Baby Piranha Rescue? Bad Idea?

[snowflake311]

I know it is a bad Idea. But I found a baby 2" piranha at the pet store it came in with a shipment of Silver dollars. It's $8 because it is priced as a sliver dollar but clearly is not. I have a 100Gal Tank with four 7" Silver dollars, A 9" Uaru, 6" Delhezi, 6" Pictus cat, and 6" buffalo head. I have been wanting to change this tank around. I have had these fish for many years.
 
[SIZE=12.727272033691406px]A part of me whats to rescue this [/SIZE]piranha because someone is going to buy it thinking they have a silver dollar than it will grow up and then what? This is a small chain store. At least I know what I am getting.
 
So what to do? what to do? I have a feeling the best thing to do would be say no and move on. But this other part of me wants a piranha tank. It's only one they don't have others. I feel the fish is doomed if I don't get it.
 
I know these fish get big and I know they can eat and will kill any sick old fish in the tank. I know they are shy. I know they are messy and they school. I know they are scavengers or opportunistic feeders. I know a lot about them. 
 
I wanted to turn this 100gal into a Piranha tank and rehome all my other fish. I was playing with this idea for a few months. Then this baby shows up at the store. It gets me thinking again. 

 

[snowflake311]

On second thought I really like my silver dollars. So I think it would be best to forget about the baby Piranha. Unless someone thinks it could work. 

 

[squidsagirl420]

i have no idea.. but i think id be upset to realize i had a piranha LOL... we were actually joking about something similar recently... sad it really happens... 
maybe grab a small tank setup at walmart and have a pirhana? though they probably need a bit of space... thats alot of monies for a rescue.. lol. 

 

[Ichthys]

Please don't keep Piranhas on their own. Most of them are shoaling species so need to be in a group.

 

[Baccus]

Do you know of any local fish display places that maybe able to take the piranhas? I am thinking along these lines simply because it could be very dangerous for an unsuspecting person to end up with what can be a very dangerous fish. Or worse a person could get them and once bored with them, end up dumping them in a local waterway.
I take it the shop is aware that they have some ring-in fish with their shipment? If not I would make them aware of it and they maybe able to sort out long term housing for the piranahs, rather than just selling them on to potentially uninformed buyers.

 

[Squidward]

Can you just not tell the owner of the lfs he has a piranha and seel it as such.
 
Keeping it with you other fish will not end well

 

[snowflake311]

I have a few empty tanks. I have a 36 gal 10 gal and 20 gal. I could set it up as a temporary home. I could find him a home with the help of monster fish keepers.

I don't know why I feel the need to help this fish. I don't think we have a problem with some one letting him go it gets too cold here a piranha in Lake Tahoe . Don't think it would work out well but we do have goldfish in the Tahoe keys.

I am going to go and tell them what they have because it would not be cool to buy one and no know it.

 

[Vethian]

what kind of pirahna is it?  

 

[snowflake311]

Not sure I would say red belly . It is 2.5" has a red belly with a bit of black on the tail and some red around the gills.

 

[snowflake311]

It's body is silver with some spots.

 

[Ichthys]

Most Piranhas look like that at that size. You would probably need to put a picture on a good Piranha forum to get an accurate ID.

 

[snowflake311]

Well the fish was still there. The little fish came out when he saw me. SO I took him home. I set up a 10gal Temporary home for home. I had been playing this the idea of keeping Piranhas for a while now. I did lots of research before I got this guy. I figure he will grow out a bit in the 10gal. It will give me time to make arrangements for a more permeant home. 
 
The store had no idea what he was but they knew they sometimes get random fish in the orders. I told the girl I was pretty sure it is a baby piranha and she looked at it and said "No I think it is a cichlids for sure." I was thinking OMG these people know nothing. I told her no piranhas are related to Silver dollars and it is unheard of for them to come in with a shipment. 
 
SO anyways he is safe. From what I read these are illegal to keep in most states. I can have them in CA if I have a permit. I don't think I will be finding another one any time soon. 
 
Anyways he is very shy I made him a cave to hide in. 
 
What do you think he is maybe I am wrong maybe he is a silver dollar HAHA. 

 

 

[squidsagirl420]

i haven't had any silver dollars... but i see teeth.. LOL. 
 
maybe this kind? no idea what kind this is. maybe piraya or something

 

[snowflake311]

I have silver dollars and the shape of his body is different from any silver dollar I have ever seen. That photo you found looks just like my little guy. But mine still has his baby spots that I love. 
 
He has adjusted to his new home very well. He comes out and looks around. He is not that afraid of me coming over to look at him. OH CRAP I have fallen in  love with this little monster baby. I am planing on rehoming the fish in my 100Gal so I can keep this piranha . 

 

[Ichthys]

You're gonna need a bigger boat. That's a baby Red Pacu.
You'll need a bigger boat very soon. Those beasts can grow an inch a week.

i haven't had any silver dollars... but i see teeth.. LOL. 
 
maybe this kind? no idea what kind this is. maybe piraya or something

That's a Red Hook, Myloplus rubripinnis, one of the dollars.