My 1st Red Belly Piranha

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
You CAN keep them singly, they just do much better in a shoal. Which is what these guys are saying. They're happier in a group, kinda like you and your buddies.

Right now, as long as you're considering upgrading (and actually DO it!!) you're tank is fine as a grow out tank, he's not going to hit 10 inches overnight, and your starter tank is better than mine was (a 10 gallon). You'll want a 29-30 MINIMUM, but as they always say, your tank can never be TOO BIG! And you'll want to upgrade him as soon as you can.
 
You're welcome, this is how I am about my piranha. I'm actually trying to talk my fiance into getting a piranha too, so that we can put the tanks together, and they won't be so lonely, but then Whiplash can't be hurt or eaten by other piranhas. I would never endanger his life like that, even if it does mean he'll be lonelier. I give him spots to hide for privacy, I keep his water clean, and warm enough. And I feed him healthy food twice daily, and clean out what isn't devoured!! I buy him blackwater, and replenish it bi-weekly (which is the directions on the bottle). I even put electrical tape on my AQ light so it wouldn't hurt his eyes!!

Tell me that's bad fishkeeping!!
 
Hell no thats pretty good fish keeping and i like the angle of putting the 2 piranha's together.. nice!! lol
Yeah my waters cleaned every week (50%)
Super sized filter and power head so he swims against it
hidding places + temp kept at 80 lots of plants
So for now hes cool
 
glad to see u guys care so much about ur fish.

thing is, u gotta be aware that: true, ur red wont be 10 inches overnight. still, he'll probably be around 8" within a year. many rbp owners return their fish because they dont have enough space anymore and i find this disapointing. after a year n a half or so, they become sexually mature and therefore way more territorial. it's then way too risky to introduce new piranhas with him. yes u can try to change ur whole set up n reintroduce ur p last with other ps of the same size or even a bit bigger, but that's a guess i wouldn't take. so its not that long to plan a bigger tank. be aware.

usually, n i dont say the other way around is impossible, but usually, u choose a number (+1 just in case of canibalism) n u stick with it. u never know how a p will react to new comers.

i undestand ur points but i just say: be aware that u cant just add other ps like that because u want a shoal...my opinion is u should have make ur classes with a true single fish and purchase a small shoal once u have the necessary equipment. you dont buy a dog if u cant keep it, u start with a hamster! haha no just kidding...

at least u guys are trying to get information about good piranhakeeping and are full of good intentions. my personnal thoughts are that u just chose the wrong fish to start in a small tank...

with all the respect

nic
 
my poor fiance says that the fish get treated better than he does!! I told him if I didn't need him to help me clean tanks, he would be just as spoiled as they are!! lol

The only way I can buy expensive fish meat is if I split it between him and the fish. He's fair about it though, and only goes 50/50 with them!! lol

Seriously though, if he wasn't so dang supportive (emotionally AND financially) I wouldn't be into keeping monster fish. He lets me get whatever I want, and never complains (unless I try to feed his 50% to my fish!!) And he's an awesome guy!!

I told him that if he does decide to get one, it would be a good idea, since the food for them would be less likely to spoil, and I would take care of it. I won't even let him put his hands in any of the tanks!! He's a smoker, and that nicotene that soaks into his skin from his cigarette COULD affect my fish. I can't scientifically prove it, but it's a theory. I'm a non-smoker, and I never wear perfume, or use lotions (not very girly) so it's best that I'm the one feeding them anyways.

I do my best for my fish....since we don't/can't have kids, so they are a good substitute, since they LIKE sitting still and being spoiled rotten!
 
I have a 29 gallon for mine, we upgraded him about 2 weeks AFTER purchase.

I meant, for a future shoal, that it's going to be the shoal in one tank, and Whiplash in the other.....it's way too risky to try adding new fish by the time I get my clown knife into something bigger, despite the fact that he's stunted (I got him that way)

If 29 isn't enough, no big deal, I have a couple of months if I need to upgrade. Which means, time to get a job, and money (which is always a good thing ^^) and a big *ss tank for my baby (which he is, and it doesn't hurt his masculinity one bit!!) I don't suggest waiting more than a month to upgrade from the 20 gallon to a 29 or 30 though. 30 would be better, but I know that with my fiance buying, I couldn't talk him into $20 for the extra gallon.
 
Thanks, and the best of luck to you as well!!
 
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