payara care
- Thread starter baracuda
- Start date
Love those, I had the same question about a month ago. Someone will be by shortly to give you all the info you need. Im going to get 4-6 of them when my new tank cycles.I do know they are not very aggressive and dont keep them with big aggressive fish. they will eat feeders and bloodworms.
i have two. both about 4.5" now. they attack like a true predator. but they just sit around all day, but once food comes.. things get interesting! they don't seem to bother my 1.5 inch senegal bichir at all, though my new 4" gator gar does. great fish, that have some awesome teeth. if you think they aren't aggressive, i don't know why they would be given such massive sharp teeth. anyway they are great fish that are interesting to watch eat =)
What I mean is that they wont go after everything in your tank, the teeth are the predatory tools.
I had 4 eight inchers before, they are pretty to look at but are basically boring fish, they just float around in one place and do nothing. They are not active hunters and seldom do I see them feed. When I drop live feeders, they don't even react. they just sit there. Boring fish really, got rid of them after a couple of months.
go buy one, if he doesnt eat, buy a second one for a tankmate. they are great fish, and will provide a nice reward when its 10" +
I just bought a 4 incher, this is the coolest fish on earth! I have him in a 55 heavily planted with plastic vines! South american setup with a bgk as a tank partner! When i got him he ate 4 huge minnows and now is hanging out with a fat stomach! This is one of the coolest fish on earth . i am very stoked, any advice would be greatly appreciated, i was thinking of breeding them, i have been searching the forum and have not seen anything yet!
Good luck breeding them, they get over 2' in length.
I hear one of the key ingredients to keeping them healthy, is a maximum amount of oxygenation. Have your tank very well aerated, as the payara usually predate within the rapids of the amazon in the wild.. They are used to very pristine water conditions, which have to be very consistant. They need high levels of dissolved oxygen, but make sure the current isn't blowing them around the tank and they have spots for refuge at night. They are very sensative to swings in water conditions, so be consistant in your water changes as well.. No tankmates that could possibly chase, nip, harass, or stress them out..
I hear one of the key ingredients to keeping them healthy, is a maximum amount of oxygenation. Have your tank very well aerated, as the payara usually predate within the rapids of the amazon in the wild.. They are used to very pristine water conditions, which have to be very consistant. They need high levels of dissolved oxygen, but make sure the current isn't blowing them around the tank and they have spots for refuge at night. They are very sensative to swings in water conditions, so be consistant in your water changes as well.. No tankmates that could possibly chase, nip, harass, or stress them out..