how do i tell if my red bellyed piranha are male or female

[mylesie]

Hey people ive got 3 rbps bout 2 1\2 - 3 inches long how do i tell wot sex they are and how do i know if there breeding

 

[Druu]

They are not breeding. RPBs will not reach sexual maturity until they're about 6+ inches.

 

[The_Piranhaman]

Hey people ive got 3 rbps bout 2 1\2 - 3 inches long how do i tell wot sex they are and how do i know if there breeding

I have bred Red-bellies many times. The best way to sex them is to "condition" them by feeding lots of protein-rich foods to get them nice and fat. This naturally accentuates their male/female characteristics. Females will have heavier and deeper-looking bellies than males. This is not as noticeable in "un-conditioned" adults. Hope that helps.

 

[akskirmish]

They are not breeding. RPBs will not reach sexual maturity until they're about 6+ inches.

I Have bred many piranha in my days as a fish keepers-
this statement is Just a "rule of thumb" statement which is fine-But not always is this to be taken to heart either though-

With that said-
I got 6 breeding pairs riht now-Some are bigger than the 6 inch mark or right at it-And 2 set of them are well under the 6 inch mark...

But once again you are correct in that they are not breeding at that size....

 

[akskirmish]

I have bred Red-bellies many times. The best way to sex them is to "condition" them by feeding lots of protein-rich foods to get them nice and fat. This naturally accentuates their male/female characteristics. Females will have heavier and deeper-looking bellies than males. This is not as noticeable in "un-conditioned" adults. Hope that helps.

Not trying to put this statement down either-
But do you have proof of this by chance...Or a link to where I can read up on this info-
It grabbed my attention Obviously....So I'm just curious....

 

[importracer]

I have bred Red-bellies many times. The best way to sex them is to "condition" them by feeding lots of protein-rich foods to get them nice and fat. This naturally accentuates their male/female characteristics. Females will have heavier and deeper-looking bellies than males. This is not as noticeable in "un-conditioned" adults. Hope that helps.

I lazily agree....I am not going to say that venting is the only way sexing P.Natt....But basically, all my females have been plumpier and more egg shaped than the males....

 

[The_Piranhaman]

Not trying to put this statement down either-
But do you have proof of this by chance...Or a link to where I can read up on this info-
It grabbed my attention Obviously....So I'm just curious....

Just my years of observation in breeding RBP's. You get to know what they look like after a while.

 

[Queenzerg]

Hi, I am curious on how you manage to get the RBPs to mate? Do you have to have only the breeding pair in the tank? What would happen if you have 1 large female and 2 medium size males ? My RBPs are four years old give or take.

 

[dzb912]

you will have better succes in a bigger tank with no other fish for the piranhas to compete with for space and food
im sure the bigger the piranhas are the faster they will mate and the more they will do it
as for your 2 inch piranhas they wont be breeding anytime soon