what a mess!

[nynikki]

the link you posted is of pirahna. while pacus look very similar to pirahna when young, they quickly outgrow them. pacus are mainly herbivores as well.

http://aqualandpetsplus.com/Tetras, Pacus.htm

The original post specifically said red belly piranha so I assumed that's what they were referring to.

 

[nynikki]

i had a friend with a bunch of red bellied pirahnas and they are just FISH. they have a bad reputation but i just see them as carnivorous silver dollars. i put my hands in the tank and they run to the sides. they are very skittish. i even made money betting with friends that i would put my hands in the tank and try grabbing them, lol. the main reason i dont like them is because they can only live in a species only tank. in the wild they only attack people if their nesting site is disturbed (territorial) or if the drought is occurring and they are starving. even so, they are a main food fish for the natives and are not feared at all.

That's pretty funny. I would imagine that they would be more bold in larger numbers too. Maybe tank life is just not the right place for these fish.

 

[wataugachicken]

lol, i misread the original post - i thought it said pacu all along!

durrr.

 

[blasterman_]

Friend of mine is an ER surgeon in Chicago. She says she gets a few cases a year where some idiot is screwing around (usually drunk) with a stocked pirahna tank and requires some stickes. So, they will bite in captivity.

I used to know this idiot that ran a pet store (not anymore) and he'd take red bellies on trade and throw them in his established African tanks just to watch his much smaller Mbuna destroy the red bellies. Personally I wish they weren't imported because for most people it's the novelty factor.

 

[jaysen]

Friend of mine is an ER surgeon in Chicago. She says she gets a few cases a year where some idiot is screwing around (usually drunk) with a stocked pirahna tank and requires some stickes. So, they will bite in captivity.

depends what they are being fed and how often. if fed mice i would not put my hand in the tank and wiggle my fingers like a swimming mouse. if fed floating pellets or guppies, i wouldnt put the tip of my fingers in the tank. you have to know what your dealing with. if i went to a strangers house i would not mess with them. but in general you have to realize they are just fish and have a bad reputation, but still deserve respect. the hospital i work by rarely sees anything of this sort, but im sure it happens.