Red-bellied Piranha Question

[Gatorbait]

Thanks guys.

I'll try to answer as many of the response questions that I read here.

He is about 3 - 4 inches long now. I recently moved him from a 10 gallon tank to a 20 gallon tank so that he has more room to move around. It is since this move that his appetite has seemed to grow tremendously.

I will definitely try the shrimp and other foods to give him some variety.

Basically, I was originally confused with how much he should be eating and how often.

Finally, I do have a question. A friend of mine said that he used to have 2 piranhas and an oscar in the same tank and that the piranhas would not mess with the oscar. Has anyone ever heard of this? I was under the assumption that if you had a piranha in the tank, that is what was in the tank since it would most likely eat everything else.

I have had tropical fish for years, but this is my first piranha, so I'm new to this.

Thanks for the help.

The Fish Importer summed it up pretty good.

I just wanted to add that generally, don't add any fish to a tank with piranhas that you don't want to get killed. Right now the piranha is small enough to want to east just fins but if you miss a meal or sometimes for no reason , the piranha can turn on him.

Like The Fish Importer stated, most Pygo's like to be in shoals for security and if you get a minimum of 2 more you'll see more how they act and what they're about. (Dependant upon tank size as I forgot if you posted it or not)

 

[Gatorbait]

what is a troll?

It's someone who knows better and is just saying things to cause trouble.

 

[mdwags]

Thanks guys.

I'll try to answer as many of the response questions that I read here.

He is about 3 - 4 inches long now. I recently moved him from a 10 gallon tank to a 20 gallon tank so that he has more room to move around. It is since this move that his appetite has seemed to grow tremendously.

I will definitely try the shrimp and other foods to give him some variety.

Basically, I was originally confused with how much he should be eating and how often.

Finally, I do have a question. A friend of mine said that he used to have 2 piranhas and an oscar in the same tank and that the piranhas would not mess with the oscar. Has anyone ever heard of this? I was under the assumption that if you had a piranha in the tank, that is what was in the tank since it would most likely eat everything else.

I have had tropical fish for years, but this is my first piranha, so I'm new to this.

Thanks for the help.

The Fish Importer summed it up pretty good.

I just wanted to add that generally, don't add any fish to a tank with piranhas that you don't want to get killed. Right now the piranha is small enough to want to east just fins but if you miss a meal or sometimes for no reason , the piranha can turn on him.

Like The Fish Importer stated, most Pygo's like to be in shoals for security and if you get a minimum of 2 more you'll see more how they act and what they're about. (Dependant upon tank size as I forgot if you posted it or not)

Thanks again.

You guys are really helping me out with my little guy. I have him in a 20 gallon tank. How many can I keep in there?

 

[The Fish Importer]

Thanks guys.

I'll try to answer as many of the response questions that I read here.

He is about 3 - 4 inches long now. I recently moved him from a 10 gallon tank to a 20 gallon tank so that he has more room to move around. It is since this move that his appetite has seemed to grow tremendously.

I will definitely try the shrimp and other foods to give him some variety.

Basically, I was originally confused with how much he should be eating and how often.

Finally, I do have a question. A friend of mine said that he used to have 2 piranhas and an oscar in the same tank and that the piranhas would not mess with the oscar. Has anyone ever heard of this? I was under the assumption that if you had a piranha in the tank, that is what was in the tank since it would most likely eat everything else.

I have had tropical fish for years, but this is my first piranha, so I'm new to this.

Thanks for the help.

The Fish Importer summed it up pretty good.

I just wanted to add that generally, don't add any fish to a tank with piranhas that you don't want to get killed. Right now the piranha is small enough to want to east just fins but if you miss a meal or sometimes for no reason , the piranha can turn on him.

Like The Fish Importer stated, most Pygo's like to be in shoals for security and if you get a minimum of 2 more you'll see more how they act and what they're about. (Dependant upon tank size as I forgot if you posted it or not)

Thanks again.

You guys are really helping me out with my little guy. I have him in a 20 gallon tank. How many can I keep in there?

Just the one, even that tanks gonna be too small for one as it approachs 10" plus and scretches around when startled. A injury will more than likely accor.

 

[mdwags]

Is it OK to feed a piranha Brine Shrimp?

 

[adgo]

Is it OK to feed a piranha Brine Shrimp?

live or frozen? live ones are probably too small for a 3+" piranha. you can buy raw shrimp at any place that sells seafood

 

[Gatorbait]

adgo is probably correct.

You can try but brine shrimp and bloodworms are more for the dime-sized piranhas.

If I were you I'd get raw shrimp, tilapia and catfish nuggets for now. Make sure everything is raw. (The shrimp will be grey not pink) Don't buy a lot of any of them just a small bit since it will probably last a month or two. Try feeding 3-4 times a day, small meals, and vary it up with the 3. Cut them to bitesize. You can try redworms until he's 5-6" and then buy some nightcrawlers to add into your variety.

 

[mdwags]

adgo is probably correct.

You can try but brine shrimp and bloodworms are more for the dime-sized piranhas.

If I were you I'd get raw shrimp, tilapia and catfish nuggets for now. Make sure everything is raw. (The shrimp will be grey not pink) Don't buy a lot of any of them just a small bit since it will probably last a month or two. Try feeding 3-4 times a day, small meals, and vary it up with the 3. Cut them to bitesize. You can try redworms until he's 5-6" and then buy some nightcrawlers to add into your variety.

Cool thanks. You guys have been more help than any place else I have tried.

Is it OK to freeze the bite sized pieces for storage?

As I am writing this, he just destroyed one of the feeder minnows in the tank. WOW!

 

[steelhealr]

To all the posters in this thread....I have been notified by another member of the posts here which, IMO, have been suboptimal with regards to posting and respect of others. I am closing this thread and respectfully request the members here who have used 'off language' or been disrespectful to PM me with an explanation. Thank you. SH