Breeding Practice?

[jredner]

Considering that they're only about 4", I know that my fish aren't large enough to breed but is it possible that the "practice" breeding behavior?

I have just (within the last 4 days) moved them from a 29 into a 75 and have added new decor (including substrate, rocks and driftwood) which makes it even less likely that they would be breeding if they were in fact mature enough to do so.

I ask because they have been doing upward spirals all night and following each other around like they are trying to breed. There is no aggression between them while doing these things.

Has anyone ever heard of this kind of behavior or is it possible that they are breeding?

 

[StIcKy~RiCe]

It's not breeding behavor. IMO it sound like your piranha are "flashing" doing flips and scrathing against the gravel. That mean some thing is bothering them. It can be stress, bad water parameter, etc.....

why do I think that way?

Here is the key.....

I have just (within the last 4 days) moved them from a 29 into a 75 and have added new decor

4" are not mature enough, and piranha does not pratic breeding. There are stress over their new home and enviroment. sound like like you got bad water. check your water ASAP.

also does the 75gallon fully cycle before you put them in?

 

[jredner]

I moved the old substrate into a section of the tank, used the filter off the old tank (as well as added additional filtration) and used about half the water out of the old tank.

I'll test the water in the morning (I'm out of test strips right now) and do water changes both tonight and in the morning.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[jredner]

Well the water was fine, but have changed between 10 and 20 gallons (out of 75) daily for the past week and everything seems normal.

They've actually settled in nicely and began to claim their territory. They are much more active and less skittish since the move.