Azahara

I don't know where else to put this but . . . My red-bellied piranha's belly . . . is white and not red. Any ideas as to what caused this? Is he sick, is he just still young, or what? I don't want to lose Kyo . . . He's my baby. . .D:

Chief_waterchanger

Color can be affected by several things:

Illness
Stress
Diet
Age
Breeding
and probably tons more

Stress is a large possibility for a lone pirahna. Pirahna are a schooling fish and should be kept in groups of 5 or more, but of course you would need a much larger tank for that.

If he is the only pirahna in the tank, as your signature says then he has no prospects of breeding, that may affect coloration.

Hope you get it figured out.

Allie

Exactly..piranha are very sensitive fishies. Like feral cats if you will. I recommend a shoal of 5-7...it's seem to work best from our experience.
They love frozen uncooked shrimp...the kind you have to de-shell yourself is best..un thaw a piece & throw it in.

Azahara

Thanks guys. I changed the filter cartridge last night before I went to bed, and his belly is reddish-orange again, and I'm hoping he won't scare me like that again. I've also been feeding him my baby Mollies . .. yes, mollies . . . and he seems to do okay with those and Halibut fillets. Thanks.

Butterfly

Mollies? Halibut fillets? he's eating better than us j/k Glad he's doing better. It's scarey when our fishies are looking/acting off.
Carol

Azahara

Oh man, he eats those baby mollies like candy. Good thing Maya just gave birth to another batch. Oh man, he had me so scared, I don't want to lose Kyo, hes so cute and such a spazz. I love him so . . . . .

Allie

Our piranha use eat better than us on a regular basis...shrimp, and white fish fillets.