Why Are MY RBP's So Jumpy?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

MyFishEatYourFish

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 15, 2008
855
5
0
monsterville
i've had a few different groups of piranhas and within a few days of introducing them into their new homes they become very jumpy and scared and have stayed that way. i decided to get anther school since my living situation is now fairly permanent and they've done the same.
i got 20 baby RBP all under and inch. they have been very outgoing and courageous until yesterday, they even ate in the bucket i brought them home in and had been swimming on the glass when i approached them.
the only thing i can think of is that once the nitrogen starts to build up they go into "dry season" mode and act like they're in very shallow water, scared of every movement.
but water changes don't seem to have any affect.
do i need to be doing like 50% a day?

does anyone know what causes this and what i can do to make them stop!?!?!?!
 
what are the stats?
also you could try turning off the light. Is it barebottom and does it have a background? you would be scared to if you lived in a glass house and saw a huge alien thing looking at you from the outsid. most important question is what is the tank size?
 
82f
46 gallons
light has stayed off
nothing has changed since i got them except nitrogen buildup.
there is brown gravel and some decor. no backgroung
they were acting great for the first 5 days or so.
 
they should calm down again, just so many eyes when one freaks out they all do. I just added some decor to my 120 and black sand, it seems to calm them down. They move when i get close to the tank but they dont 'dart' as much now as before. Not sure what my parameters are. When i turn off my light, they get scared. Leave it on or just dim it. I wouldnt shock them by turning it on and off.
 
the lights have not been turned on at all yet.
and my reall question is why every time i get a shoal of ps they act like a tankful of starving oscars for the first few days then become terrified of everything and more or less stay that way. and if the nitrogen volume has anything to do with triggering instincts to run from everything like they would during the dry season when the water is shallow and hungry land animals try to eat them.
 
Are you saying your nitrates are high?
What are the actual values?

Even given high nitrates, it's probably not the case.
The problem is you have piranhas. They are jumpy.
Many certainly calm down with age, but that is never guaranteed either.

Some dude had it best in his sig on here.
They live in the most dangerous river in the world, wouldn't you be a little jumpy too?
 
Arok3000;4052599; said:
Are you saying your nitrates are high?
What are the actual values?

Even given high nitrates, it's probably not the case.
The problem is you have piranhas. They are jumpy.
Many certainly calm down with age, but that is never guaranteed either.

Some dude had it best in his sig on here.
They live in the most dangerous river in the world, wouldn't you be a little jumpy too?
Click to expand...

That is so true, i couldnt put it better my self. As i said, i just added some decor from my job into my tank and they have calmed down even more, but i guess best advice ive had is to put them in a spot where people will be around them a lot, and they will adjust. Again, NEVER a 100% guarantee. My nitrates and all that stuff NEVER boil down to zero, i plan on adding 2 more filters to my emp 400 (400gph) and my topfin 60 (300gph) Penguin 660 Powerhead (170gph)
 
They will never stop. I have kept MANY Ps over time and they never stop. They run and bang into everything if you get too close or move quickly. I love the fish but HATE that part. I have read that you can put window tint on the inside but it would be too dark.
 
give it some time. 5 days isn't that long introducing p's to a new tank plus they are still small. Mine were like that in the beginning, now almost two years later they swarm the top of the tank when they see me come near
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom