Piranha

[Spencer Pike]

Hi,
Im starting a 55 gallon tank with one gold severum, 1 african brown knife fish, 3 clown loaches, 1 bristlenose pleco, 1 bala shark, 1 albino rainbow shark, and 3 otto cats. I was wondering if I could put a piranha in there and if Its to croded what should I take out.

 

[AMS]

Spencer, please refer to this and this for piranha help.

also check out the fish index for piranha species =)

 

[diademhill]

As above - piranhas don't mix with anything else.

Take out the clown loaches and Bala shark as these get too big and take out the ottos as these are too small ( + you have an algae eater already)
This leaves a severum, african brown knife, bristlenose, rainbow shark.
You then have space for a few, chunky, midwater swimmers - I would choose clown barbs as these are the same colour as clown loaches but a more suitable size.

 

[cane76]

piranha would have a feast on that lot

 

[Spencer Pike]

Im gonna buy another tank just to put piranhas in. I really want them so I have to have them.

 

[Dwarfs]

I could be wrong, but I think that piranha need at least a 6 foot tank to avoid cannabalism/aggression

 

[AMS]

Nope, a six foot tank is only for the larger species. For your basic Red Belly Piranhas (Pygocentrus nattereri) a 75 US gallon would be fine for 4 specimens.

 

[cane76]

mine are being upgraded to my 100g in about 6 months they are gonna love it