Piranhas Info

Have a Piranha tank set up ,
Its a 240L with 5 red Bellies

Just wanted some info regarding the way my tank is set up

I currently have a Crystal Profi 1500lph External filter and an internal one ,

Was wondering if Sand is a good choice with these fish or should i change to gravel?,

Also wanted to know a way i would create less light entering the tank , was told something about floating leaves?

Thanks

G

Garreth,
Its recommened that you have at least 20 gallons per piranha. Ive not kept these guys personally, but a 240 litre for 5 of them will not work long term at all as they will simply get too big and will be rehomed. However to start off Im sure some of the other members who have kept them will expand abit more.

The lightening for these fish needs to be little if any, natural light may even do them, so you will need to ensure the lightening is significantly reduced to see these fish behave more naturally. They are skittish if full lights are on them.

Gavin

Floating plants will reduce the light. I use to put a 2foot light over a 4foot tank for a dim light effect but if its a natural looking tank your after then brown stained water (blackwater) is the way to go, I love a blackwater tank but its not for everyone so have a google for blackwater piranha tank or something to see what ye think.

Sand is best but I think yours looks a bit bright tbh.

Yeah it's very bright alright. Floating plants will reduce it but But not by much. No harm adding them though cos they'd be good for the fish.

I usually leave the lights off on my tank because they really don't like it at all when it's on. I have low wattage bulbs when I do have to turn them on.

One or two of those low powered spot lights would look good and they could stay out of the light.

Sand is good and looks well. I think a black background would look well with the sand as well

Thanks people ,

I think ill pick up a few floating plants ,

Really dont like the sand , think ill switch to gravel anyways

Can you but plecos in with red bellies ?

G

The pleco wouldn't have a good life. He'd be constantly nipped

They're really messy fish as well

As a lover of all things pleco I kindly ask you not to put any pleco in with your red bellys. From what I know of the piranhas they are a species only tank.

Yeah I agree

Keep them well fed, feed everyday buy frozen fish from lidl white fish and thaw out if young feed meal work and bloodworm.never put feeders in like goldfish I've never done it as childish and no great nutrition .also I take out one of the light bulbs they like dim tanks as said above floating plants ideal.id use no substrate at all as they are very messy eaters.good look

ended up putting black gravel into it

got floating plants as well which seems to be growing fast

Hi,can I ask was there a reason you put the gravel over the sand? Would love to see some good shots of the fish aswell please Cheers

Ger

A few things here that some people have already pointed out.

First two are very important...

* You have too much light, Piranhas like low lighting
* Provide PLENTY of hiding spaces for your piranha (rocks, wood, etc), more than half of the aquarium AT LEAST. Failure to do so will end up on a stressed piranha and could end up in the piranha attacking you! (remember you aquarium set up should benefit the fish not you)
* Try to keep the temperature between 25-28 degrees.
* Piranhas can jump, specially if hungry!
* Do not house them with any other fish, even if you feed them regularly the other fish will not have an easy life (stress again), I have seen piranhas being houses with fish as small as neons and do ok but still... dont tempt fate.
* Having several piranhas together is normally ok while they are juvenile, once they grow this might become an issue as they could show aggression towards each other so keep this in mind
* Good filtration is a MUST! They dont really like strong flow so make sure the tank doesnt have a strong current
* Dont feed them live fish like goldfish, not only is not good for them but the goldfish could also carry deseases and transmit them to your piranha
* Foodwise, remember that piranhas are not carnivores but omnivores! so make sure you give them all sort of food and not only fish/bloodworms etc, they will welcome zucchini, and as well as other vegetables, flakes etc...
* Feed them once a day max
* 10-15% water changes weekly

And that's it!

Treat them well they are a lovely fish.

Not sure if you put the gravel on top of the sand for any particular reason. Piranhas are best kept without any gravel, otherwise thick gravel will do.

When building the internal decor layout, you should leave a space to allow sectioning off half of the tank for maintenance.
A piece of perspex the width and height of the tank with holes drilled is ideal for the divider.

ian

come my shop have look. i have 20 caribe Piranha in 150L tank, with clean water, use yellow sand and black background,really wild feeling

igmillichip wrote:

When building the internal decor layout, you should leave a space to allow sectioning off half of the tank for maintenance.
A piece of perspex the width and height of the tank with holes drilled is ideal for the divider.

ian

Thanks I was thinking that

I will have to get a piece of plastic that fits to the tank for maintenance

.... wouldn't want a nip taking out of my finger


Dunno why i put the gravel over the sand just thought cause there still young it would stress them , sure when i siphon when cleaning some of the sand comes out so eventually there wont be sand

Still looking for rocks for hiding places, don't really know what to use

I feed them once in the morning and once when i come back consisting of 1 bloodworms in the morning and 1 in the afternoon but was looking to feed them live fish when they get bigger but as i know goldfish are not the so is there any fish i could feed them , have a tank lying around so was going to use it as a feeder tank


Wheres your shop fei ?


I have a video of the fish eating that i will but up later

Thanks Everyone for help

G.

A good diet for them when they older Garreth would be NLS pellets and defrosted prawns.

If they don't go for the pellets straight away you can stick a few in the prawns

I have ciclid pellets , put one in this morning after i feed them bloodworms and they ate it too

Good stuff, great to get them on pellets

Hi i have 50 red bellied adults in our 1000litre display tank for over a year now.They behave and act they way they should but you have to be careful with feeding regime....ours eat a kilo of flesh per day...As for the correct amount of space or water per fish....that is purely arbitrary.....piranhas come from shoals of up to 30000....they spend their lives surrounded by eye balls and other of their kin....so space is not an issue.....making sure they are in larger numbers is the key.....they are extreme shoalers...ie low numbers will lead to adverse behaviour.

Water quality is the issue make sure you keep on top of your testing.I have been keeping piranha for over 30 years and we have bred thousands here at Aquatic Village...
cheers
Ian

check out our shoal on www.aquatic-village.com

Garreth_OR wrote:

I feed them once in the morning and once when i come back consisting of 1 bloodworms in the morning and 1 in the afternoon but was looking to feed them live fish when they get bigger but as i know goldfish are not the so is there any fish i could feed them , have a tank lying around so was going to use it as a feeder tank.
G.

Not the right place to mention feeders tbh pal. I'd say there's a rule somewhere against it
You can buy lance fish for feeders that come frozen... we all seem to have our own views on feeding and I'm on certain fish forums that have dedicated piranha sections where members breed the likes of convicts as feeders so I've learned to accept that but some people won't... hense I suggested frozen feeders as an alternative
Anyways yes pellets would be a good start but a varied diet would be better once their not thrown in live

I agree.

There is no need to feed live fish (or rabbits or ducks) to Piranha.

ian

ipcompto wrote:

Hi i have 50 red bellied adults in our 1000litre display tank for over a year now.They behave and act they way they should but you have to be careful with feeding regime....ours eat a kilo of flesh per day...As for the correct amount of space or water per fish....that is purely arbitrary.....piranhas come from shoals of up to 30000....they spend their lives surrounded by eye balls and other of their kin....so space is not an issue.....making sure they are in larger numbers is the key.....they are extreme shoalers...ie low numbers will lead to adverse behaviour.

Water quality is the issue make sure you keep on top of your testing.I have been keeping piranha for over 30 years and we have bred thousands here at Aquatic Village...
cheers
Ian

check out our shoal on www.aquatic-village.com

Hi ian

actually got my piranhas from your shop

, was thinking of putting more put was told not to add to them , do you have anymore ?

Thanks for the advise

G.