View Full Version : Red Belly Piranha question
Forum221
12-19-2002, 6:31 PM
I have 2 Redbelly Piranha one that is about 4 inches that is living in a 10 gallon tank and 6 inch one that is living in a 20l tank. I my buying a 55gallon tank and i would like to put both of them in there, i'm nor sure if they will fight but i think i will try it and if they don't fight, then keep them in there, but if they do then I will have to put the smaller one in the 20l and the big one in the 55gal by himself. I was just wondering if anyone knows if they will fight or not. (or if it just depends on the temperment of the fish). So if you can help me out, please do.
~Thanks~
Wippit Guud
12-19-2002, 7:07 PM
From what little I know, reading threads and such, piranha are good in groups, but only if they've been together since really small, and in groups of 5 or more.
Which is not to say I guarantee they will fight, that just seems to be the norm. only way to know for sure is to try them out together.
Forum221
12-19-2002, 7:51 PM
Thats what i thought, I guess I will just have to keep an eye on them for a while.
Thanks:)
Serrateeth_2002
12-19-2002, 8:15 PM
Pirahnas school,i think 6 is the number you have to keep to stop them from killing each other or maybe it is feeding them regularly will stop them from killing each other
pinballqueen
12-19-2002, 8:31 PM
it depends on the breed as well...black piranah will kill anything, but I think they are a more solitary species; whites are the same way. I've never seen redbelly piranahs by themselves, always in groups of at least 5 or 6, and all the same size....
If they get aggressive, separate, but it's worth a try to see how they do, they might be fine....
EDIT: I had a thought: try putting a partition in the tank for a little while to see if they will try to attack one another. If they are constantly trying to ram the glass to get to the other fish, maybe putting them together is a bad idea, but if they ignore each other they will be okay and you can remove the partition...just an idea...
Forum221
12-19-2002, 8:50 PM
Yea, the divider is a great idea, I will be sure to try then when i get the 55 gal (hopefully this weekend). But about having Red Bellys by themselves, I have has my 2 for about 6 months and they have always been in a tank by themselves, and I have had no problems.
Both of my fish see fairly non-agressive and shy so hopefully they will be nice to eachother. I will be sure to post an update when i put them together. Thanks
I used to have 3 piranha in a 50 gallon tank. I finally sold them with the tank after about 8 years because of how boring the tank was and how scared the fish always were. I did not add any during an established tank but my GUESS is that if you add the small fish to the new tank first or possibly both at the same time then they will be more concerned about getting used to their new home more than attacking each other. I would also feed them heavily for at least a while while they are together so they can get used to each other.
JohnMemorialHS
12-19-2002, 9:30 PM
I'd put money on yes for if they'll fight or not? A pair of piranha is just asking for trouble, you'll always end up with a more dominant one. As far as keeping them in a group, keep them in an odd number (3,5,7... etc) I'm not sure why, but that's what I remembered back when I was a member of predatory forum when I kept red bellies.
cacti
12-19-2002, 10:38 PM
2 Piranha are ok too as one of mine died after I fed them large live fish. The water got polluted from the corpses very fast before I noticed and could change some water. 2 lived together for years, they were about the same size.
Wippit Guud
12-20-2002, 5:48 AM
Hell, I'd put a divider in the tank anyways, just to contain them while I cleaned the tank. I wouldn't take any chanced with a piranha, no matter what other say about their skittishness... a trapped rat will still fight.
Darkangel
12-20-2002, 7:43 AM
Wippit Guud, I have a 90 gallon tank with six 6 to 8 inch piranhas and I do not have any problems cleaning their tank. It takes a little extra care but that is all. The worst thing you could do would be to hand feed them. Then they will associate your hand with food. I toss the food into the tank from a short distance away. All they think when they see my hand is net and they take off for the far end of the tank. They are very timid and not anything like the horrid monsters they are made out to be.
Wippit Guud
12-20-2002, 8:48 AM
Don't get me wrong, I don't go along with popular belief about piranha. But even though I've never had a car accident, I still pay for full coverage car insurace, because I like to be ready for any eventuality.
I would be careful when cleaning the tank and replanting plastic plants etc. I was once bitten (mildly) by one of my Piranha when cleaning/rearranging the tank. It could have been much worse, all the fish did was make a razor cut in my finger, he could have taken a chunk out. Maybe he realized I was not a fish to eat or maybe it was a defensive bite instead of a offensive attack. Be carefull when cleaning Piranha tanks.:D
Forum221
12-20-2002, 11:49 PM
Yea, so far both of mine have been quite timid, they are both shy and hide all day untill i turn off the lights, but once they get hungry, they get active and chase the fish. The only agression towards me was when i tryed to net the larger one once, the attacked the net and put up a good fight. When i clean the tank and arrange plants, i can stick my hand in there no problem, but i still keep my distance.
jiggerpolebill
12-20-2002, 11:56 PM
try posting at www.predatoryfish.net
they have a pirahna forum there. not to take away from this one or anything.
Forum221
12-21-2002, 12:05 AM
I have been looking throught that website and have found alot of help.
ajgreer_99
12-21-2002, 3:42 PM
I had a 5inch red by himself in a 20g. then I bought another 5inch and put the two in a 30g. the one got its tail nipped some time the first week. then six months later I found two more 5inch reds and put all four together in a 150g. a couple tails were nipped, but that was it. the four are always well fed, and have been living together fine for 2 months now. they'll be fine. just keep them well fed.
JamisonBWolsh
12-21-2002, 3:43 PM
Originally posted by Serrateeth_2002
Pirahnas school,i think 6 is the number you have to keep to stop them from killing each other or maybe it is feeding them regularly will stop them from killing each other
First off. I dont know anything about Pirahnas. HOWEVER, i was watching a documentary on the dicovery channel which said that the only reason why they "school" in nature is because of of obtaining food easier. however, it did also say that if they were well fed, they rather not school. Also, if the food supply diminishes, they will hunt their own. If your interested in Paranha.. I would suggest watching this episode...