Piranha Aquarium Photo

When setting up a piranha aquarium, size should be considered first. Adults can grow from 14 inches to 24 inches long. Piranhas are also group fish, which means they'll need room to roam. As a general rule, try to provide two gallons for each inch of piranha. A tank six feet long by two by two will allow for plenty of hiding places, though a 4 by 15" by 15" tank will suffice. (see piranha aquarium photo gallery). No less than a 50 gallon size is recommended.

Random Aquarium Facts and Trivia:

• facultative - capable of living in varying conditions, ie. facultative cleaners do not rely strictly on parasites for food (compare to obligatory).
• Marine fish-keeping is different from its freshwater counterpart because of the fundamental differences in the constitution of saltwater and the resulting differences in the adaptation of its inhabitants.

Tank Maintenance and Conditions

Piranhas are really messy eaters. Ten to fifteen percent water changes weekly will ensure debris not caputured

piranha aquarium photo Photo Courtesy of Flickr*.

Water temperature in a piranha aquarium should be around 80 degrees (76-83 Fahrenheit). Extremes of heat and cold should be avoided to stave off diseases like ich, mouthrot and dropsy. Warm water also encourages piranha activity (see piranhas on the prowl at the piranha aquarium photo gallery.) Many piranha keepers use auxiliary water pumps to prompt piranhas to swim against the current (as in the Amazon). This further stimulates metabolism levels, boosting appetites.

Random Aquarium Facts and Trivia:

• Only 1 in 100 salmon eggs will survive it to adulthood.
• mechanical filtration: These filters mechanically remove particles from the water. Examples are under gravel filters, canister filters, and wet/dry prefilters.

For decor, it's best to keep a tank dim to encourage piranhas to venture into open waters. (Ideal tank conditions can be viewed here: piranha aquarium photo gallery). Artificial plants are recommended, with a few intermixed naturals to defray the artificial look and placate the vegetation-appreciative piranhas. Any bogs, rocks, driftwood and artificial centerpieces will need to be firmly attached, since strong piranhas can fling artifacts around (maybe breaking glass).

Feeding

Piranhas' diet consists entirely of protein. Live meaty foods (or frozen) such as lean chicken or beef and fillets of fish should be fed daily or bidaily. Feeder comet fish are an economical choice, though piranhas will eat almost anything. Experiment to see what yours like.

Random Aquarium Facts and Trivia:

• Cyanobacteria: Organisms that can form large colored mats. They are usually blue-green in color. Cyanobacteria is commonly referred to as red slime algae by hobbyists although it is not really an algae. It is a bacteria. Poor water quality with excessive nutrients are the usual causes. To combat, do frequent water changes, siphon out detritus, and use a good protein skimmer.
• Activated Carbon: A form of carbon derived mostly from charcoal with ideal surface area and porosity for the adsorption of chemical compounds from your water, like medicines, odors or discoloration. Carbon must be changed every 1-2 months, to avoid leaching impurities back into the water.

Tank Mates

• Plecostomus (pleco catfish) often coexist with piranhas because they can grow up to a foot long, have well-armored bodies, don't draw much attention to themselves, and if engaged in battle will defend themselves. View pleco photos at the aquarium photo gallery.
• Tetras survive as tank mates because they are bright, darty and small. Piranhas aren't likely to chase something so small and fast. Tetras also have plenty of sensors to monitor piranha movements. View tetras at the aquarium photo gallery.
• Pacus may also survive with piranhas since they look alot like the pygo pirnaha and imitate their behavior. Pacus will fight head to head with piranhas instead of retreating like a runaway meal.
• Oscars may be placed with piranhas since they're big and aggressive. They're also cheap to replace.
• Cichlids may also be tried, as they've been known to team up against piranhas to stay alive.
• Lastly, snails and shrimp can cohabit with piranhas, as they're small and not a very worth while meal for piranhas, especially the hard-to-eat snails. View shrimp photo at the aquarium photo gallery.

Good luck with your piranha aquarium. Don't forget to check out our piranha aquarium photo gallery!