2 Piranhas

[wordup]

How long could 2 red belly piranhas last in a 30 gallon with a large amazon sword and some driftwood?

[demon_surfer]

probably not too long, they get to be about 12 inches long. they are shoaling fish so you really need to get a couple more. even with those they are likely to do little but try and hide from you.

piranha's are very skittish fish.

[mechanic]

Hi. I kept 2 red belly's in a 30 gal. for 4 months.
2 reds is not a good Idea however and a upgrade would be necessary.You should keep at least 3 and a 55 gallon would be considered minimum.
Later
Eric

[NickH]

You should keep at least 5-6 together and a 75g tank would be the bare minimum. Anything less and you will ultimately start losing fish to cannibalism.

[Hans]

arent they illegal?

[btowntaz]

No they are legal. And they do get big. I have a 165 gallon tank and only have one. I had him in a 50 gallon but he started to get too big for it. Pretty cool fish. He will even eat out of my hand. But don't get any crabs. They will demolish crabs in a heartbeat. They will also eat most fish that fit in thier mouth.

[NickH]

Are you referring to your Pacu? I hope not, because that's a completely different species. A Red Pacu is not the same as a Red Belly Pirahna. Red Belly Pirahna max out at 12 inches or so. Red Pacu max out at like 2 feet, and are mostly vegetarian. You couldn't keep a Red Belly Pirahna with much of anything...

The legality of keeping Pirahna varies state to state I believe. I would think the more tropical states would have a ban because the fish would survive in the wild if released, and cause severe damage to the ecosystem.

[dwf73]

btowntaz - How big did your Pacu get in the 160 gallon? I kept 2 of them with one of my arowana a while ago in a 300 and they suprisingly did not grow that much (reached about 33 inches over 4 years). That is much smaller than most people have reported with those same conditions, so Im just wondering.

wordup- I have two red bellies as well and actually it is funny you mention it because i just moved them into a 50 gallon tank while I repair their other one; they are full grown and I have to say that they are doing very well together in that size tank. I know the conservative estimates will tell you to provide somewhere in the range of 70 gallons +, but if you keep one or two (provided they do not fight if its two) I see no reason why a 50 wouldnt be alright. If my future experience proves me wrong I'll be sure to keep you posted...where the two fish raised together or are they new tankmates? that could make the difference.

[btowntaz]

33 inches? Thats huge! I have only had the 165 gallon for about 5 months or so. Haven't noticed a big change in size. Mine is about 12 inches long and I have had him for about 2 years. Have seen a couple at the pet store someone got tired of and took back, they were massive. My Pacu eats non stop. If I throw it in the tank, he eats it. Maybe I need to give him more.

Thanks NickH, my mistake. I also heard that the Pacu is mostly vegetarian, but mine loves to eat other fish, crabs, beefheart, shrimp. I got some live plants the other day, and all he did was tear them to shreads. Found most of them floating in pieces on the top of the tank.