Hey guys just found this on the net from a guy who seems rather seasoned with our P's. It's good advice for noobs like me anyway.
Basically, after years of keeping and breeding Piranhas I would advise as follows:
1. Respect your fish at all times - this means in two ways; Firstly, the potential power of the fish and their ability to use their teeth in lightning fast bites. Secondly - respect your fish's nervous disposition and personal space. Piranhas can be extremely shy and nervous fish. Mixed with a primitive response mechanism and you end up with a fish that will attack when it is frightened. So give it some space, do not move things in the aquarium close to it and do not make them jump.
2. Try and live by this rule - feed first - then work on aquarium. Its sounds simple doesn't it... but people have kept piranhas and placed their hands in the tank when the fish have not been fed for two days. The fish may not see the hand as direct food, but they have enough intelligence to associate the hand and the owner's presence with feeding. My friend did this once with a single black piranha... he ended up with a chunk out of his thumb and a few stiches to keep it attached to his hand. So feed him first, watch him feed and then after about 10 or 15 mins when that "After Sunday Lunch" feeling has settled in the fish - do the work. Very often, your piranha may be so shy that they won't eat in front of you! Seriously, he may wait until you are out of sight before eating... it has happend to me on several occasions.
3. Invest in a pair of tongs - especially for the aquarium. they have a grip handle and a trigger that will open the claws on the other end. I never ever put my hands in one of my piranha tanks if I can possibly use tongs to do the job.
4. Watch your fish - make sure that they are well away from you. Although a full grown piranha can hurtle across a tank at alarming speed.
5. Try and get a divider fitted that simply drops in from above and isolates the side of the aquarium you want to work on.
6. During heavy maintenance work and tidying up you may find it easier to siphon off some tank water into a bucket with a lid, catch the fish in a long net and transfer him. I know that people would say that this causes stress... but so does a missing finger on your hand. Piranhas endure far worse in the drying pools of South America... a plastic net and bucket are heaven when compared to this. Note... make sure your net is tough enough, they will eventually wear out.
Generally, don't put your hands in if you can help it, never before feeding and try and isolate the fish whenever possible.
[SIZE=-1]Contributed by Keith Money[/SIZE]
Basically, after years of keeping and breeding Piranhas I would advise as follows:
1. Respect your fish at all times - this means in two ways; Firstly, the potential power of the fish and their ability to use their teeth in lightning fast bites. Secondly - respect your fish's nervous disposition and personal space. Piranhas can be extremely shy and nervous fish. Mixed with a primitive response mechanism and you end up with a fish that will attack when it is frightened. So give it some space, do not move things in the aquarium close to it and do not make them jump.
2. Try and live by this rule - feed first - then work on aquarium. Its sounds simple doesn't it... but people have kept piranhas and placed their hands in the tank when the fish have not been fed for two days. The fish may not see the hand as direct food, but they have enough intelligence to associate the hand and the owner's presence with feeding. My friend did this once with a single black piranha... he ended up with a chunk out of his thumb and a few stiches to keep it attached to his hand. So feed him first, watch him feed and then after about 10 or 15 mins when that "After Sunday Lunch" feeling has settled in the fish - do the work. Very often, your piranha may be so shy that they won't eat in front of you! Seriously, he may wait until you are out of sight before eating... it has happend to me on several occasions.
3. Invest in a pair of tongs - especially for the aquarium. they have a grip handle and a trigger that will open the claws on the other end. I never ever put my hands in one of my piranha tanks if I can possibly use tongs to do the job.
4. Watch your fish - make sure that they are well away from you. Although a full grown piranha can hurtle across a tank at alarming speed.
5. Try and get a divider fitted that simply drops in from above and isolates the side of the aquarium you want to work on.
6. During heavy maintenance work and tidying up you may find it easier to siphon off some tank water into a bucket with a lid, catch the fish in a long net and transfer him. I know that people would say that this causes stress... but so does a missing finger on your hand. Piranhas endure far worse in the drying pools of South America... a plastic net and bucket are heaven when compared to this. Note... make sure your net is tough enough, they will eventually wear out.
Generally, don't put your hands in if you can help it, never before feeding and try and isolate the fish whenever possible.
[SIZE=-1]Contributed by Keith Money[/SIZE]
