19 piranha in 60 gallon tank??????

[Ohio Entusiast]

You know, about 10 years ago I got into fishkeeping in a very big way. I had no patience to buy baby fish and watch them grow. I ran out and immediately bought the biggest and baddest fish I could find and HAD to have huge specimens.

10 years later I totally get off buying babies and growing them out. Yeah, I still have visions of 10 2' Piraya housed in a 1,000 gallon tank but these days I can buy 1'' juveniles and watch them grow to that size. My point is I can now be completely satisfied with 5 1'' Natterreri in a 200 gallon tank and watch them grow out without the urge to fill the ''empty'' tank. I consider the full potential of the size fish I want to keep and determine how many I will need to stock the tank and buy that number and no more.

I'm sure I'm the minority here but I say if you have a 125 gallon tank you should put no more than 5 in it. No buying 50 reds and culling them out nor expecting half of them to be eaten.

 

[bmxnick7]

i currently have 3 in my 90, i am think of up grading to a 300 and getting a couple more

 

[KMKN]

your friend should sell some off

 

[underwater]

I once had 13 reds in a 125 gallon tank, kept the filtration good and feed them well. That lasted about two years then they decided they needed more room for them selves. I now have one adult pirahana left.

 

[OnceLoyal]

I think 5 RBs in a 75 is ok for many years as long as it is not over decorated so they have plenty of room. I usually like to go with the 30 gal per fish rule myself though. Right now mine are 20 gal per each and they are just fine (juvis still). I have a few good plans readily available when it needs to be put into action though. If your lfs won't accept them I would try on a private source. If that doesn't work the some may have to be feeders

 

[fishtician]

What is the life expectency on red bellies?

 

[bomber]

What is the life expectency on red bellies?

Depends on how many red bellies become dominate in this tank. Its like a ticking bomb.

 

[Otherone]

19 RBP's in 60gal. will probably breed Ich and Cottonwool fungus very well. Average life span in that tank.............2-3 mo. Buy a larger tank, keep an appropriate size shoal for that tank, steer clear of odd school Piranha keeping technics (ie; Golfish. Terrestrial meats,etc..),double the recommended filtration, weekly water changes - and then your lookin' at 10 years or more.