is this true?

[HiGhTiMeZ]

was doing my research on P's...
as i plan on setting up a new tank for them.

Freshwater Aquariums

Red Bellied Piranha

Scientific Name: Serrasalmus nattereri
Family: Serrasalmidae
Origin: Gyuana
Adult Size: 11 inches (28 cm)
Social: Aggressive, keep alone or in schools
Lifespan: 10 years [10yrs only? ]
Tank Level: Mid dweller
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallon [what? 20 gallons?]
Diet: Carnivore, prefers live foods
Breeding: Egglayer
Care: Difficult
pH: 5.5 - 7.5
Hardness: up to 20 dGH
Temperature: 73-81 F (23-27 C)

sorry i just wanna be sure . sometimes wrong informations can lead to wrong actions.

 

[Joshy]

I would say 15 years if well looked after.
But yeah, 10 - 15 years is common, from birth to death in aquaria.

And i would go with 30 gallons for the first piranha and then 20 gallons for every piranha after that. Although in theory, the larger the tank, this rule can be bent slightly due to the larger surface area. As piranha do not care for gallons as much as they do for surface area (space). So a X-gallon high tank can hold less piranhas than the same volume X-gallon long/wide tank.

Make sense?
Post some pictures as well if this setup goes underway.

 

[HiGhTiMeZ]

my plan is to have a shoal of them not just 1 p. maybe 3, 5 or 7 it depends.
im still gathering knowledge abt them. what species to get and a tank size to hold them.
so this 20gl tank u saying is only for 1 p right?

 

[Joshy]

First piece of friendly advice coming your way, do not have then in odd numbers.
Although it is debatably okay, it is best to play it safe and keep to even numbers (like 4, 6, 8). With even numbers, aggression is more likely within the shoal.

Gathering knowledge, great to see you want to do your research, a lot of piranha keepers rushed into it after realising the dream of owning one of these ‘carnivorous, flesh removing, beasts’.

And yeah, 20 gallons per piranha in general (there are exceptions). However note that I am only referring to Pygocentrus species with that. With Serrasalmus species, it is a totally different matter of tank size..

 

[HiGhTiMeZ]

First piece of friendly advice coming your way, do not have then in odd numbers.
Although it is debatably okay, it is best to play it safe and keep to even numbers (like 4, 6, 8). With even numbers, aggression is more likely within the shoal.

Gathering knowledge, great to see you want to do your research, a lot of piranha keepers rushed into it after realising the dream of owning one of these ‘carnivorous, flesh removing, beasts’.

And yeah, 20 gallons per piranha in general (there are exceptions). However note that I am only referring to Pygocentrus species with that. With Serrasalmus species, it is a totally different matter of tank size..

hmmm is that so. i just took that odd number thingie on arowana keeping. it was proven that keeping them in odd numbers will greatly reduced aggression on the fishes.

and yeah ive learned abt the exceptions abt the tanks too, i learned that there are many piranha species (read abt 10 already) and the piraya? being the giant king of all piranhas.

wOw the more research i make the more fascinated i become! w00t!! ^^

 

[RuXPiN]

First piece of friendly advice coming your way, do not have then in odd numbers.
Although it is debatably okay, it is best to play it safe and keep to even numbers (like 4, 6, 8). With even numbers, aggression is more likely within the shoal.

Gathering knowledge, great to see you want to do your research, a lot of piranha keepers rushed into it after realising the dream of owning one of these ‘carnivorous, flesh removing, beasts’.

And yeah, 20 gallons per piranha in general (there are exceptions). However note that I am only referring to Pygocentrus species with that. With Serrasalmus species, it is a totally different matter of tank size..

ive heard that too, this last time i got 6, six months later i only got 2, so i dont know if it makes a difference, ive always had red belly, they are also the most common in lfs. they are definatly a good starter p, just remember p are skitish and boring, dont expect them to jump out of the tank at food or anyghting. they are also very light sensvite, keep the light lower if you can, this also reduces alagae wich is cool cuz your pleco will eventually get eaten

 

[SLANTED]

Much of this is grossly wrong:

Freshwater Aquariums

Red Bellied Piranha

Scientific Name: Serrasalmus nattereri Pygocentrus Nattereri
Family: Serrasalmidae
Origin: Gyuana are found in far more areas, collected also in Brazil, paraguay, Amazon river basin to name a few
Adult Size: 11 inches (28 cm) Can reach a size beyond 15". There is a member on another board who has natts that exceed 18" TL
Social: Aggressive, keep alone or in schools
Lifespan: 10 years [10yrs only? ] I have read 15 years
Tank Level: Mid dweller
Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallon [what? 20 gallons?] a gallon rule is not a good way to gauge things, rather the foot print of the tank is what really matters
Diet: Carnivore, prefers live foods
Breeding: Egglayer
Care: Difficult The only difficulty is that of cannibalism
pH: 5.5 - 7.5
Hardness: up to 20 dGH
Temperature: 73-81 F (23-27 C)

If you want to choose from the pygo genus, I would personally go with caribe or terns. Good luck.

 

[Joshy]

Hmmm, I am sticking to my guns that even numbers are better than odd numbers.
And good spotting there Slanted!

I agree with RuXPiN that Red Bellys are the best starter piranha in general. Cannibalism is rarer than other piranhas in general, they are the cheapest and easiest to come by, and often the most forgiving of mistakes.
However I would say that it depends on the individual piranhas or there shoal, as to how exciting they are. Some shoals may whimper at the back of the tank long after being settled into their new environment. While others will play the role expected and be mean eating machines.
However I would defiantly look into added a strong current to the tank for any piranha species (a powerhead). This will keep them swimming and patrolling the tank, and keep them healthy.
Most piranhas (some individual exceptions of course), will be lazy unless they are forced to swim.

 

[sirasoni]

....who has 18"+ natts?

 

[Pfisherman]

I do concur with keeping natts first, but this is the first I have heard about keeping ps in only even (or odd) numbers. I do know that you should not keep only two together.