll

[serjuanca888]

Check out the boards at www.pirahna-fury.com

It is a great resource for piranha keepers.

[RBP Guy]

Thanks for all your help people :D Any one have any more info to give it would be greatly appreciated :cool:

[RBP Guy]

One more thing. Is it ok to put a little bit of A. salt in their tank?