Tank requirements

cazber

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jun 22, 2015
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Hey, ive kept Natts for about 15 years, the last one i had died at 6.6 years old after having been sick for awhile, it had been kept solo for all its life. and now i want to expand in to the hobby. Now my question is what would a perfect tank size for trying out all the Piranhas over time from Rhom, to solo Piraya. would a 530L (140G) be big enough to house all piranhas solo over time?


- Casper
 
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T374

Plecostomus
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Oct 23, 2007
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I’m going to say that it’s close but not big enough, solely for the goal of keeping the Piraya.
And that’s under the impression that you’re growing them out from a small size.

Good luck growing any Serrasalmus past 12”. They are not the issue.
My opinion, a juvenile rhombeus can live it’s life just fine in a 75/90 gal being 48”x18”.

The piraya though can, under the right care, grow monstrous and should be in something like a 180-220gal minimum.

The caribe would be next on the list of “pushing it” but depending on the footprint of your tank (24” width) could work
 
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tlindsey

Silver Tier VIP
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Aug 6, 2011
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Hey, ive kept Natts for about 15 years, the last one i had died at 6.6 years old after having been sick for awhile, it had been kept solo for all its life. and now i want to expand in to the hobby. Now my question is what would a perfect tank size for trying out all the Piranhas over time from Rhom, to solo Piraya. would a 530L (140G) be big enough to house all piranhas solo over time?


- Casper


180 for mature Black Rhom.
 

cazber

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jun 22, 2015
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So big enough to house all serras 160-180gal, and if i want to keep a piraya im looking at a 200+ gallon, yea my plan was to get them from as young as i can, to see them grow up. btw i have kept a solo RBP in a 65gal, do you guys think that is to small?
 

T374

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Oct 23, 2007
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To be frank, growing out a serrasalmus rhombeus purchased at a juvenile size and keeping it in anything bigger than 100 gallons is unnecessary.

A three inch rhombeus will most likely feel insecure in such a large area.
Also keep in mind that serrasalmus do not grow anywhere near as fast or to total overall length as pygocentrus in the aquarium.
With weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) water changes and a very decently varied diet, my Rhombeus is just north of 10” having cared for him for a decade now. Ten years....
He’s an awesome fish with an awesome personality that took years to develope. My favorite piranha that I’ve kept by far....but no way am I buying a rhombeus that small again.

My advice is if you’re set on growing out a small rhom is to get a grow out tank for him (36”x18”) and move him to the big tank after a few years.
Or obviously buy the rhom (or manny) at a decent size of ten inches plus if the plan is to put him directly into the big tank.
 

DarthRhom

Candiru
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Oct 25, 2006
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You're fine keeping any growout in a 140 gallon especially solo. Maybe you get a piraya past 16" but doubtful anything else would grow that big.
 

nzafi

Goliath Tigerfish
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Mar 14, 2008
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To be frank, growing out a serrasalmus rhombeus purchased at a juvenile size and keeping it in anything bigger than 100 gallons is unnecessary.

A three inch rhombeus will most likely feel insecure in such a large area.
Also keep in mind that serrasalmus do not grow anywhere near as fast or to total overall length as pygocentrus in the aquarium.
With weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) water changes and a very decently varied diet, my Rhombeus is just north of 10” having cared for him for a decade now. Ten years....
He’s an awesome fish with an awesome personality that took years to develope. My favorite piranha that I’ve kept by far....but no way am I buying a rhombeus that small again.

My advice is if you’re set on growing out a small rhom is to get a grow out tank for him (36”x18”) and move him to the big tank after a few years.
Or obviously buy the rhom (or manny) at a decent size of ten inches plus if the plan is to put him directly into the big tank.
Agree with this. Over a 17 year period my rhom didn’t pass 10.5in when it died.

Largest piraya grown in captivity was 21in. I’d push for a 30in wide tank there.
 
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