Took The Plunge!

[Fish Eat Fish]

So today I bought 16 small RBs. They were a steal at $4 a pop. (atleast for my area)

My question is what size tank will they eventually need? I was thinking a 200ish should last quiet awhile...but im newish when it comes to piranha.

Let me know what you guys think
Thanks!

 

[dmopar74]

rough estimate is 20g per rbp.

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

rough estimate is 20g per rbp.

I was thinking something like that. But those rules generally change as the tank size changes....such as a 20 gallon tank would be way too small for one and as the tank increases the amount of gallons per fish actually decreases??

anyways would a 240 do it? I thought I read some where that people keep up to 12 in a 125 and are fine...

could be wrong

 

[dmopar74]

im pretty shure this "rule" applies to adult reds in tanks over 75g. a buddy had 5 adult reds in a 5ft 100g and it looked much too crowded to me, and you get the shoaling effect much better in an oversized tank.

somone else can tell you what is best though, as i have never had 16 p's before.

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

Thanks for the input mopar. Sounds like it might be a bigger tank than I had anticipated... all the more monster than

anyone have an opinion on what actual size tank will be needed?

I understand the rule of thumb but does anyone think I need over a 240? And will they all even survive to adulthood if well taken care of? or do they thin them selves out naturally not matter what I do?

 

[Big-Kev]

Keep in mind that you may not have all 16 when they reach their adult size. I'd say a 200g tank is fine.

 

[StIcKy~RiCe]

you can out grow those 16 in 125g for couple of month...

however if you have them in 240g and you power feed them they will grow fully grown in 7-10" if not sooner. The bigger tank the better. At that age feed them 3-4 time a day.

You may lost one or couple of them due to aggression, terriouterial, and other unexpected situation.

Yea they will be happy in 240g....also you can put up to 8 full grown adult in there.

Good luck.

 

[fishbreeder12]

500 gallon wall tank for when they grow up ahhhhhhhhh

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

Im loving these guys now! They just swarm over dried krill and even cichlid pellets! Im on the hunt for a monster tank as we speak.

Anything else I should know about keeping them besides the basic normal fish keeping stuff?

 

[dmopar74]

if they get too agro with each other you can lower the temp to 76f. when larger they really enjoy some current provided by powerheads, but also with some low current spots to rest.