10 baby RBPS, looking for advice

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo

kenhamson

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 14, 2012
79
0
0
Philly PA
Hey guys
So yesterday I saw baby 1” rbps in my LFS for 6.99 a piece so I bought them up
I figured that was a decent deal, avoiding shipping and all.
So I have the group in my 20 gallon planted tank and they seem to love it.
The only other piranha i own is a 6" purple sanchezi

I’m looking for tips to minimize aggression, promote shoaling and make them grow as quick as possible.
I was planning on doing some heavy water changes and feeding them bloodworm cubes for the time being.
Let me know anything that may apply specifically to piranha or to shoaling fish that I can do

Will put pics up after work
 
They gonna outgrow that tank quickly. And I hope the sanchezi is in another tank lol. At that size feed blood worms n flakes at 1.5"+ go shrimp n fellers n at 2" add mini pellets with filets n shrimps. A heavy current in tank will help keep appetites up. Be prepared to lose some to aggresion especially at that size. They grow quickly so in 6 months they will be around 3-5" depending on fish n diet.
 
They gonna outgrow that tank quickly. And I hope the sanchezi is in another tank lol. At that size feed blood worms n flakes at 1.5"+ go shrimp n fellers n at 2" add mini pellets with filets n shrimps. A heavy current in tank will help keep appetites up. Be prepared to lose some to aggresion especially at that size. They grow quickly so in 6 months they will be around 3-5" depending on fish n diet.

Lose some?? You'll be lucky to have 3 alive in 6 months with a 20 gallon tank.
 
Firstly avoid feeders, if they take mini worms offer crushed flake, small pellets, eventually you can try talapia and shrimp.

Secondly you never said how many you had and if they were with the serrasalmus!

Lastly look for .5-.75" of growth per month, and when their 3-5" they need 15-20gallons per fish as adults 20-30, assuming you bought 6 you need a 125 in a matter of 5-6 months!

I'm sure you have long term plans so start saving up now for the upgrade, my advice is finding piece by piece as cheap as you can on CL or classifieds and in a few months you will have everything.

Please answer my questions. Thx man

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10 one inch rbp will be fine in a 20 gallon for a month or so. Not recommended, but they should be ok. Its very possible you'll lose some to cannibalism, its also very possible to lose some-all of them due to a tank cycle. 10 baby reds eating 3 times a day in a 20 gallon is a significant bioload, and will have a harsh cycle in such a small volume of water.

For feeding, like said, blood worms, pellets, shrimp, fish fillets, and brine shrimp. Blood worms and brine should be their staple at this size, and a piece of shrimp for them to chew and tug on once in a while.

For future tank size, I think you'd be fine with a 125 for a future tank. Keep in mind that many fish at a 5-8" size is going to need constant maintenance and heavy biofiltration though. I have eight 6-7" cariba in a 125 and they get 2 waterchanges a week, minimum, with an fx5 stuffed to the gills with media. Im sure you know, but bigger is always better when it comes to fish and water volume.

To curb aggression, keep the temp around 72-72 degrees. Try dim lighting, try bright lighting, try no lighting and see which makes your fish calmer. Do random feeding schedule once they hit 3-4". Remove bully fish as they develop. Keep the water params perfect, whacked out params will make the fish stress and the shoal will start acting crazy because of it. Either have LOTS of hiding places, or have NO hiding spaces. If there is one nice cave, and 10 fish want it, someone is fighting. I've had an awesome experience with having nothing but gravel in my shoal tanks. If you want them to actually swim around in a shoal, have lots of current in the tank. Mine seem to split up and do their own thing when the water stops flowing, they tend to hang out together in higher flowing water.

Sorry for the essay. Welcome to piranhas, strap in and enjoy the ride.:cheers:
 
Thansk guys

I have 10 of them. The tank is 20 but i will upgrade soon.
They are seperate from the sanchezi which actually bit me last night for the first time EVER!
 
Thansk guys

I have 10 of them. The tank is 20 but i will upgrade soon.
They are seperate from the sanchezi which actually bit me last night for the first time EVER!

Yea that's a lot man, imo 3-4 weeks max in that tank. Do you have another 20 u could split them up?

_________________________________________________________________________
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?504763-Cheap-plants-less-nitrate!-POTHOS

*Go S. Vettel #1 RBR! 3 BACK TO BACK WDC AND CONSTRUCTERS! :cheers:
 
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