So I rescued 2 around 6" red bellied piranha today I was told they were going to be put down otherwise. I don't condone this type of behavior at all and was told they're free so I went and got them. I've never owned piranha but, have always been fascinated by them. I'm still not 100% they're going to stay with me depends on them really and how they fair with me. I don't want them to be stressed out. The pair seem to enjoy eachother's company. They've been swimming together non stop since I put them in their quarantine tank. Tomorrow I'll be decking out their tank with live plants. In the mean time though, they aren't eating the cichlid sticks I've put in there or the freeze dried krill, tubafix worms, or the flakes. The original owner said he raised them on flakes but, the guy that ended up with them for a couple of days fed them live goldfish and left them in none heated, none filtered water. Now I can't stand feeding live prey to anything period and I was wondering what the acclimation time is for these guys before they start eating? (they've been in the tank with lights out now for around 5 hrs.) Also, what foods might I try that seem to work for yall? I understand they prefer to eat at night and they're very skittish but, I'm hoping to get them to eat none living food. Pretty much that and any other advice yall have for a first time owner would be greatly appreciated. I want this to work out but, if it don't I've made arrangements for them to go to a good home. I'll be posting pics of them as soon as they get adjusted to their new surroundings assuming they stay. I do have to say though... They are some gorgeous fish! Not a lot of red on the belly though probably from stress.
Rescued 2 RBP
- Thread starter Quinquestriatus
- Start date
They are probably really stressed from the move and tank switches, and its normal for them not to eat because of this.
Wait a day or so and try again with the sticks, or try some frozen prawns or tilapia.
If they dont take it after a week or so try soaking it in garlic.
It took my elong a few weeks before he would eat anything and he was even fed frozen before I got him. But would not eat because of the new surroundings
Wait a day or so and try again with the sticks, or try some frozen prawns or tilapia.
If they dont take it after a week or so try soaking it in garlic.
It took my elong a few weeks before he would eat anything and he was even fed frozen before I got him. But would not eat because of the new surroundings
Alright, thanks for your help and info. I hope it doesn't take them longer than a few days. The tubafix block I threw in their seemed to disappear last night. Not sure if they ate it or it just broke up and was filtered out. Oh well, I guess time will tell.
Also, I heard from a few LFS that if you feed them cichlid sticks and no actual dead/ live foods (blood worms, tubafix, krill, other fish) that there's the possibility of putting them into a community tank with other species of fish. I was wondering how much truth there is to that or if the people were mistaken? The stuff I've read so far doesn't seem to back this theory up and I am curious about yalls experience. I heard a story yesterday of someone keeping South American cichlids with RBP with great success.
Also, I heard from a few LFS that if you feed them cichlid sticks and no actual dead/ live foods (blood worms, tubafix, krill, other fish) that there's the possibility of putting them into a community tank with other species of fish. I was wondering how much truth there is to that or if the people were mistaken? The stuff I've read so far doesn't seem to back this theory up and I am curious about yalls experience. I heard a story yesterday of someone keeping South American cichlids with RBP with great success.
Quinquestriatus;2647856; said:
yeah...uh piranhas are parasitic fin nippers. There isn't much chance of putting them in a community tank with other fish. I mean a fish approximately their size is probably not going to be devoured, but when no one is around the RBP's are going to be taking chunks of skin and fin off your other fish. Most fish kept with piranha have no fins or tails and a lot of missing scales. Thats not exactly fair to the other fish.
I have heard stories about people feeding pellets, and sticks and stuff, but for a couple of stressed out RBP's your best bet is going to be frozen shrimp. You can buy a bag of 30 for like ten bucks. Just thaw them out and drop them in. After they've adapted to their new home, then you can try and wean them onto sticks and pellets. Also, while a lot of people keep plants with them, the lighting required to grow some plants will freak them out. They prefer extremely diffused light. I read somewhere that their eye muscles don't conract/dilate the pupil and therefore they are unable to adjust their eyes to light levels. I don't know if this is true or not, but they certainly act like it is. If there are bright lights in the tank that may contribute to their not eating also.
Be careful with hands in the tank. I don't know of anyone who's been bitten by a piranha, but the more stressed and hungry they are the more likely it is to occur. I generally feed mine before I go in the tank. That takes care of that. They really are terrified of people (rightfull so I would say).
Appreciate the feedback Diogenes. I'm heading over to my main LFS right now so I'll see where I can get the 30 count of shrimp at. As far as hands in the tank I'm the only one that is allowed to do it in my house and that's with any of the fish tanks. So far the piranha have been skittish of me and leave me be.
Red Devil - These are RBP. I'll be posting pics as soon as they are acclimated.
Red Devil - These are RBP. I'll be posting pics as soon as they are acclimated.
Quinquestriatus;2648742; said:
oh yeah. I go to the grocery store for shrimp. Same stuff you eat. Just get the raw shrimp. I remove the shells because it's easier to clean up that way.
i dont see how they can sound like pacu.. but anyway...
just give them a few days and try to feed them shrimp/fillets everyday.. eventually they will eat some..
just remember to scoop out the non eaten pieces within an hour or two..
just give them a few days and try to feed them shrimp/fillets everyday.. eventually they will eat some..
just remember to scoop out the non eaten pieces within an hour or two..