What Species is right for me?

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cjtabares

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Sep 6, 2007
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Rhode Island
I am getting a 150gal tank; I do not know the dimensions a relative are giving me the tank. I was looking to get piranhas and did not know what species to get. I am a beginner with piranhas but have had fresh water tanks before in my life. I was looking to get more than one so I was looking for a species that could school. Money is not a concern and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions. Thanks for any help.
 
I'm not sure how many to start off with, but make sure it's an even number because they hate odd men out. In my office tank there was one red belly and three blacks and they got along well and are not high-maintenance, so why not try with that! Just as an extra note though, please don't feed them goldfish too much. They cause some kind of vitamin lack that could harm your fish and shorten their life-span.
 
if you looking for schooling p's than your looking for p's from the pygocentrus genus, they include red bellies, piraya, and caribe, and terns which are rbp from a different local. any of these species could live in your 150 but less depending on footprint, 5x2 or 6x18". piraya get largest and are now very expensive, never used to be. they max out at about 16" is kept at extremely optimal conditions, caribe and terns are second largest, and rbp are smallest, maxing out at 8-9". they would the best bet if you wanted a greater number. i'd say 6-8 in a 6'x18" would be fine. and mabey 3-4 of the other speices, i'd do caribe myself there the most entertaining imo.
 
1 piranha = 30 gallons
2 = 50
3 = 70
4 = 90
5 = 110
6 = 130
7= 150 <---- Tank you have ( would be able to have 7 )
8 = 170



7 is odd. so either 6 or 8 piranhas should be kept. ( i would go 8 ) when keeping piranhas you have to keep in mind, they are piranhas and will kill eacher, so no matter how many you have be prepared to loose some. BUT not many if keept in even #s
just provide alot of hiding places and live plants dim the lights and i recomend " black water " to make em' feel @ home. :headbang2

browse a few threads, alot of good info :)
 
Dez;1118137; said:
I'm not sure how many to start off with, but make sure it's an even number because they hate odd men out. In my office tank there was one red belly and three blacks and they got along well and are not high-maintenance, so why not try with that!
Just as an extra note though, please don't feed them goldfish too much. They cause some kind of vitamin lack that could harm your fish and shorten their life-span
.



:confused: goldfish carry internal deaseis. . . . . .( not mention it wont shorten life span, 99% of the time the p wil die of it if the feeders have it ) you can treat it with some stuff made by jungle. just put it in you'r feeder tank and make sure to keep the goldfish for about 1.5 - 2 weeks. also i wouldnot recomend them every day, p's should always have a mixed diet, krill, goldfish, beef heart, haddock, tipila, Mice ( pinkies depending on how pig ur p's are ) and yea. . . . even flakes, bloodworms, brine shrimp when they are small
 
imo this whole odd #'s don't matter as long as you have 3 or more... if you have only 2 in a sigle tank your asking for trouble...
as for what species. look into the pygo family of piranha's. so the Ternetzi, Caribe, the common Red Belly, and the Piraya.
or if you really feel like you can handle it try a gold spilo tank. but expect fights and aggression.
or if you have the money go for a S. Geryi. that is if you can find them...
 
Yea my roomies and I have all had odd numbers, just have 3 or more. Even thing is just a superstition in my opinion.
 
:nilly: ( just go even, rather safe then sorry ) :nilly:
 
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