Comments on: Red Belly Piranha

By: pictureman

pictureman — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 04:55:40 +0000

Hi Mark,

I am enjoying your site…keep up the good work. My question….I have approx. 16 Red Bellies….approx. 16 – 18 months old …can you suggest what I should do to start breeding them. Right now they are split between a 125 and a 180 gallon tank. Thanks for any help.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:46:28 +0000

@Faz,

You have a nice size tank, you can house up to 4. They are a schooling fish so with that in mind I would look at getting 3-4. They do get to a descent size so when you see them in the store don’t get too excited and buy more than 4.

@Rose,

Yes, 36 gallons would be the minimum for 2. Just try to keep bigger, bulkier tank ornaments to a minimum. Have plastic plants if you really want to decorate the tank.

By: rose

rose — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 01:21:21 +0000

would a 36 gallon tank be big enough for 2 piranhas?

By: faz

faz — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:02:49 +0000

hi there – i currently have jewel 180litre bow tank housing 2 oscars at about 8″ and a plec – i have been researching and realy want some red belly piranhas – the oscars look like they are possible a breeding pair (albino and tiger) as they have begun jaw locking, and the albino has started to gather and move mouthfuls of sand, im assuming to get the the base of the tank for a flat surface – so for ease and more room they will be goin to a friend who has a much much larger tank for them.
how many small RBP can i or shud i get please.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:45:18 +0000

It’s fine if you keep them together because it they are schooling fish and in the wild school in shoals that can reach in the 100′s.

Just provide a big enough tank so that they do not need to fight for space. To help keep aggression levels down have a school of at least 3, that way they do not feel that they need to compete for room and will in turn school together.

By: Person

Person — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:43:00 +0000

from each other

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:52:46 +0000

Are you asking if you need to in order to protect them from each other? Or are you asking just in general after you get them to treat them so they do not infect your all ready established tank?

By: Person

Person — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:23:01 +0000

if i buy two piranhas, do i have to quarantine them?

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:10:51 +0000

Yeah, that’s fine, just make sure that you have high quality dry and frozen foods.

By: Person

Person — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:05:42 +0000

Mark
do u think it would be ok if i didnt feed piranha live fish?