Red Bellies

[cane76]

when i first got my 4 off a friend whilst bagging them up he told me that they will play dead for a while.i thought he was having me on until i got them home.they spent almost 2 hours laying flat on the bottom not moving at all.im no fish expert but ive never known a fish to do this before.do all red bellies do this?are they in shock or is it some sort of defence thing?

 

[AMS]

What size tank, pH, size of the piranhas, nitrates, and most importantly temparure? Many piranha are intolerant of tempature swings, so adjusting them to a different tank can be very stressful. Laying on their sides is some what common for red bellies just accliamated to a new tank. If it lasts for more than 24 hours you may have a problem.

 

[cane76]

they were about 2" at the time i got them.temp 80 nitrates 30 nitrite 0 not sure about the ph i aint checked it for a while.the tank is 4foot but i will be upgrading them to my vision 450 eventually

 

[AMS]

Oh, so you have had them for a while? They are probably fine now then.

80 Nitrates and 30 nitrites!

 

[cane76]

lol temp=80 nitrate=30 ive had them 2or3 months now i was just wondering why they do it

 

[AMS]

oh I see now! Some red bellies just lay on their sides when acclimated to a new because their difference in tempature, pH and whatever, if they are fine now then you have no problem.

 

[cane76]