Red Bellied Piranhas

[timbruun]

yesterday i came home and my 4 piranhas were really skittish. i know that piranhas usually are, but these ones have been getting really good actually. they are sitll young. i've had them for about 3 weeks and they are 2.5 inches or so. so i didn't think too much of it at the time, until later on they wouldn't eat which was weird because they're been eating really good. i fed them a few earthworms around lunch yesterday. i've got them on pellets, freeze dried shrimp, frozen krill, frozen mysis shrimp and earthworms if they are lucky. so i skipped the feeding and did my usual monday night water change which is about 40% with the vac. when i was done they weren't much better which is normal for them so far. kinda get freaked out after a water change. but they still don't eat this morning. and one other thing that was weird after the change. i have a red tail shark in there with them right now, no problems so far other than the shark chases them around a bit, and the shark turned almost completely white. but now the shark is back to normal. my water before the change was 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 60 nitrates. my tap has a bit of ammonia in it less than .25 but it's taken care of by the morning. my water is quite hard and has high ph around 8.4. temp never changes. and i'm running 2 aquaclear 110 on a 55 gal. and yes i know it's small tank for now. but they are still young. sorry this was a bit long.
thanks in advance.


NOTE: if you're wondering what's in the tank. i have 4 red bellied piranhas, 1 red tail black shark, 3 albino plecos, khuli loaches that i thought were gone but appear very rarely and 2 common plecos on of which is injured right now. and the tank is goign to get bigger later unless i start another or sell a few fish. right now it's not overstocked at all.

 

[WILDER]

I would post in the right part of the forum about the piranhas.
Can you keep other fish with them. Thought they had to be kept on there own.

Whats your tap nitrate reading.
60 reading quite high.

 

[Murphee]

yesterday i came home and my 4 piranhas were really skittish. i know that piranhas usually are, but these ones have been getting really good actually. they are sitll young. i've had them for about 3 weeks and they are 2.5 inches or so. so i didn't think too much of it at the time, until later on they wouldn't eat which was weird because they're been eating really good. i fed them a few earthworms around lunch yesterday. i've got them on pellets, freeze dried shrimp, frozen krill, frozen mysis shrimp and earthworms if they are lucky. so i skipped the feeding and did my usual monday night water change which is about 40% with the vac. when i was done they weren't much better which is normal for them so far. kinda get freaked out after a water change. but they still don't eat this morning. and one other thing that was weird after the change. i have a red tail shark in there with them right now, no problems so far other than the shark chases them around a bit, and the shark turned almost completely white. but now the shark is back to normal. my water before the change was 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and 60 nitrates. my tap has a bit of ammonia in it less than .25 but it's taken care of by the morning. my water is quite hard and has high ph around 8.4. temp never changes. and i'm running 2 aquaclear 110 on a 55 gal. and yes i know it's small tank for now. but they are still young. sorry this was a bit long.
thanks in advance.


NOTE: if you're wondering what's in the tank. i have 4 red bellied piranhas, 1 red tail black shark, 3 albino plecos, khuli loaches that i thought were gone but appear very rarely and 2 common plecos on of which is injured right now. and the tank is goign to get bigger later unless i start another or sell a few fish. right now it's not overstocked at all.

Sounds like ordinary reds behaviour to me Although i would definitely remove the other fish, especially the shark, as you said it is chasing them around which will be really stressing for them. They are extremely cannabalistic and aggressive at that size so dont be suprised if you have no red tail shark sooner rather than later. Nitrates are a little on the high side, i would suggest you do small frequent water changes to lower them, say about 20% every other day.

Also you should start feeding them proper fleshy foods, like fish fillets,cod, pollock catfish, tilapia etc... all whitefish, not salmon or anything like that as it is oily, smelly, and can cause all sorts of problems. Also feed them on pranws, muslces shirmp, things like that. This will all fill their bellies more than what you are feeding now, the mysis shrimp etc.. what you are feeding now is ideal for tiny baby reds about 1''. Put the fish fillter in as a whole, that way you now their all getting some, instead of putting chunks in, its also easier to take out any leftovers, which should be taken out within 30mins of putting in the tank, if they arent eating it of course. If you dont have a powerhead, get one in there, they will enjoy swimming in the current, it wil give them someting to do, and also take their mind off eating each other which is highly likely at that age and size. What do you have in the tank regarding decor, plants etc..?

 

[nmonks]

I agree that to some extent their behaviour is within normal parameters. Contrary to popular belief, piranhas aren't fierce killing machines!

Do review tank lighting. They need shade; floating plants or long leaf plants (like Vallisneria) are ideal. Do review water current. This should be fairly strong, but not turbulent. Review temperature, and adjust up or down accordingly; a middling 25 C is about right. Don't overfeed. Remove aggressive/territorial fish. Add additional specimens: four specimens don't normally stay that way for long, and six is considered a good minimum number of a peaceful group.

Small but frequent water changes (e.g., 10% every day or other day) are better than big water changes where the fish find themselves in half-filled tanks.

Cheers, Neale

 

[timbruun]

thanks for the replies. regarding the nitrates, i was figuring now on doing more frequent water changes. this is the first time that it's been that high. and i'm feeding them the mysis to get rid of it. i don't want some sittign in my freezer forever. otherwise i do have some white fish meat that i'm goign to be feeding them soon too. just haven't started yet. my 2 hob filters create a current somewhat. the piranhas go up and down in the tank enjoying themselves when they are normal. as for decor i have quite a bit of fake plants and a fake rock and tree and what not. they can hid fairly well. i've been getting them used to having the lights on. started with dim room lights and kept going from there and they were fine with lights and i would just shut them off at night. my temp is sitting around 25-26. and i agree that they are generally shy fish but as of yesterday some times when i walk by the tank they just take off and go crazy running into things like the heater, filter hoses and tank sides. and they are hiding alot more than they were before also. i have them trained to come to the top for food now so they haven't been shy lately. they were somewhat following me if i would walk by the tank and they would sit and wait in the spot where i feed them for food. just curious if there was something that would cause them to change quickly. i thought of stray voltage but when i feed i unplug everything and just to see i left it unplugged for a bit and they were still worked up.

 

[timbruun]

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