Agressive Fish

[corbypete]

I have a 30 gallon tank going spare, I was thinking of getting a Rhom (piranha), or other solitary serra, but after speaking to my lfs they gave me a whole world of other fish to explore that are known for being meanies....

he mentioned barracudas, snakeheads, wolf fish, tiger fish, to name but a few

What would be exciting to watch feed, isnt skittish (like my piranhas) and would scare the cr*p out of me generally?

I do intend to buy a 5-6 foot tank within 6 months, so if some get too big i can always shift them

Thanks!

 

[prankster705]

A shoal of 7-8 piranhas would be god for the big one, but you can't keep one in a 30 gal, as they need to be in groups.

 

[@ombomb]

I'd try this in the Oddball section, but only plan to get the fish when you have the bigger tank.

 

[Fella]

If you're buying a fish with the sole intent of unnecessarily feeding it live fish, you should probably be aware that it's illegal to feed live fish to other fish in the UK as far as I'm aware.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...gal++live++food

Here is a thread detailing it better.

 

[sarahw20000]

I know the Rhom can get to about 18inches long so would need at least a 90gall and they can only be on their own coz they're a solitary predator and would kill anything else including other piranhas

Also the Rhoms aren't meant to be skittish like the red bellies and apparently follow you as you walk about the room - i'd find that scary when it's 18 inches!

 

[prankster705]

If you are thinking of getting a Rhom be carefull with it, cos it can bite your finger off, and is werry agressive.

 

[Paul_MTS]

anything fish that you may consider to buy for your 5-6ft tank is going to outgrow your 30g with in a couple of months of you buying it.

so by all means research the fish you want for your nw but don't get it until you have the new tank.

Rhoms are a big active fish so I would say a 150g minimum for a full grown.

looking at your signature you should be looking at getting a bigger tank for your current pirahna's though. those 3 red bellies are going to need atleast 80 gallons pretty quickly, over wise there going to turn on each other.

 

[CFC]

Of the fish you mention only dwarf snakeheads or one of the smaller species of wolf fish would be suitable for the 30g tank.
Baracudas need a tank of at least 5 feet long to even start with as they are fast swimming and nervous, you would also find them disapointing as they generally more skittish than pirahna.
Tiger fish depending on which one you are talking about will need between a 4 and 8 foot long tank. The siamese tigers (Coius/Datnoids species) grow to between 12 and 18 inches, they are also quite shy and skittish so again not what you are looking for. African tiger fish grow to a minimum of 2 feet and need an enormous tank, they EXTREEMLY nervous and will dart around the tank smashing themselves to bits even if you move in front of the tank.

Remember that most predators grow fairly fast (you have to stay bigger than your food) so if you buy a fish that is going to outgrow the 30 make sure you will be able to get the right sized tank within a few months.

 

[andywg]

If you're buying a fish with the sole intent of unnecessarily feeding it live fish, you should probably be aware that it's illegal to feed live fish to other fish in the UK as far as I'm aware.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...gal++live++food

Here is a thread detailing it better.

It could only be construed illegal if it were to contravene the Protection of Animals Act 1911. To do this a vet would have to agree that unnecessary suffereing had been caused to the feeder fish.

The key in that phrase would be "unnecessary". I haven't looked up the case law that defines it better, but I would be willing to bet that if the feeder fish were swallowed whole, then no action would be taken. It would be used to prevent a "boxing match" between some red belly pirannha and an oscar as in that case it would take a long time for the oscar to succumb and it would be put under undue stress.

Sorry to go on, but I hate it when people spout out false statements. Fella, if you had read the thread you quoted you would see that it was found (through research) that what I have said is true and agreed upon by the RSPCA.

Rant over B)

But, from reading the above act, anyone planning to get the dog to help pull the trailer; check out section 9 PAA1911:

If any person shall use, or cause or procure, or being the owner permit, to be used, any dog for the purpose of drawing or helping to draw any cart, carriage, truck, or barrow, on any public highway, he shall be liable upon summary conviction in respect of the first offence to a fine not exceeding two pounds, and in respect of the second or any subsequent offence to a fine not exceeding five pounds.

Don't know if that part has been repealled yet though...

The draft Animal Welfare Bill will shortly go before parliament and there are already debates on how the legislation should address the feeding of live food for praying. It is felt that it should be allowed for weaning new reptiles (and, one would assume, fish) onto dead food. Bizarrely it also mentions that it could be allowed for allowing the predator to exhibit natural behaviour; even if it feeds off dead food.

Also, the new legislation will include some invertebrates (the 1911 act only really affected vertibrates and was aimed at dogs, cats and horses - particuliarly the treatment of horses by Knackers yards), and they are unsure yet what out of lobsters, crabs, prawns, octupi and other cephalopods to include. If they include a large number of inverts in a ban on live feeding it could plausibly become illegal to feed your puffers crabs, or your predators live shrimp. Who knows, maybe bloodworm will be off the menu?


Andy