black piranha - Feeding and Lighting suggestions

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demonicfish

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 19, 2006
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I have a black p, 2 inches, in a 35 gallon tank. I have been feeing it rosey reds and goldfishes. Is there anything else with more nutrients that i can feed to it? I tried to feed it brine shrimp, but if the food doesn't move, he won't eat it.

Also the p would always be hiding in a make shift bark/castle never coming out, so my fish tank looks empty.. Any suggestions on how to bring him out into the world?

thanks in advance.

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how long have you had him for?

you definately want to get him off live foods, but i think it may be too soon to switch.
he's probably stressed from moving, and he is still uncomfortable in your tank.
it takes time for them to settle, so the key to serrasalmus , is patience.
first off, you want perfect water parameters, then some driftwood/plants for him to hide him so he doesnt feel like he's always vulnerable.

after a few weeks, maybe sooner or longer depending on the personality of the rhom, he will come out of his shell. you should get him eating shrimp/ smelt / beef heart / krill .
 
by nature, piranhas aren't solitary so i suggest you get a few more so your fish would swim around your tank.. secondly, it is also their nature to hide which is why it is recommeded that you lower the light level... piranhas like wolves like hundting which is why it normally like devouring food that moves specially when they know it's injured.. suggest you addd to its diet shrimps & mice (when they've grown).. good luck..:)
 
Juanch said:
by nature, piranhas aren't solitary so i suggest you get a few more so your fish would swim around your tank.. secondly, it is also their nature to hide which is why it is recommeded that you lower the light level... piranhas like wolves like hundting which is why it normally like devouring food that moves specially when they know it's injured.. suggest you addd to its diet shrimps & mice (when they've grown).. good luck..:)
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disregard this post please.

serrasalmus Rhombeus (aka black piranha) belongs in the serra family, serras ARE SOLITARY FISH. you cant keep any other piranha/fish with them in the same tank as they are very aggressive and will kill their tankmate. what you're refering to are the pygocentrus family. these include red bellies, ternetzis , caribe, and piraya. these can be shoaled together, but even then, piranhas are unpredictable, there are always casualties.

piranhas are more like hyenas than wolves because they are more scavengers than predators, in the wild, they live off sick and decaying fish. and feeding mice is a horrible staple, once in a while is alright to show off to your friends, but dont feed them mice more than once a week.

i also suggest leaving the light on even if it bothers him and is stressing him. he will get used to it.
 
I have had him for about 4 months now. Thanks for all of the information and help guys. Do you know what the PH level should be around? I have one driftwood/plant in there, but the plant is dying, should is that a major concern?

This is my first black p so I want to make sure its done right. Thanks in advance again..
 
When I first purchased my baby black piranha, I housed it in a completely empty 10 gallon tank, and then upgraded to a 20 gallon with black gravel.

I started weaning him off of feeder fish by feeding live black worms, and then fresh cut shrimp.

It was easy from there on.

Because I never provided a hiding place from the start, he never hide from me. Infact, he eats right out of my hand.

There is a video here somewhere that shows me feeding him shrimp.
 
Awesome, I would like to see that clip. What kind of a PH should the tank have?
 
oh i forgot. mice are really bad food. i know your fish wont be able to eat them for quite a while but instead of all the time or once a week just dont. piranha can not digest hair and you could potentialy mess him up. best to just not do it. its just as cool watching them tear apart fish. just get a larger fish, like one of those annoying bubble eye creations... i hate those fish.
 
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