RBPs

[peter101]

hi
I'm thinking of getting a new tank with some RBPs but i'm unsure a a few things
first: what size tank should i get as a minimum? I'm not really all that stressed for cash but I am for space. I've herd that they are schooling fish and should be kept in groups of 3 or more and I'm looking at getting 3, or 2 if possible.
another thing: i also need to know a lot of the basics of the species: what are they fed, how big do they get, is there anything else that is compatible with them in the tank? what kind of plants do they like?
any other information would be great
thanx in advance

 

[peter101]

There's gotta be some red bellied pirahna keepers out there somewhere!
I also need an idea of price
i'm thinking round a 75 g with 5 rbps including evertyghinis gonna end up costing aorund 1500 bucks (canadian)
someone let me know if i'm wrong
(don't tell me it's gonna cost more!!)

 

[teknikz]

juanveldez has kept them b4 and so have a few others....

 

[smb]

I would say a minimum of 75g tank for 4 of them. I wouldn't get 2 as IME, the bigger almost always kills the smaller.

They eat live fish, krill, nightcrawlers, peas, and in general what cichlids eat. Feed twice a day with small meals until they get 4-5" and then feed 3-4 times a week.

Plants- I don't keep live plants so can't help there.

Nothing else is compatable with them. Everything put in with Piranha's will eventually become a meal.

They get to 12" and grow extremely fast especially when younger.

 

[juanveldez]

a 75 gallon would be fine enough I would try to keep them in even numberd groups otherwise you will see that they are going to single one out and eventually kill him. Just remember that they usually get around 8-10 inches so don't get so many that you are going to have a group of overcrowded pirhanas. I got mine at about an inch and a half for 13 dollars US I don't know what the price there in canada is ( I havent been there in like 5 years.) oh and make sure that you have a tight fitting lid, they can get awful jumpy when they get disturbed. and keep little people out of there and pets too.... my kitty found that out the hard way when she thought that they were play toys and they bit half of her pad on her toe off

 

[peter101]

I got mine at about an inch and a half for 13 dollars US

This give a good idea of the price of the fish
but i've never kept a large tank and I was wondering about the pricing of a 75 gal with filters, heaters, substrate, plants, etc.
also does anyone have an idea of the type of live plants that rbps are compatable with? or should i just stick to platic/silk?

 

[juanveldez]

Like SMB I don't keep live plants. so I wouldn't know where to start. I got my 75 as a package with light, lids, and stand for about 450 US my suggestion to you Espically with Christmas coming up soon is to search your lfs for deals... I had to wait for a year before I got mine and then they got another one in with a cheaper stand and for 560 US.