Question's about pirahna's...... [Archive]

crash

03-19-2003, 9:30 PM

I can't help you on the Black Diamond Piranha, heard it's about as aggressive as the so called "Black" Piranha, but then again I don't know. I think there a bit more rare of Piranha species to buy, but I'm sure if you go to a LFS, they'll order it for you.

Well how big are you two Red Bellies. I'd say if there 6 inches or less, they'll be fine in the 30 for now. If there bigger, you should move them to at least a 55 gallon tank. A rule of thumb is about 30 gallons per adult Piranha. Give or take a few.

As of right now I myself have a Red Belly Piranha in a 10 gallon tank, but he's only two inches big, so he's fine for now but I'm moving him to a 45 gallon soon.

Piranhas in their natural habitat usually live in murky water or in and around forest bottoms during the rainy season where not much light penetrates through the forest canopy. Piranhas eyes have adapted to these conditions, they have a large pupil (black part of the eye) that is designed to absorb light so that they can see better. So basically you don't even need a light, but if you do use one, make sure your Piranha's have plenty of hiding spots so they don't have to be in the light, when they don't want to.

A good temp for these fish is is around 78-82 degrees, give or take a few degrees.

As far as feedding them is concerned, they'll eat just about anything. You can feed them live food like feeder goldfish, guppies, danios, ghost shrimp, blood worms, and brine shrimp. But you don't have to. You can feed them insects, fruits, fish pellets, fish flakes, they will really eat anything. I'm feeding mine a combination of feeder danios and this JumboMin FoodSticks I got at Petco, it's for Carnivourous fish. So there's an array of things to feed it. And usually I feed him twice a day (morning and night).

Have a good filter, do regular water changes, and plenty of hiding spaces for your Piranha's. If you plan on adding any other fish or Piranha with your current ones, beware, things may not turn out the way you want them to. But if you feed your Piranha's good, and give them stressless enviorment, they'll be happy like dancing gophers.

PikeLee

03-19-2003, 9:48 PM

Not sure on the Pricing of the Black Diamonds. But I agree with Crash about the 2 RB in the 30. I had 6 in a 10g until they were about 2 inches big. I later transported them to a 90g. I think as long as their appetite is controlled you’ll be fine.

I knew someone that had 3 in a 20g but their growth was stunted because he didn’t take care of them to well.

I would say about 15- 20g per fish is adequate. Just make sure there’s very low lighting and hiding places like Crash mentioned. I used a lot of floating plants and regular plants in the tank and they still were very jumpy.

A piece of advice…Feed them on time!!! I used to always find semicircles cut out of my piranhas when I got lazy on feeding them. I once didn’t feed them for a day, and one of them ended up missing. And he didn’t jump out the tank.

Good luck with the fish.