Is it normal?

[Honda12]

Is it normal for piranhas to eat flake food when offered instead of feeders? I have a silver dollar sized RBP and it eats flake food all the time even when there is tones of feeders in the tank. I mean it will eat feeders, but seems to prefer flake food. Is that normal for them?

Also when it does eat feeders it will only eat orange rosies. I will leave any fish alone that isn't orange in color. This goes the same with goldfish. I threw some chocolate cichlids in there for feeders and it hasn't touched them, now they have gotten good size and they actually beat on the RBP.

So should I expect it to come around some time, or did I just wind up with a wierd one?

 

[Elongatusowner]

RBP's will eat just about anyting you give them. in most cases the red belly will eat or kill those other fish in the tank. although I have a red belly in a tank with a texas and the red belly gets beat up. I have found that red bellies are very skittish and are not very agressive unless they are hungry. If you dont feed your red belly any flake food or anything else the piranha will attack the other fish. Goldfish are not good for the piranha to eat. no nutrtional value. I feed mine africans, baby oscars sometimes... that is only on a rare occasion. I normally feed mine fresh fish fillets, raw shrimp, etc. good luck with that piranha.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

Flake food is healthy for them so I wouldn't worry about that. Ditch the feeders and feed him catfish, smelt, shrimp, bloodworms, beef heart(occasionally) etc. You can still feed it feeders but make sure they're quarantined for a minimum of 3 weeks and only do it as a treat like once or twice a month.

 

[Honda12]

Thanks, I only fed goldfish a few times, and rosies are what I mainly use for feeders. Everything is quarintined so it is ok. I mostly feed smelt, and shrimp and stuff.

Just found it wierd he choosed flake over meaty foods, pieces of fish and stuff will just lay there if I give flakes.

I know he will eat the other fish if I don't feed him, just find it wierd he will only go after orange live fish, and likes flake so much.

 

[DarthLungFish]

Interesting Honda, I would have never known they liked Flake food? I should try this sometime with my little "P's".

 

[te9500rpm]

it would be better spending i guess. flakes are much cheaper than rosies or feeders

 

[DeLgAdO]

Thanks, I only fed goldfish a few times, and rosies are what I mainly use for feeders. Everything is quarintined so it is ok. I mostly feed smelt, and shrimp and stuff.

Just found it wierd he choosed flake over meaty foods, pieces of fish and stuff will just lay there if I give flakes.

I know he will eat the other fish if I don't feed him, just find it wierd he will only go after orange live fish, and likes flake so much.

since they are rosies you dont have to ditch them

feeder are actually good for them, given that they are quarintined and gut loaded.

 

[chrisb]

I feed my baby reds flakes and salt water fish formula one pellets since i bought them 1.5 months ago. Now when ever i walk past my tank they swim to the top and wait for me to drop some in.They are housed with tetras and guppies but they dont seem to want them yet.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

since they are rosies you dont have to ditch them

feeder are actually good for them, given that they are quarintined and gut loaded.

Fathead Minnow (Rosie reds) still contain thiaminase just like goldfish which could cause longterm ill effects. My

take it for what it's worth.

 

[DiXoN]

yes it is normal i have owned loads of small piranha and grew them large on a staple diet of flake then onto pellets with the odd feeder thrown in.
they eat whitebait and prawns once they grew a few inches but still eat pellets even at 8''+.
i even had cariba and piraya eating it.