Piranha Needs Help!

[annis_2006]

I've had a piranha for about 3 years now. He's had something up with his gil since he was a little kid, i've tried chemicals and whatnot, but they did nothing. Anyway, recently he's been ocassionally swimming sideways and (it looks like) scratching his side. There is also a feeder fish in his tank that he won't eat -- the little feeder fish (about 1" long) goes up to the piranha (about 6" long) and nips at him. the feeder fish isnt biting the piranha's fins or anything, he's biting at his gil/mouth/eye area, and the piranha just swims away. i have no idea if any of it is at all related... any ideas as to whats up?

 

[england]

post this in the emergency section for more advice
maybe its got gill fluke

 

[n3ont3tra]

First off, why was this moved to New World cichlid?

Now about the piranha.
1st. What size tank is it?
2nd. What are you're water parameters? Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate.
3rd. What kind of fish is the feeder fish?
4th. What kind of piranha is it?
5th. What do you mean by "he's had something up his gill"? What does it look like? A pic would help. Do you see any white spots on him?

 

[annis_2006]

First off, why was this moved to New World cichlid?

Now about the piranha.
1st. What size tank is it?
2nd. What are you're water parameters? Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate.
3rd. What kind of fish is the feeder fish?
4th. What kind of piranha is it?
5th. What do you mean by "he's had something up his gill"? What does it look like? A pic would help. Do you see any white spots on him?

1. It's a 20 Gallon tank
2. dont know how to check ammonia/nitrite/nitrate
3. the feeder fish is just a regular old gold fish
4. It's a red bellied piranha
5. His gill, on one side, folds outward towards his face -- it's almost like he has a tumor, or something like a balloon on the back/inside of it, pushing the gill outward/forward.

I can't tell if he has white spots on him or if his scales fell off in a couple places.

 

[SamUK]

hmmm.

1. tank is way too small for a 6" fish im afriad mate.

2. you should get a test kit from your local pet shop. ideally you should test the water pretty regularly to make sure the condtions are ok and to keep your fish healthy.

3. Feeder fish arent great for food as most of the time theyll have an illness themselves or would of been inbred so many times there not a very healthy option anymore.

if you havent already, post in the emergency section about the gill. if wilder is still around then youll be in safe hands!

 

[adam98150]

I think piranha's are shoaling fish, and, as stated that tank is way too small. Have you cycled the tank?

 

[jackel931]

like everyone said that tank is way to small, that shows why he is only 6 inches in three years!!! they should grow about an inch a month for the first year up to about 8 inches then slowly grow from there. by three years he should have been double the size of what he is!!! why didnt you research? Also if all your feeding is feeder fish that would be another reason why he is so small. carp meat is terrible for the growth rate of piranhas!!! again why didnt you research? and yes rbp are shoaling fish and will live alot happy and less stressful life in a group of AT LEAST three.