RiffDawg15

Hey mates, I got a couple quick questions for you...

Im about to trade my two 7" RB Piranha in for four 3" RB Piranha. I got the two 7" P's from my boss for free and I want to get smaller ones and have more of them. Mostly so I can watch them grow and all the fun that comes with raising them.

What should I feed the little boogers while they are 3" and how often should I feed it to them??

I have a 10" plecostomus in the tank right now, Im pretty sure he wont be a problem for the little guys, but I would like your input on that? Or would they pick on the pleco?

I have a 55 gallon tank, do you think 4 RB Piranha would be ok in that size tank?

Thanks to anyone that can give me help.

jamison

Your pleco will be fine. Generally, piranha, especially when they are babies, wont attempt to eat something bigger than them. If you can, start them off with raw peeled shrimp. They also love earthworms,(rinse them first or the dirt will mess up your tank and filtration) minnows,(you can get a sweet deal on them at any bait store) and any live feeder fish! Stay away from any larger goldfish feeders because they contain alot of ammonia. The smaller ones are fine and they love them, but make sure you keep checking your levels and do 25% water changes every few days! Beef hearts are a great treat for them once a week or less, but make sure you cut them up pretty small.(about dime size) Also they love blood-worms! You can buy those at the fish store. Hope this was helpful! I absolutely LOVE RBP's!

Allie

Any type of white fish they will eat. But love frozen shrimp, scallops...

jamison

Very true, but if you are going to thaw it, do it slowly! Quick thawing WILL rob the meat of much needed proteins, beneficial for the growth of your fish.

Allie

RiffDawg15

Great information....I truly appreciate the quick reply and detailed info. Cant wait to trade these guys in for younger 2-3" RB's that I can raise myself. Instead of taking over two 7" RB's that someone else raised.

sirdarksol

I would not suggest any feeder fish bought at a pet store. These fish aren't cared for very well, and though the small ones may not have had a chance to build too much ammonia up, their bodies have used nearly all of the nutrients in an attempt to stay alive.
If you raise your own fish (mollies, guppies, and platies make excellent feeder fish, due to how rapidly they breed), you can make sure that the feeders are getting proper nutrition and healthy living conditions. This will, in turn, make for healthier piranhas.

Allie

Unfortunately when we did the guppy thing for our piranha we had. They didn't eat the fry. We had a guppy tank with 3 3" piranha for a short period.
Piranha usually eat fish that are bigger than them. Our always did. At that size they will love blood worm.
If you decide to try a feeder fish make sure you quarantine them and feed them good. You don't want to feed them a sick fish.

Allie

I don't know who told you that a pleco would be fine with them? Not normally, we lost every plecos we tried. Piranha do things in packs and will kill something if they want it. Then again we had wild caught fish...they are feistier.
Beef heart is bad for them too much of something (maybe iron) in them that fish don't normally eat. Red meat in general is not good for piranha. White meat is best.

RiffDawg15

I have four 2-3" RB Piranha in a 55 gallon tank now, also in there I have a 10" pleco. The RB's havent messed with the pleco at all. He has never had his fins nipped or any attempts to be bitten.

I think since the pleco is so big the four RB Piranha (even in a group) dont want to mess with him. At first he would just run the piranha off, but now they dont even bother the pleco.

As for the information on white meat being better than red meat, I really appreciate that, thats something I didnt know.

Thanks everyone who has given me input and great information. It is truly appreciated.

Allie

Give it time. You must be feeding them well then...our were not happy with plecos.