So last week I traded in my piranha shoal for 2 red tail Payara, which I'd been searching for for a while. I have them in my 150 tall (4'x2'x31") and they seem to be doing great. I've had them since last Wednesday and they're very active. They eat in front of me with the lights on which is awesome because they aren't shy at all. I am using 2 Rena XP4s and 1 ac110 for filtration, and I have a koralia 1250 powerhead. So far fish seem happy and healthy. I've read pretty much every post on Payara on this site, I've practically memorized the Payara captive care sheet, but I'm just looking for any additional input. Is my setup alright, do I need another powerhead? I'll take any and all advice I can get from you super knowledgeable Payara owners ( I'm looking at you Vamptrev! You seem to be THE MAN when it comes to these fish!)
New Payara owner
- Thread starter Tampa2Josh
- Start date
Definitly get advice from vamptrev dude knows his stuff...
I am also thinking about getting tats... do they school together? How are they're teeth looking?
Congrats on the fish... keep the water quality good and they will be fine.
I am also thinking about getting tats... do they school together? How are they're teeth looking?
Congrats on the fish... keep the water quality good and they will be fine.
They've been schooling together for the most part, but I do remember reading that they will fight from time to time. I have my tank bare to try to reduce territorial aggression. I'm not sure if that is the right thing to do, that's just what I always did with my piranhas and it worked great.
Oh, and their teeth are ferocious...I'll get some pics up this week. They are so aggressive and not shy, I can take pics with my face and camera up to the tank and they don't mind at all.
sounds like they're settled in nicely already! the tats i had were always skittish the first couple of days when they moved in. after settling in, they weren't scared of any movement i made. i'm sure you know, careful with keeping ur water pristine and quarantining each and every feeder or fish that goes in (i'm assuming theyre still on live). I lost two due to ich.. easier to prevent than to eliminate those damn things! it's all good though, i'll be getting back into the payara game and picking up a 7 incher later this week 
are you planning to keep any other fish with them?
are you planning to keep any other fish with them?
Not rely anything to add. Sounds like u have everything covered pretty well
Try to get them off live start feeding shrimp pellets worms etc
Having two together they will always fight a little. U can try getting a third one or add dithers like silver dollars or balas or something
Try to get them off live start feeding shrimp pellets worms etc
Having two together they will always fight a little. U can try getting a third one or add dithers like silver dollars or balas or something
@DammitKhoa yeah, they seem to be settled in nice, and glad to hear you're getting back in the game. I've been doing about a 10% water change every 4 days, and I have the temprature running between 82-85 because I know ick doesn't like the heat. They are still on live, but I'd like to get them off ASAP. Right now with them there are 2 convict cichlids that are slightlyarger and definitely too big for them to eat (yet) and my wolf fish, an ery ery that is a touch smaller than the Payara, and a huge baby. All he does is hide, but I've kept an eye on them constantly to watch for any sign of aggression but the ery is so passive the fish don't even cross paths between their small size in the large space.
@Vamptrev let me just tip my hat to you sir and thank you for all the knowledge you contribute. I've read almost every forum post involving Payara, and you not only are quite skilled in fish keeping, but you share your knowledge and that is priceless. Just wanted to say thanks and I'll leave it at that. Any advice with getting them off live? They're around the 4-5" mark. Any advice is appreciated. I have fed them feeders everyday since I got them Wednesday, and they eat around 3 a day apiece and just ii the remaining ones (it seems the ones they just kill are slightly too large to eat because they charge and bite at them hard, but its like they know they're a little too big) and the one day I fed them nothing was Sunday, and when I fed them today they ate as soon as the feeders hit the water. I have massivore pellets, tilapia fillets and shrimp all on hand from my piranha so I can work with anything, I just don't know the best method.
@Vamptrev let me just tip my hat to you sir and thank you for all the knowledge you contribute. I've read almost every forum post involving Payara, and you not only are quite skilled in fish keeping, but you share your knowledge and that is priceless. Just wanted to say thanks and I'll leave it at that. Any advice with getting them off live? They're around the 4-5" mark. Any advice is appreciated. I have fed them feeders everyday since I got them Wednesday, and they eat around 3 a day apiece and just ii the remaining ones (it seems the ones they just kill are slightly too large to eat because they charge and bite at them hard, but its like they know they're a little too big) and the one day I fed them nothing was Sunday, and when I fed them today they ate as soon as the feeders hit the water. I have massivore pellets, tilapia fillets and shrimp all on hand from my piranha so I can work with anything, I just don't know the best method.
A couple of observations from mine, when they mature a little a small group I.e. 2 will start to fight. One will become more dominant. I ended up with just one. He's doing very well. The 4' will start to look cramped as well, if you can a 180g would be the way to go. I wouldn't worry about the extra powerhead. Tats don't live in the open high flow areas like armatus.
Cool, thanks for the info jelly. I thought having 2 might be a problem down the road, I'm just going to keep an eye on them, keep the well fed, and hope they don't kill each other before I can upgrade tanks.
Interesting combo - keep an eye on the cichlids when you start to ween, they have a tendency to be overly-aggressive eaters of everything.