Looking to get my first piranha

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Delhezi222

Delhezi222

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Oct 21, 2007
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Like the title states, I'm hoping to get my first piranha soon and I need a little bit of advice.

The tank I'm planning on using is my 55g. I have been using it as a growout/community tank, but recently I got the urge to use it as a single-specimen tank and a piranha seems like a good choice for that. I haven't ever kept a piranha before, but I've done a pretty good amount of research and narrowed it down to a few species, although I'm open to any suggestions. The species I'm trying to choose between are an elong or a spilo (preferrably ruby red), and I was hoping to get some help choosing from people who've kept them.

I think that the elong looks better, but I've also read that they're harder to get on prepared food. However, I've also read that they generally have a better personality.

Anyway, I'd love to hear what you experts would choose for a first-time keeper, I'm also open to any other suggestions. Thanks!
 
Its a tough one, no piranhas are more aggressive than others. They all have different personalities, some stay shy, some stay shy for ages then all of a sudden they are nutters.

Ruby Red Spilo would be a nice choice, I wouldnt mind one of them. Elong's prefer longer tanks as they are lightning quick and prefer darting about the tank.
 
Thanks guys, at this point a ruby red spilo seems like the best choice. Do they take prepared food fairly easily?

Also, just a few more quick questions:

I've read that decor isn't all that important as long as there's enough open space, is that true? Would a centerpiece of driftwood and some plants work out well?

Also, the vendors I was looking at were AE Aquatics, Shark Aquarium, and Aquascapeonline. Are they all good vendors?
 
all those are great vendors.
a bare tank can be stressful and looks ugly, IMO. personally I would like to have decor such as driftwood and plants in my tank to provide hiding spots to make the fish feel more comfortable and also make the tank look better.
I never had problem to get any of my piranha on prepared food so you shouldn't have problem regardless with elong or RRS. you should select a fish base on which one you like to look at the most.
 
Yeah, my plan for the tank was a big piece of driftwood, some java ferns, and maybe a pile of rocks and an airstone. That's good news about the prepared food!

As for which one I prefer to look at, that's a tricky one, haha. I like the shape of the elong, the ruby red spilo's colors are pretty amazing though. At this point I think the spilo is my favorite. Thanks for the help!
 
I think planted/ wooded tanks for young Serras is a must. Plenty of hiding for them, so if they do feel nervous they know they can get away.

Like my baby Manueli, one half of his tank is fully planted, with a bit of vinewood there aswell. He stays in there mostly, but is a nasty finger chaser, and eats every day :)
 
Sounds good, I usually like densely decorated tanks anyway so it all works out. I have a few big pieces of driftwood and a ton of java ferns that I could use.
 
the key with solo serra is patience as they can be very skittish at first, especially if you get them at juvi size.
 
That's what I've read, I guess I can handle that. What would be considered juvie size? I was planning on either ordering at 2-3" or 5-6", would there likely be a big difference between those two sizes?

Also, are there any conditions to put it in that would help it be more comfortable and get over the skittishness faster? Not that I mind having to work on it for awhile, but sooner would be better.
 
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