Getting into Fish Keeping and Have questions

[aviator11]

My roomate and I are looking into getting a tank and getting some piranhas. We've got a few questions. Someone local is selling a 55 gallon tank for $260 and it will include a filter system, lighting system, laser accessory kit, and a few other misc. things. I was wondering if this is a good deal, or if we'd be better off compiling our own setup. We don't have much money to spend (college). Also what species, and how many piranhas would be good to have in the tank?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Austin]

Lasers!!!!! totally worth it!!!!!





kidding. price is very regional dependent. see what kind of filters they are and condition it's all in. as far as stock, read some stuff in the piranha forum. and welcome to MFK!

 

[steelayer]

hey man can you say ROAD TRIP!!! heh check twin cities metro area on craigslist they have a 125 posted like a day or 2 ago with stand and filters and hood it looks like a nice set up for 275! the 55 is way over priced for area imo just pitch some money together and go on a road trip to the twin cities when you find a deal. and check for that 125 its a dang good deal... there was also a 210 gallon with stand and filters for 550 in the metro area. so watch that area and good luck!!

 

[Miomo]

buy it its an awsome deal!

 

[kzimmerman]

All piranha species get too large to keep in a 55 comfortably. Also, they are not the ferocious predators that you think they are. They are rather skittish. They also need to be in schools, as they are schooling fish. I would recomend something much more manageable to you, like a firemouth or a convict cichlid. Agressive, colorful, and much more interesting than piranhas.

 

[Thedaniokeeper]

You could get either one of the more solitary species of piranhas

Or a shoal of exodons, everything piranhas are supposed to be, but smaller.

 

[Delhezi B]

You could get either one of the more solitary species of piranhas

Or a shoal of exodons, everything piranhas are supposed to be, but smaller.

Thats what I would get if i dide't have fish in all my tanks

 

[Eoibio]

A sanchezi piranha would work in there..Only one though..

 

[shelbyzman]

That price seems a little high for a used 55 setup.
I would search some more A 75 gallon would give you more options for not so much more $ (18" depth compared to 12")

 

[thatonegirl]

Or a shoal of exodons, everything piranhas are supposed to be, but smaller.

Exactly what I would recommend.

Do some reading. Most piranha newbies are disappointed that their piranhas aren't "Hollywood" piranhas. The more you learn, the more you can make fun of your classmates for having piranhas in 29 gallon tanks.

(As an LFS employee in a college town, we stock up on babies in August, make tank space for sub-adult returns in April-May)

Just saying, do the right thing for the animals, please. And Exadons are cooler anyway.