Piranha keeping tips

[RTC probe 3]

‘Lo everyone,
I hope to get some Piranhas fer my tank, 5 of em (if they’d be available in the LFS by then). I did some research on them, but just fer more info and if any of you guys have any other tips, could you fill me in? Like best plants (not very expensive ones though) and diet and ease of keeping.

I hope to;
- Do weekly 25% water changes enough fer them
- Red sand with bluish white aquairum light
- Silver dollar tank mates
- Keep them in a small tank but upgrade as soon as they grow up

Anything wrong those points as well^?

And, I’m guessing they’d be around 4-5 inches in length each or even 3, so would it be ok to keep Tetra’s with them, will they eat the Tetra’s as they’re still small sized?

Also, most importantly, their common diseases and how to treat and also if certain medications should be kept prior fer potential diseases (apart from aquarium salt).
Thank you

 

[RTC probe 3]

I hope to keep all of them with 2 silver dollars of near/exact size, but the tank won't be very large, will there be a problem even if I feed them daily?

 

[Caveden]

Idt keeping them with tetras would be a problem. Too small and agile, a waste of time for them to chase

 

[deeda]

Did you mention the tank dimensions?

 

[Deadeye]

Forget the silver dollars. They will only last until the piranhas are big enough to bite them in half, and piranhas grow fast.
Tetras is hit or miss by the individual. Mine didn’t accept them.
Piranhas are pretty disease hardy and heal very fast. Most important to look out for is ich and infections on wounds caused by each other.
They need dim light and lots of cover to be comfortable.
Don’t waste too much time on plants, mine would eat plastic ones. Val, anubias, and Java ferns are worth a shot though.

 

[tlindsey]

Forget the silver dollars. They will only last until the piranhas are big enough to bite them in half, and piranhas grow fast.
Tetras is hit or miss by the individual. Mine didn’t accept them.
Piranhas are pretty disease hardy and heal very fast. Most important to look out for is ich and infections on wounds caused by each other.
They need dim light and lots of cover to be comfortable.
Don’t waste too much time on plants, mine would eat plastic ones. Val, anubias, and Java ferns are worth a shot though.

^
This

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Piranhas are not or miss with tank mates, that I know. Sometimes Exodons work.

 

[RTC probe 3]

Alright thanks very much everyone fer the info.

Did you mention the tank dimensions?

Ah yesh, at first, if they’re really small like 2-3 inches I’d keep them in a 15 gallon. Then when they grow, to a 70 gallon.

 

[Deadeye]

I wouldn’t keep them in the 15 for long. Once they feel cramped they will start removing the weak ones.
A 70 may be tight for 5 piranhas, but it is better to get more than necessary so that after they figure things out they will still be enough to form a school (expect losses).

 

[RTC probe 3]

I wouldn’t keep them in the 15 for long. Once they feel cramped they will start removing the weak ones.
A 70 may be tight for 5 piranhas, but it is better to get more than necessary so that after they figure things out they will still be enough to form a school (expect losses).

Ah. By weak ones you mean the weaker piranhas in the group right.
Hm.. better to add straight to the 70 then eh
Also,I have seen some tanks with just a single piranha , is that okay or is it a must fer a shoal?