how to simulate RBPs natural environment.

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fishcatch22

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 1, 2006
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anchorage, alaska
hey guys.

after much convincing, I finally got my mother to agree to let me get a 55G with a single RBP!:headbang2 i'm finally going /\/\onster! now I want to know how to simulate it's natural environment as best as possible. my questions are:

are they whitewater fish? I read somewhere that they are, and they do better with a strong flow in the tank. should I get a powerhead?

what's the aquascape like? is it mostly rocks or plants, is there driftwood?

what's the normal pH?
 
You should get 3 or 4, and eventually 2 will pair off, and be happy for life in there. P.H. is around 6.5, Little driftwood, any substrate you choose, but DEFINATLY aim for black. Sand, gravel it doesnt matter. Black makes them look 100 times better then before. Not sure about black or white water fish though. Yes, power head for sure.
Andrew.
 
ArRoW A 91;737227; said:
You should get 3 or 4, and eventually 2 will pair off, and be happy for life in there. P.H. is around 6.5, Little driftwood, any substrate you choose, but DEFINATLY aim for black. Sand, gravel it doesnt matter. Black makes them look 100 times better then before. Not sure about black or white water fish though. Yes, power head for sure.
Andrew.
Click to expand...
what about plants or rocks? which would be more natural for them? seeing as how they need a powerhead for sure than leads me to beleive they are whitewater fish. my mother said I could keep a piranha as long as I only got one, silly condition, I know.
 
Just To Give You Some Ideas .
I think some wood and plant are fine but as they get big , "And they will fast"
,Mine rip up alot of my plants .
And def on the black gravil makes them look much nicer .
I keep my water at 81 deg and I run power heads .
Keep up on water changes and your fish will grow about 3/4 to 1 inch per
month could be more they will slow growth at about 6 inches . :)
 
master.k.;737288; said:
Just To Give You Some Ideas .
I think some wood and plant are fine but as they get big , "And they will fast"
,Mine rip up alot of my plants .
And def on the black gravil makes them look much nicer .
I keep my water at 81 deg and I run power heads .
Keep up on water changes and your fish will grow about 3/4 to 1 inch per
month could be more they will slow growth at about 6 inches . :)
Click to expand...
ah.... so I guess i'd be looking at mostly rocks and fake plants, right?

so I guess i'll go with black gravel, and a bunch of gnarly wood, and some nice rocks.
 
ArRoW A 91;737227; said:
You should get 3 or 4, and eventually 2 will pair off, and be happy for life in there. P.H. is around 6.5, Little driftwood, any substrate you choose, but DEFINATLY aim for black. Sand, gravel it doesnt matter. Black makes them look 100 times better then before. Not sure about black or white water fish though. Yes, power head for sure.
Andrew.
Click to expand...

the fact that when shoaling p's always get above 3 is what you want, becuase of aggresion if you only had 2 is true and such, but a 55 is too small to keep 4 rbp in it. so that's a no, and he only wants one in the first place

they aren't esspetailly,sp) whitewater fish, though adding a powerhead to increase there activity is always good
ph should be 6.8-7.0, rocks, plants, and driftwood are all good for aquascapeing.
 
if you can try to get a 40gal or 50gal breeder tank. much better for a single RBP. a 55 is only 12" front to back which is about the size of a full grown healthy RBP, much better to have the 18" that a breeder tank provides. RBP as well as pygocentrus species in general are not fast moving water fish. as far as stimulating the natural environment, its not really necessary considering most RBPs are tank bred. just dont do pink gravel or anything like that. remember RBPs are skittish fish and hes not going to kill everything that goes in the tank, and then again he might. spend as much time as you can in front of the tank to try and get him to come out of his skittish state, which could take weeks/months/years or just never happen. pygocentrus species piranhas do best in groups of atleast 3, which would require atleast a 75gal. be sure to feed him fish fillets, raw shrimp, and floating or sinking pellets if you can get him to. beef heart should only be fed as a seldom treat because piranhas digestive systems are not meant to process mammal meat. stay away from feeders. if you have anymore questions feel free to ask or pm me. good luck with your fish. :headbang2
 
mammal meat being?...in the wild they cows, bulls, or whatever there called in the wild, dragging them in the water ...as shown on nature shows..but true thats fatty food..don't expect any finger chasing from a RBP...power head is good and drift wood...don't get nothing he can hide behind because more than likely he will do that..unless u don't care for him to be visible all the time...try to convince ur mom to let u keep three and bring up some of things people stated here...maybe u can convince her ...one RBP will be depressing for u and the P.....but thats just my opinion good luck though on water u decide
 
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