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.

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*.

by filters is removed. Concerning filters, most piranha aquariums will require at least two to handle the workload, especially if the tank is 50+ gallons. (See examples at the  piranha aquarium photo gallery). Nitrate levels, which have adverse effects on piranhas in particular, should be monitored closely. pH levels should be between 6.5 and 6.9 to mimic those of the Amazon River, to which piranhas are native.

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.

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.

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!