tough'n up RBP?

[andres]

they aren't a typical shoaling fish, the numbers thing is kind of a myth when it comes to piranhas. alot of people say that you shouldn't have two because the dominant one will be aggressive towards the other one or prevent it from eating, but that's not the case with every pair. one fish can be just as comfortable by itself as it would be in a group, they are however usually a bit more entertaining in a group due to the fact that there is competition for food

I agree I kept 2 RBPs in a 55 for a couple of months and they did just fine. They got along just great, there was no fin nipping at all. I upgraded to a bigger tank and added 3 more RBP and I would say they fight more often now.

 

[kent hansen]

how big are they? how long you had em? what's all do you have in the tank?

the best way to get them to stop being scared of you is to spend some time in front of the tank, once they get used to you coming around, they won't look at you as such a threat and they'll be a bit more entertaining.

you can also add more cover to the tank to make them feel more comfortable, anything like fake or live plants, driftwood, rocks, etc.

listen to joe this is what ive done i sleep infront of my tank watch tv in front of it i spend a lot of time cleaning my tank feeding my fish they used to be skitish when i got them i can now pet a couple of them when i do water changes i suggest a bubble wall about a inch out from back of glass
it works good 4 mine and it adds oxogen to the water win win sort of deal
a powerhead is a good adition if u dont allready have one

 

[atizknock]

didnt read all the replies but try dimming the lights, using a black water extract, adding some water sprite or other plant that will filter out some light, spend time in front of the tank but not right up on it, and get some tubifex worms for a treat and offer them when u approach the tank...not a sure thing but it might help ...gl!!!!

 

[JoeDizzleMPLS]

i actually have found that it's better to not dim the lights over the tank, by dimming them, they never get used to light, so when you flip on lights in a room, they freak out. i would keep the lights bright, get them set up on a timer so that they come on and turn off at the same times every day. just add some natural cover in the tank so that they have places to go to get out of the light if they want to. i have bright lighting over all of my tanks and i don't have a single skittish fish.

the best thing is to just give them time, whether it's getting used to light, getting used to a new tank, or getting used to people being around the tank. sometimes they'll settle in and be fine after just a couple hours and sometimes it takes months.

 

[instantthc]

i had 8 rbp and put a light car tint on the tank. i was also sick of them being so skiddish. i spent at least 2 hours a day in front of the tank and that never helped. i tried that for at least 2 months before i tried the tint.

 

[frontosablkrhom]

i had a black rhom who was very very skittish so i gave it a baby koi to play with and after like the 4th baby koi it started becoming very aggressive. koi is the key baby koi

 

[Fishermoe14]

get them out of the 20 and spend more time in front of the tank.. my tank is in the study room where i do all my homework, go online, and play games... im in there most of everyday so they get exposed to me alot... they are not shy at all.. they are even beginning to eat shrimp from my hands..

 

[kent hansen]

get them out of the 20 and spend more time in front of the tank.. my tank is in the study room where i do all my homework, go online, and play games... im in there most of everyday so they get exposed to me alot... they are not shy at all.. they are even beginning to eat shrimp from my hands..

i wish mine would do that i geus im doing good to pet one evry once in awile