Rhoms and livebearers

[pumbus]

I am considering a rhom for my 108G,i was thinking add about 20 livebearers at first to give him a constant food source,but do you think he would eat them all before they had a chance to breed,also what would be a nice LB to use

 

[JD7.62]

If there are TONS of hiding spaces and you start with 100+ Id say there is a chance they might produce enough to give a food source.

 

[pumbus]

the tank will be heavily planted

 

[Ruger345]

Mollies and a bunch of plants. You could add the LB's and give them a few weeks and then add the Rhom. Good luck!

 

[pumbus]

think it will work out

 

[JD7.62]

I dont think you should try it though. Piranhas have a bad habit of just killing a fish and leaving it to rot on the bottom. If your fish does this, alot of rotting LB will spoil your water fast!

 

[Oddball]

The 'territorial imperitive' calls for at least a 100 breeding pairs to provide enough of a regular food source for an apex preditor. And, that ratio would have to be provided in a tank that's the average size of the Ps natural territory.
Also, you have to realize that your breeders will be more of a target to your P than their newly born fry. The only way to make the breeders safe and still maintain a regular supply of fry is to place the breeders in hanging livebearer traps with just the grated bottom so the fry can drop through to the Ps side of the tank.
Or, you can do like everyone else and raise the feederstock in separate tanks.

 

[pumbus]

i was hopeing to have a large school of something in the tank with th P to keep the tank somewhat active

 

[fresh2salt]

I dont think you should try it though. Piranhas have a bad habit of just killing a fish and leaving it to rot on the bottom. If your fish does this, alot of rotting LB will spoil your water fast!

I agree with JD7

 

[Ruger345]

Yeah, I've seen large Rhoms kept with small tetras and the Rhom will pick them off here and there. The only you can do is get a very large Rhom and small LB's. Good luck!