Can I keep RBP in a 55 gallon for life?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Largest I've ever grown a red belly was to 10.5". Not saying that it's not possible to grow them larger but that was my experience.
Frankly, to get the type of activity out of RBP that we look for and avoid excessive skittishness, you need numbers of RBP way higher than 3. And to do that, you need a really large talk....3 to 4 times the size of your 55.
I'd recommend purchasing a solo RBP for your 55. He will be quite skittish for quite some time but will come around with age. Then you are also not dealing with territorial and dominance issues that you will likely have with 3 piranha housed together.
 
rajatariqmustafa15 said:
Look man I said that it can be kept in an 20 gallon but that was an example so people themselves can do the math themselves and yeah they shouldn't be kept in an 20 gallon . And looked up at some major websites and did a lot of research on these fish and I know that they should be kept in groups of 5 or more. And I can't say that Wikipedia is wrong I'm sorry, the growth rate is slow my friends. Go use the internet read it yourself. As far as the keeping two. I told him to keep three because at least the dominate one wouldn't kill the other one. And if he can't then he shouldn't keep them might as well get an oscar
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The growth rate of a red belly is extremely rapid actually. Have you ever kept pygos??

They grow to be roughly 7 inches in the first year regardless of tank size...

And the 20 gallon rule applies to larger tanks, not a 20 gallon tank by itself.

OP: 3 in a 55 is doable, but they will not be happy. They will not have room to swim. After a few years, they will not be able to comfortably turn around in the tank. Given the small tank space, they will each have their "spots" in the tank where they will stay stationary until feeding time. If that is the life you want to provide for them, then go ahead and do it. However, you will eventually see that they require a larger tank to be able to move freely instead of docking themselves in one specific area.
 
I have decided against the RBP. I think I have decided on a juvenile elongatus or rhombeus. I hear they grow fairly slow. So I can keep one in this tank for a few years and then will probably upgrade to a larger tank
 
xkon said:
I have decided against the RBP. I think I have decided on a juvenile elongatus or rhombeus. I hear they grow fairly slow. So I can keep one in this tank for a few years and then will probably upgrade to a larger tank
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Perfect choice and plan. Post pics when you get everything set up!
 
rajatariqmustafa15 said:
Why not african cichlids or an oscar.
an african Cichlid tank will look lively
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I am very confused as to how an oscar is OK for a 55 and not the RBP's.

Standard 55's are actually 13" wide rather than 12". I have had my two RBPs in a 55 for four years now, and they still are less than 11" today.

I can't fathom how a much bigger fish like a 15" oscar manages in a 13" wide tank wile a much smaller fish like a RBP somehow cannot turn around.
 
screaminleeman said:
I am very confused as to how an oscar is OK for a 55 and not the RBP's.

Standard 55's are actually 13" wide rather than 12". I have had my two RBPs in a 55 for four years now, and they still are less than 11" today.

I can't fathom how a much bigger fish like a 15" oscar manages in a 13" wide tank wile a much smaller fish like a RBP somehow cannot turn around.
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The guy who posted that doesn't know what he is talking about. A full grown Oscar imo would be worse
 
tank5.jpg

Here is a pic of the set up. Have had it cycling for about two weeks while i decided where to go with it. I have filters, both rated for a 70 gallon tank running on it. Just waiting for the cycle to be complete before I get my fish. How does it look?

tank5.jpg
 
Very nice. I still think a couple of RBP's in there would look fantastic.

Dithers (juvi. green sunfish) have worked perfectly for me thusfar keeping the RBP's from specific aggression. You just need to be careful and make sure that you remove them before they hit 6" to keep your RBP's safe.
 
Good plan on the Serrasalmus. Always a better option imo to go with a solo serra than small numbers of pygocentrus.
The Rhombeus is one of my all time favorite aquarium fish. It's growth rate in the aquarium (along with all other Serra) is incredibly slow, so an upgrade from the 55 is defiantly not something that has to be done immediately. In all honesty, its not something that has to be done for a couple years considering you're purchasing a juvenile.

When the upgrade happens, a 48" x 18" footprint would work for a homegrown rhombeus for it's life span. However if possible, go with a 48" x 24".
 
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