Can a red belly be kept solo?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
JKM said:
I'll have to ask Mike some q's about q's, q's always interested me..


About RBP's solo, yes they absolutely can, can get more interactive rbp's when kept solo, and they don't need to be in a group to thrive, they're cannibalistic anyway so keeping solo you can say you're doing them a favour.

Don't know why people are saying it's wrong lol, when you don't know enough about p's to comment, don't comment .. :headshake
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Just curious as to what makes you an expert? I've had multiple piranha tanks, I'd like to think I'm at least on the right track. And s. rhoms do not shoal like rbp in the wild, morel like loose groups. Nobody has said that he can't, but it would be hard to argue that it isn't widely accepted that they do better in groups.

EDIT: Not saying I'm an expert by any means either, but it seems to me that your opinion should carry no more weight than mine or anyone else. OP seems to like it because like many people, if you tell them what they want to hear they are pleased.
 
It isn't widely accepted they do better in groups, it's widely accepted that when in groups the larger the group the better due to cannibalism and trying to reduce one fish being targeted.
Those that know, know.

ps. I don't cater to an OP's question I really couldn't care less what they want the answer to be, I answer truthfully all the time.

pps. Wasn't calling you out, I just don't like rumours starting and then them becoming "fact" on internet forums. Less BS involved the better it is for the hobby.
 
If you want a single piranha, look into other types, such as elong, rhom, etc there's a bunch of solo piranhas you can get that have to be kept by them selves. You would have to get one at a really young age and be looking to upgrade in a few years.


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JKM said:
It isn't widely accepted they do better in groups, it's widely accepted that when in groups the larger the group the better due to cannibalism and trying to reduce one fish being targeted.
Those that know, know.

ps. I don't cater to an OP's question I really couldn't care less what they want the answer to be, I answer truthfully all the time.

pps. Wasn't calling you out, I just don't like rumours starting and then them becoming "fact" on internet forums. Less BS involved the better it is for the hobby.
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I don't think it is a rumor that they do better in groups, and it isn't something that I've picked up off of the internet alone. I've had groups that experienced cannibalism and groups that didn't. I'm not saying that you were catering to his question either, simply that he was only satisfied with your answer because it catered to his desires. They certainly wouldn't do better in groups without adequate space, where cannibalism would be almost inevitable.
 
I just what to confirm what has been said. Yes it can be done but they thrive in groups.

Most solo red bellies that you run into are large (8+ inches) who lost their shoal and the owner couldn't find a similar size shoal to add them in or it got picked on and was separated and never put back with the shoal

There are far livelier types of piranhas if you want to go the solo route. A solo red belly is boring in my opinion
 
Wow for some reason I thought u were talking about a pacu at first lol, I was like please noooo :p I would keep RBP's as a small group tho but unfortunately they're not even legal in CA
 
letstalkfish said:
I don't think it is a rumor that they do better in groups, and it isn't something that I've picked up off of the internet alone. I've had groups that experienced cannibalism and groups that didn't. I'm not saying that you were catering to his question either, simply that he was only satisfied with your answer because it catered to his desires. They certainly wouldn't do better in groups without adequate space, where cannibalism would be almost inevitable.
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The dude said he only had a 45. So based on that it looks like you agree, that he should keep a solo pygo.

@OP, there's absolutely nothing wrong with keeping a solo pygo. You will notice that they are more interactive, bold and aggressive when kept solo.

For those who believe that they "thrive" in groups in the home aquarium, because that's how they appear in the wild, it seems like a common misconception.

Quoted directly from OPEFE:

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/piranha038/piramix.html
According to world expert on piranhas, Dr. William L. Fink, piranhas do not shoal in the literal sense. Piranhas form groups or more specific a school of individuals having commonality. See further remarks my own opinion of pet stores and how they describe what they see.

Pygocentrus species form small groups of individuals that stay far apart from each other and group together when feeding frenzy or during fish runs. The same goes for Serrasalmus species. The aquarium is an area that is not the same in nature. You, the hobbyist, can jam the species and call it a shoaling but that is not what it really is, more like forced grouping. During the fish runs (in the wild) schools of fishes, including piranhas are seen. But again, this is nature putting them together, where in normal circumstances they are kept apart by natural processes and behavior.

So I cringe each time I read that someone is shoaling their fish (pet dealers are notorious for this assumption).
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Good luck with your decision.
 
I think you should go for it found myself in a similiar possition wen I started and couldnt afford a big tank and was 2 young to start diy so I bought a solo rbp that was 4" within no time he was gettin bigger no competition for food no fin nips he always looked great and healthy very chunky 2 id honestly rather a solo rbp than other breed of fish found he wasnt as boaring as taught and more attitude but ended up gettin 6 rbp and a schoal is better but more work I'll get a pic up of my solo later at 8" he was a beast

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