Red Belly Piranha compatibility and Questions

[rajatariqmustafa15]

Hello,
I hope everyone reading this is in the best of health , so as you can judge this specific specimen ( Red Belly Piranha ) does not really belong to me but these spectacular fish have caught you my attention, therefore I am thinking of owning them. This won't be an entirely easy task to do since these fish are banned in our country and we have to get them through special permission. I have kept several others types of monster fish in the past such as Red tail Catfish , Tiger Shovel Nose catfish , Alligator Gar , Oscars and several types of modern day Cichlids. However these fish are in a league of their own, so I wanted to ask some questions before I get to own this fish.
First of all if I want to purchase these fish , there is only one size avalaible in which I can get them and that is about 2 inches. So I am think of getting 5 exactly and I hope they don't start eating one another?
The second question is regarding the Piranhas compatibility. They are rumours that either they can be kept with large fish or with very small fish such as Neon tetras, so is this true or are they completely incompatible ?
Other questions include the fact whether they can be kept with live plants or not and what should their diet be specially when their young (2 inches)? Does it have to be meat or can they be fed pellets as well.? And lastly there is the question of how much they grow each year in captivity?
My aquarium is 5 feet in length , 20 in width and 3 feet in height just Incase if anyone was wondering.

Thank you.

 

[Atfownz]

You just stated that they are illegal in your country yet your saying your going to purchase some... and what special permission are you talking about?

 

[tlindsey]

Even small they are cannibalistic, they will probably attack the other species such as a large Cichlid and they can be fed cut up fish or trained on pellets.

 

[rajatariqmustafa15]

You just stated that they are illegal in your country yet your saying your going to purchase some... and what special permission are you talking about?

Well ,
Basically the shop keepers cannot keep these fish in their shops , so in order to them an advance has to be paid in which a minimum of 10 fish can be brought. And they have to be brought home the day they are shipped as the shop keepers can not acomadate them. So this is how I can basically own them.

 

[HarleyK]

these fish are banned in our country and we have to get them through special permission.

The way I understand this is that you obtain permission to be exempt from the ban, i.e. it becomes legal for you to own them in your home country, correct? Because this site does not support illegal activities.
Please confirm that I understood you correctly.

 

[souzie]

They will most likely kill each other.

My tank is the same size as yours and I started off with 5 reds at 1.5 - 2 inches. They killed 2 within the first year and now, I'm left with 3.

They hardly get along as it is and will not tolerate other fish. I wouldn't add anything else.

 

[rajatariqmustafa15]

The way I understand this is that you obtain permission to be exempt from the ban, i.e. it becomes legal for you to own them in your home country, correct? Because this site does not support illegal activities.
Please confirm that I understood you correctly.

Well ,
I may have used the wrong word here which is " banned ", the thing is that a lot of people own these deadly fish here ( Pakistan ) . They are just very difficult to get , as the shop keepers don't keep them in their shops and therefore they have to be ordered. Nothing illegal going on here folks

 

[rajatariqmustafa15]

The way I understand this is that you obtain permission to be exempt from the ban, i.e. it becomes legal for you to own them in your home country, correct? Because this site does not support illegal activities.
Please confirm that I understood you correctly.

And further more they are pretty expensive as 10 Piranhas which are approximately 2 inches ij size cost about 40,000 rupees. That's why I asking you people whether I should get them or not because firstly they have to be ordered and secondly they are very expensive

 

[recci]

Mine have never attacked or killed each other even in a small tank. Just keep them well fed and give them room and they will be fine. Feed them mainly pellets and prawns.

 

[HarleyK]

Thanks for the clarification on legality.

With piranhas, you always have to accept the possibility for cannibalism, especially at that size. Until they have established a picking order. It'll happen in the first few weeks, most likely.

Good luck, and please keep us posted