I'm wanting to get some red belly piranhas my tank is 160 g 6ft Ling 18ubches wide and 27 inches deep I'm sure it's enough but I I don't know how many I can have so please do help me out thanks in advance are they sensitive to water perms? Hardy fish?
Red bellies
- Thread starter BBxB1
- Start date
Red Rhom is correct the general rule is 20-25gallons per fish.
however, (n many people have their own opinion on this)
I feel you can "bend" the rules a little when the tank size gets over 100gallons.
for example;
3rbp in a 75gallon
but
7rbp in a 150 gallon
tank size only doubled but piranha quantity doubled +1 with no harm.
(Idk if this makes any sense with how i worded it haha)
With that being said i would go as far as to say you could safely get away with 8rbp in a 160g if you're looking for a bigger shoal..but 6would be a good number with room for some tank mates if you can get them in...plecos n such.
and yes they're very hardy fish.. but verrrrry messy in everything they do so make sure you keep up on the w/c and have a powerhouse filter(s)
however, (n many people have their own opinion on this)
I feel you can "bend" the rules a little when the tank size gets over 100gallons.
for example;
3rbp in a 75gallon
but
7rbp in a 150 gallon
tank size only doubled but piranha quantity doubled +1 with no harm.
(Idk if this makes any sense with how i worded it haha)
With that being said i would go as far as to say you could safely get away with 8rbp in a 160g if you're looking for a bigger shoal..but 6would be a good number with room for some tank mates if you can get them in...plecos n such.
and yes they're very hardy fish.. but verrrrry messy in everything they do so make sure you keep up on the w/c and have a powerhouse filter(s)
Hey Red my petshop only has 6 red bellies I wanna guy them but my worry is that from 6 they might all kill each other so should I buy the 6 and will they be OK or should I wait and buy more thanks
Get the 6 reds from your local pet shop. How big are they? Cuz they are more cannibalistic at smaller sizes. Once they reach the 4"+ mark they usually are not as much of a threat to kill/eat eachother as long as they have enough tank room and the temps are maintained below 78 degrees F.
If you are concerned about losses then get the 6 your shop has now and then add 2 more later as you find them. I have added to my established mixed pygo shoal twice before without any losses.
All you have to do is give the existing shoal a feeding the day of the introduction of the new RBP. Then rearrange the interior of the tank (plants, rocks, driftwood, etc.). Then do a 50% water change. While the water level is low (minus 50% of the water you took out) spook the hell out of your existing established shoal by chasing them with the net or gravel syphon. Then add your new RBP in immediately after while the water level is still low. Then spook the hell out of the 2 new RBP as well. The shoal and the new additions will all huddle up together looking for cover. This will create a bonding effect as a byproduct of fear (being spooked). Then continue your water change by adding in the 50% change and you should be good.
I've done this before without any losses.
I do not recommend a 2 week vacation away from a pygo shoal without anyone feeding them. You're asking for losses if you do that. If you must go away for that amount of time, have someone go over to check on them and to do feedings.
Barebottom is fine. It'll keep the tank's nitrates down and water quality good longer. 2-inch gaps for your filter intake/outake hoses are fine. RBP are not notorious jumpers so I don't think you'd have anything to worry about with small gaps like that.
If you are concerned about losses then get the 6 your shop has now and then add 2 more later as you find them. I have added to my established mixed pygo shoal twice before without any losses.
All you have to do is give the existing shoal a feeding the day of the introduction of the new RBP. Then rearrange the interior of the tank (plants, rocks, driftwood, etc.). Then do a 50% water change. While the water level is low (minus 50% of the water you took out) spook the hell out of your existing established shoal by chasing them with the net or gravel syphon. Then add your new RBP in immediately after while the water level is still low. Then spook the hell out of the 2 new RBP as well. The shoal and the new additions will all huddle up together looking for cover. This will create a bonding effect as a byproduct of fear (being spooked). Then continue your water change by adding in the 50% change and you should be good.
I've done this before without any losses.
I do not recommend a 2 week vacation away from a pygo shoal without anyone feeding them. You're asking for losses if you do that. If you must go away for that amount of time, have someone go over to check on them and to do feedings.
Barebottom is fine. It'll keep the tank's nitrates down and water quality good longer. 2-inch gaps for your filter intake/outake hoses are fine. RBP are not notorious jumpers so I don't think you'd have anything to worry about with small gaps like that.