RBP Set up advice

[Simonas]

I have a 60x30x24 which I am tempted to fill with RBP's

I have never considered these fish before yet I have looked at some pics on here which look stunning

In a tank my size which I thnk is 150gallon how many piranha could I keep to adulthood? Is it a case of survival of the fittest and you end up with one or if I bought a group of babies would they grow together to adulthood?

I am a novice to RBP so if I have said something daft go easy on me lol

 

[mfgl]

Im a novice too on rbp, but from what I read here im thinking 5 adults maybe.

 

[Ohio Entusiast]

Your tank is 187 gallons. With that being said, it's length is less than ideal for multiple large fish. In my personal opinion Natts need at least 20 gallons per fish and 30 would be optimal. If you're thinking about going with Caribe I'd give at least 30 gallons per fish preferably more. You could do an unusual set-up and try Sanchezi. I'd give Sanchezis 25-30 gallons per fish. Virtually any Rhom could be kept in your tank to adulthood.

Have plenty of filtration, current and heating. I keep my tanks at 81-84 degrees, use large wet/dry filters and provide a rather strong current. I feel the current and temperatures create monsters. I just raised a Natt. to just over a year [14-15 months.] and he was 11 1/2'' long and 3'' thick.

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

in that tank id go with a max. of 8-9 (like Ohio entusiast said your tank is 187 gallons) unless you are prepared to do a cr*pload of water changes, have very strong filtratiion and are prepared to possibly loose a few

there are soem other species of piranhas you may want to look into:

Caribes ( maxes out in size at 14", closely related to RBP's have a distinct black spot on there gill plate)

Piraya ( maxes out in size at 20",also related to red bellies but have an orange or yellow color and there color extends beyond the lateral line)

Rhoms ( very slow growers can grow to 24" but usaly max at 14-16 in captivity,distantly related to red bellies, care is quite different. not a fish to be kept in groups (e.g only keep one per tank) except in the largest of public aquaria)

Sanchezi's ( maxes out at 7-8" interesting and very colorful fish some say they can be succesfully grouped others say it always ends in disaster put in groups at own risk )



Always rember that whenever you keep multiple piranhas in a tank you are taking a risk (even with RBPs) they can do serious damage to each other or even kill one another

to answer your question usualy you dont end up with just one however you may loose a few especialy in the first few months

 

[Ohio Entusiast]

I feel the #1 factor in Piranha killing each other is overcrowding. I completely disagree with the theory of ''buying 20/expecting 6 to make it.'' If you properly plan in advance and stock accordingly, you'll likely lose no fish.

A properly stocked, filtered, heated and decorated tank is usually a happy tank that provides an endless source of entertainment. I rarely watch TV anymore as all I usually watch is Discovery or National Geographic. I have a portion of the Amazon River system thriving throughout my house.

OTOH, setting up a tank with little or no prior thought and just throwing fish into usually ends up consuming your life and a general pain in the ass.

 

[Simonas]

fantastic responses cheers guys

In 18 yrs of fish keeping I have never been tempted to keep them, I have some lovely bog wood which i have stored away, coupled with a good few plants floating and rooted I can imagine this would look decent

It is the Natts I am interested in, bog standard I know but I love the look of these fish especially when they are younger and they are readily available by me

I shall keep you posted although this is one for after xmas

 

[Otherone]

I'd do 5-7 max. Clay sub for low light/low Co2 plants like amazon spears and red wendettii with either a non-reflective sandy top or dark brown pea gravel. A few large driftwood chunks and a few large round river rock for decor and benifical bacteria. My filtration would be double the minium for 150 gal. - WOW sounds strangely like one of my Pygo tanks from the past. Now it's a Payara/Cuda/Chalceus tank.