220 gal - shoal of what?

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HarleyK

HarleyK

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Howdy,

My question about Ps in a 75 gal made me aware of limitations - thanks all for the informative input :thumbsup:. I am now considering moving fish around between my tanks to free up the 220 gal for a shoal :D (I know, looks empty already)

IMG_4315.JPG

S. geryi are out because of availability, so I guess Pygos are the way to go because I want a shoal. I am still working within some limitations, and I would appreciate your help in choosing the most suitable species:


  • 220 gal (6x2x2.5')
  • 900 gph canister filter with 2.7 gal biomedia
  • planted, and I don't want to compromise on that.
  • 400 Watts power compact lights.
1) I heard some Ps chew up/tear out plants while others are more appreciative of that decor. Any experiences? Also, considering the comparatively bright lighting for plants, which species would mind a well-lit tank the least?

2) RBPs are said to be skittish - are cariba or piraya more outgoing?

3) Any suggestions on shoal size for these three (P. nattereri, cariba, piraya)? I do not intend to mix species.

Thanks a bunch,
HarleyK
 
HarleyK;2879648; said:
Howdy,

My question about Ps in a 75 gal made me aware of limitations - thanks all for the informative input :thumbsup:. I am now considering moving fish around between my tanks to free up the 220 gal for a shoal :D (I know, looks empty already)

View attachment 334033

S. geryi are out because of availability, so I guess Pygos are the way to go because I want a shoal. I am still working within some limitations, and I would appreciate your help in choosing the most suitable species:


  • 220 gal (6x2x2.5')
  • 900 gph canister filter with 2.7 gal biomedia
  • planted, and I don't want to compromise on that.
  • 400 Watts power compact lights.
1) I heard some Ps chew up/tear out plants while others are more appreciative of that decor. Any experiences? Also, considering the comparatively bright lighting for plants, which species would mind a well-lit tank the least?

2) RBPs are said to be skittish - are cariba or piraya more outgoing?

3) Any suggestions on shoal size for these three (P. nattereri, cariba, piraya)? I do not intend to mix species.

Thanks a bunch,
HarleyK
Click to expand...

damn dude...once you put some caribes in there, that is gonna be tank of the year! Too bad geryi is out because that would have been lovely son!
 
apparently caribes are a little more aggressive than red bellies and piraya are more aggressive than both if i were to pick one id probably go with caribes (assuming red bellies arnt "outgoing" enough for you) as for shoal size for caribes 1 per 25 gallons is usualy good though i would go with 1 per 30 gallons so since the foot print of your tank is basicaly a 180 just taller go with 6 if you go with piraya go with 3-4 (keep in mind you will usualy want to start with a few more fish if u start with juvis as u may lose soem on the way especialy with piraya as they are more cannibalistic than the other 2)

altho getting a mixed group a red bellies and caribes would be awesome IMO
 
yeah I would say caribes because you could have a bigger shoal, they're pretty aggressive, and I think they just look really cool. RBP's are cool too. Piraya are awesome but you looking at a school of possibly 24" fish if you go with piraya. While that would be really rad, it really requires a super large tank to be feasible. Piraya are not cheap either and if housed in less than tremendous sized tanks they tend to eat each other...

some of 'em might munch on plants, I'm not really sure. I've only personally heard of some serras doing this. The thing to keep in mind is that they're carnivores so even though they might occasionally take a bite out of a plant, they aren't going to munch them down to the root like silver dollars or something equally herbivorous would, also I've never heard of them just destroying plants like cichlids do either.

The skittish thing depends on the fish, the tank, the tank location, and the amount of light they're exposed to. Most people recommend floating plants in a pygo setup because they dim the light. I personally use fake plants because my serra hates the lights overhead. I do have lights, I use actinic bulbs, and I have a fake floating plant that diffuses it just a little.
 
Get a mixed shoal of Reds, Caribe, and Ternetzi

I think the individual P personality depends on if they will destroy your plants, but I think piraya and caribe are more likely to do so
 
ok the biggest issue with plant setup destroying is BREEDING! most ps will chew a bit here and there, but nothing serious like Diogenes told you. the biggest concern is ps cleanning up the thank for a nest. natts do it quite often when passed 2 years old, so i wouldn't go with any of them. caribas and pirayas don't breed in aquariums so go with these.

now, i know many piraya and cariba keeper, and cariba are less skittish in aquariums than pirayas are. now, maybe my shoal of natts will be way more aggressive than someone else's shoal of caribas, it highly depends on water conditions, light, amount of hidding places in the tank, and mostly, SIZE OF THE SHOAL. put 3 pirayas in there and you are getting pretty far from the hundred of specimens they are used to live with.

because of your foot print (only 6' long) I'd say go with 5-6 caribas, it should be your safest bet according to what you are looking for. one thing is sure, don't look for piranhas like in the movies, you won't find them. shoaling ps ARE skittish. still caribas tend to be the most aggressive and competitive. everyone i know who had mixed shoal told me the caribas were the dominant ones in the shoal (i know a guy who lost a cariba because he attacked a piraya that was way bigger)

so good luck and i hope that helped

if you understand french (which is unprobable but who knows!) i can give you some links for some french forums of people keeping huge shoals of them (caribe and piraya) in huge aquariums
 
dmopar74;2883785; said:
piraya ftw! but my favorite color is yellow and piraya get the biggest of the pygo's, so im biased.
Click to expand...

still, number is the biggest factor on their "skittishness". you won't keep more than 3 piraya in there because you don't have a tank long enough. so my advice is still to go with 5-6 caribas.

then, it's true that pirayas are very colorfull. so it's your call. beauty vs larger shoal
 
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