Unloved...

[njstockley]

Red Bellied Piranha often get bad write ups, but are spectacular and wouldn't hesitate to recommend to anyone that can house them. I'm aware that my 260 is borderline in terms of size for adult fish, but weekly 75% water changes and heavy filtration keep them nice and healthy. I'm keeping an eye out for a Rio 400 / Vision 450 as a permanent house for them...but I've not told my girlfriend that just yet!

Full tank (this isn't the final scape - was a quick fix as needed to get them in the tank quite urgently):

Smaller Red Belly Piranha (6"):

Larger adult (9"):

I've dimmed the two tube lights, and as you can see they aren't as shy and skittish as most say. Mine are always shoaling in the middle of the tank, and are very mellow.

Hope you enjoy.

 

[garyspence84]

Wouldn't fancy my chances sticking my hand in there

Nice looking fish you have there. What kind of diet are they on?

 

[njstockley]

Wouldn't fancy my chances sticking my hand in there

Nice looking fish you have there. What kind of diet are they on?

They're big softies really - nothing like what the films would have you believe! The first couple of times my hands were in there I had someone watching in case one came for me - now I've realised they just aren't interested. Unlike my Malawis that start nipping the second anything touches their tank.

My piranha are fed primarily on Hikari Massivore Delite - pellets are much better for them than frozen / live foods and they've taken to them very well.

 

[Tuxyu3]

When you say pellets are better than live are you referring to possible diseases or primarily nutrition issues?

They really do look lovely, cant see myself having them though; i just wouldn't be able to dedicate a whole large tank to them and them alone. I hear they have wonderful personalities and characters as well as very interesting behaviour, do you notice this yourself?

 

[LucyB]

They are... sparkly

Do you feed them those little feeder goldfish?

 

[dbanner]

There is no reason to feed them anything live as its bad for them all round. As the OP stated he feeds them hikari massivore. Iv also kept a group of 5 in my old vision 260 and the OP is right in saying people do get the wrong impression of them. They are very nice fish that often get a bad or false rep. They don't go for your hand when it's in the tank, if anything they just swim the other way. They are more scared of you than what you are of them.

Although 1 piranha out of my group did turn on the other 4 and actually killed and ate them 1 by 1 and then turned his aggression to me. He would go for my hand when I tried cleaning the tank and doing a sand vac but this is a rare occassion. Your much more likely to get attacked by a big annoyed SA/CA cichlid as iv found out.

My flowerhorn is so much more aggressive than any of my piranhas were.. To the point were again I can't put my hand in the tank and he can't be housed with anything else. He killed a 6 inch JD and a 7-8 inch buttikoferi, both within 6 hrs of being in his tank... And he is only 5 inches at the moment so smaller than the piranhas were too. He now has 450litres (120gal) to himself. Iv also had very aggressive jaguars, dovii's and Red Devils. I would take my chances with the piranhas any day lol

"njstockley" I have a Rio 400 and can tell you that it will be a great upgrade to house you piranhas

 

[LucyB]

Aaaah they're just so sparkly! It reminds me of gold Christmas tinsel

 

[KCB]

I think many creatures are just misunderstood. Your piranhas are very cool and obviously well looked after