My Girlfriend Wants Piranha

[evilchild]

i have post this in the other forum, but not had much luck so i thought i would try here. hope you don't mind.

My girlfriend wants Piranha, which is fine by me , I was wondering if some one can answer a few question i have.
What’s the best way to clean them out? I do plan to get an external filter that it bigger than the tank requires, I just don’t want to stick my hand in the tank to clean the glass or whilst I’m cleaning the gravel and spook a fish and have it take a nibble on my hand, in fright or something

(Please don’t get me wrong, I don’t plan on sticking my hand in to see if it dose bite )

how often do they need to be fed? twice daly? or would this make them fat and unhealth?

If any one else can give me any tips on keeping these and maintaining a healthy environment for them, that would be most helpfully.

P.S
i don't plan feeding them on live food very often, may be once a month as a treat?

 

[shroob]

Use a divider to put them in a corner when you're cleaning the tank.
What pirahna u thinking of getting btw?

I wouldnt feed live food (feeder goldfish) at all tbh, they are riddled with parasites. If you raise your own, then thats sort of a different matter, but theres still the ethical issue.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

As far as I know (and I'm no expert at all) it is not likely that any piranhas you would keep would try and take a bite out of your hand.

With regards to feeder fish I personally wouldn't but that is just me. Other then that I cant help much as I have no experinence keeping Piranhas.

 

[chamberpot]

My neighbour has a tank full of large piranhas - don't know what kind sorry.
But he's had them for years and just puts them in the bath while he cleans the tank out.

 

[Faythee]

They are illegal where I live.

You can feed them meat such as chicken and beef hearts.

I found this on the net, it's kinda funny:

Safety around piranhas is important. Piranhas are very skittish and the likelihood of you being injured is small yet, you need to respect the fish. Never put your hand in the tank near feeding time because your fish are accustomed to food entering the water during this time. They may mistake your hand for food. Never put any of your body with a open wound or healing in the tank because they are attracted to blood. When cleaning the tank be sure not to corner the fish as they will feel endangered and may attack to protect themselves. As your piranhas grow larger the danger increases dramatically. The fish become bold and strong enough to possible bite a finger off or cause other serious injuries. The most dangerous piranha is the one that is flopping on the floor. As they flop they continue to bite rapidly in fear. When moving piranhas with a net never put your hand under the net as piranhas bite through it and may fall out and bite you. You can insure your own safety by remembering one simple thing and using common sense "their teeth aren't a joke they are real and dangerous."

Good link for info: http/www.msu.edu/~torresm2/piranhabehavior.html

 

[dane261]

when i had mine red bellies i used to clean glass when they were in there no probs but they will have been acustomed to me




cheers dane

 

[mrbonzai]

I wouldn't ever worry about getting bitten by a piranha. The only time I've ever been bitten was when I had an open wound on my hand that I didn't know about and it bit my finger. You just need to remember is that the fish does not see you as prey, so it won't attack you.

 

[Straydum]

all that you need

 

[evilchild]

I wouldn't ever worry about getting bitten by a piranha. The only time I've ever been bitten was when I had an open wound on my hand that I didn't know about and it bit my finger. You just need to remember is that the fish does not see you as prey, so it won't attack you.

ouch! did it do much damage?
thank you all for the replys and help you have given me. i will post pic once we're up and running

 

[benniebru]

my opinion is that they are ugly as hell no real color tell ur girl to get cichlids instead of piranhas

 

[*Fishkies*]

You can use magnet cleaners for you tank that will clean the side of your tank. Something like this

 

[Mr._Fishy]

For most piranhas, the bulk of its diet should be fish. In my experience, they take frozen food just fine. Try frozen silver sides, or something like that.

Ryan