Piranha Question...

[[email protected]]

From Bo at Mid_South Cichlids....

Hi, havn't been in this NG in quite awhile, which is a shame, I missed
it, but I'm back. I'm very knowlegible on cichlids, raise, breed &
sell. But Piranhas, whole new ball game. I'm dabbling with a Piranha
tank for my personal home collection. (55 long) (wet/dry) I'm not
"piranha savvy", so just looking for advice on how to keep them
properly. I have a book by Wolfgang Schulte, intitled "Piranhas In The
Aquarium" which is very helpful, but any advice from someone here who
has or may have expereince with them that the book may or may not be
telling me would be helpful...thanks all... Net Max, I know you have
some advice huh?..lol..

[NetMax]

> wrote in message
...
> From Bo at Mid_South Cichlids....
>
> Hi, havn't been in this NG in quite awhile, which is a shame, I missed
> it, but I'm back. I'm very knowlegible on cichlids, raise, breed &
> sell. But Piranhas, whole new ball game. I'm dabbling with a Piranha
> tank for my personal home collection. (55 long) (wet/dry) I'm not
> "piranha savvy", so just looking for advice on how to keep them
> properly. I have a book by Wolfgang Schulte, intitled "Piranhas In The
> Aquarium" which is very helpful, but any advice from someone here who
> has or may have expereince with them that the book may or may not be
> telling me would be helpful...thanks all... Net Max, I know you have
> some advice huh?..lol..
>

Hey Bo, how's business? All my piranha experience is with Pygocentrus
nattereri (red-bellied). In a brief summary, high strung, pack
mentality, high maintenance (expensive), super fast grower, fast swimmer,
jittery, very hardy (extremely good mending ability), awesome grip. I
keep mine in sedate lighting, planted tanks, very clean water (or they
stop eating), low traffic area (when jittery, they bite each other), in
cooler water temperatures, fed frozen krill and genetic culls.

If you travel, feeding is a problem (less if you only have one ;o).

Keeping this slightly OT with cichlids, you might find their behavioural
range shallow as compared to cichlids. There are very focused eating
machines, who will alternate between being extremely shy and ripping
things apart.

NetMax

[[email protected]]

Re: Piranha Question...

Group: rec.aquaria.freshwater.cichlids Date: Tue, Sep 16, 2003, 12:59am
(CDT+1) From: (NetMax)
> wrote in message
...

....Hey Bo, how's business? All my piranha experience is with
Pygocentrus nattereri (red-bellied). In a brief summary, high strung,
pack mentality, high maintenance (expensive), super fast grower, fast
swimmer, jittery, very hardy (extremely good mending ability), awesome
grip. I keep mine in sedate lighting, planted tanks, very clean water
(or they stop eating), low traffic area (when jittery, they bite each
other), in cooler water temperatures, fed frozen krill and genetic
culls.
If you travel, feeding is a problem (less if you only have one ;o).
Keeping this slightly OT with cichlids, you might find their behavioural
range shallow as compared to cichlids. There are very focused eating
machines, who will alternate between being extremely shy and ripping
things apart.
NetMax

<<< Thank You Max,
good advice as always.. Business hasn't been too bad. I've had some good
success breeding the Frontosa this past year, & some awesome looking
Aulonocara Baenschi. Yeah, I've seen many of Piranha in aquariums, I
knew they were quite shy, & usually hang out in mid-water, & cruise
around until feeding time. So you suggest cooler temperatures? 75 F? or
more on the tropical side such as 81F? (they say between 75-81). And
warm white lighting, lots of plants, basically keep the tank
"semi-dark". Again, thanks Max

[NetMax]

> wrote in message
...
>
> Re: Piranha Question...
>
> Group: rec.aquaria.freshwater.cichlids Date: Tue, Sep 16, 2003, 12:59am
> (CDT+1) From: (NetMax)
> > wrote in message
> ...
>
> ...Hey Bo, how's business? All my piranha experience is with
> Pygocentrus nattereri (red-bellied). In a brief summary, high strung,
> pack mentality, high maintenance (expensive), super fast grower, fast
> swimmer, jittery, very hardy (extremely good mending ability), awesome
> grip. I keep mine in sedate lighting, planted tanks, very clean water
> (or they stop eating), low traffic area (when jittery, they bite each
> other), in cooler water temperatures, fed frozen krill and genetic
> culls.
> If you travel, feeding is a problem (less if you only have one ;o).
> Keeping this slightly OT with cichlids, you might find their
behavioural
> range shallow as compared to cichlids. There are very focused eating
> machines, who will alternate between being extremely shy and ripping
> things apart.
> NetMax
>
> <<< Thank You Max,
> good advice as always.. Business hasn't been too bad. I've had some
good
> success breeding the Frontosa this past year, & some awesome looking
> Aulonocara Baenschi. Yeah, I've seen many of Piranha in aquariums, I
> knew they were quite shy, & usually hang out in mid-water, & cruise
> around until feeding time. So you suggest cooler temperatures? 75 F? or
> more on the tropical side such as 81F? (they say between 75-81). And
> warm white lighting, lots of plants, basically keep the tank
> "semi-dark". Again, thanks Max

In groups 74-75F was what I used to keep them the calmest. Singletons I
kept at 77-78F.

NetMax

[[email protected]]

Thanks again Max.... I have 6 medium sized red bellies, doing great. I'm
currently monitering & keeping them in about 76F. The lights are not
too bright, have some plant life @ top, and bottom, a few roots, &
rocks. They are surprisingly not shy, they only move if I move too
quickly. They of course, love the live bait, & they are fun too watch,
just cut off the house lights, & they think you're gone, and boom! they
go on an eating terror...

[Jimmydachimp]

MY ADVICE .DONT DIP YOUR BALLS IN THE TANK .I DID FOR FUN ONCE AND LETS JUST
SAY I WISH I HADNT.

[The Madd Hatter]

explains a lot

"Jimmydachimp" > wrote in message
...
> MY ADVICE .DONT DIP YOUR BALLS IN THE TANK .I DID FOR FUN ONCE AND LETS
JUST
> SAY I WISH I HADNT.

[bassett]

That explains everything.
Now are you ready to jump in my kilfile, Bye Bye..


Jimmydachimp > wrote in message > MY ADVICE .DONT DIP
YOUR BALLS IN THE TANK .I DID FOR FUN ONCE AND LETS JUST
> SAY I WISH I HADNT.

[FEAR THE SWAMP]

Ok Jimmy, I'll be sure & not do that...LOL..