Hi all, question for anyone with experience. I'm considering purchasing a few "vampire" characins. I'm interested in hearing from anyone who's kept these. I read a fair bit and understand that somewhere around the 16" mark they mysteriously die off. Has anyone here kept them to that length? I'm about to purchase a 180gal and would keep them in there for now. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!
Vampire characin/payara question
- Thread starter OldSchool
- Start date
i was going to keep a payara; but it's impossible to feed them.
they don't like goldifhs or pellets. they need piranhas, seriously.
anyways i heard they die at a small size to but in the wild they get well over 3' so it'll outgrow the 180gallon.
and where are you going to buy them, online or local fish store?
they should be around the $50 mark if they are doing well.(which is pretty much hard)
i know a guy in japan that has one around 1' but i don't know if you speak japanese so...
plus they should be kept in schools of 6or more so you need at least 1000gallons of water, maybe more.
get alternates, payaras are too hard to keep.
i liked payaras of their size, body shape, and teeth so i guess you like them the same reason that i do.
great alternates for a payara could be arowanas, they have the same body shape.
for their fangs; you could get gars, toadfish, piranhas.
and the size, you can get something big like a irridescent catfish, pirarucu and alligator gar(if you have space), red bellied pacu, clown knifefish.
they don't like goldifhs or pellets. they need piranhas, seriously.
anyways i heard they die at a small size to but in the wild they get well over 3' so it'll outgrow the 180gallon.
and where are you going to buy them, online or local fish store?
they should be around the $50 mark if they are doing well.(which is pretty much hard)
i know a guy in japan that has one around 1' but i don't know if you speak japanese so...
plus they should be kept in schools of 6or more so you need at least 1000gallons of water, maybe more.
get alternates, payaras are too hard to keep.
i liked payaras of their size, body shape, and teeth so i guess you like them the same reason that i do.
great alternates for a payara could be arowanas, they have the same body shape.
for their fangs; you could get gars, toadfish, piranhas.
and the size, you can get something big like a irridescent catfish, pirarucu and alligator gar(if you have space), red bellied pacu, clown knifefish.
actually kent I'd say arowanas are NOTHING like payaras.
I've seen payaras eat and watched them in tanks. They are slightly nervous and skittish, very fast snappy predatory tetras. An arowana is a relaxed, intelligent personable fish.
I think they are very different, characteristics and looks.
To me the closest thing characteristically from what I've seen are acestrorhynchus, freshwater cudas.
They are very fast snappy predatory tetras, but fairly nervous and skittish too.
Neither the acestro or the payara seem particularly intelligent fish, but they are both very interesting that's for sure. I want both of them.
I've seen payaras eat and watched them in tanks. They are slightly nervous and skittish, very fast snappy predatory tetras. An arowana is a relaxed, intelligent personable fish.
I think they are very different, characteristics and looks.
To me the closest thing characteristically from what I've seen are acestrorhynchus, freshwater cudas.
They are very fast snappy predatory tetras, but fairly nervous and skittish too.
Neither the acestro or the payara seem particularly intelligent fish, but they are both very interesting that's for sure. I want both of them.
ur right sushi; i looked at an arowana again, the body is a little similar though...
payaras have heads that are way too big for it's body size!
payaras have heads that are way too big for it's body size!
Thanks for the input guys. Yeah, I'm probably not able to maintain the payara properly. I've actually had Acestro's before, very interesting fish. Their skittishness dissipates after a while, especially with more than one. The only prob with them is I can't get them to eat anything but live. I suppose that's why they're classed as piscivores?
I'd love to get my hands on an ATF. About 4 years ago, I had the opportunity to buy a Goliath. Yes, a true goliath. It came with a certificate stating it was only one of seven at the time exported into North America. I didn't realize how incredible a deal it was at the time, and passed. What an idiot. I will never make that mistake again, trust me. Does anyone know of anybody currently selling any ATF?
I'd love to get my hands on an ATF. About 4 years ago, I had the opportunity to buy a Goliath. Yes, a true goliath. It came with a certificate stating it was only one of seven at the time exported into North America. I didn't realize how incredible a deal it was at the time, and passed. What an idiot. I will never make that mistake again, trust me. Does anyone know of anybody currently selling any ATF?
that's very annoying old school - I just got an acestro and feeders are between 2 and 3 dollars each here. I'm gonna have to get it to eat dead stuff.
2 or 3 dollars each? wow! if they wont eat dead mabye yous hould breed some live bearers. I breed mine in a 200g horse trough outside during the summer, just use sponge filters and a lot of aquatic plants and put it in the shade. During the winter I breed them in my basement.
These are really cool fish if you can keep them alive, need lots of room and live food unless you can train them onto dead