might be getting a piranha

[kid_fishboy13]

im thinking about getting a piranha(or six) and am aware of the requirements a school of the beasts have. recently, though, i had an interesting thought: what states are they legal in?

[Lady Hobbs]

Is there some reason you feel you really need to have this fish? They get huge and like to be with several of their own kind.

Wanta view a killing machine?

http://www.extremescience.com/Piranha.htm

[kid_fishboy13]

i may be inheriting a 1000gal. aquarium soon and i want to fill it with the same fish my grandfather has in it

[CAF]

1st of all which state are you in? Second, IF you get them, keep in them an odd numbered group unless you get above 10 (Not recommended unless you have a HUGE tank.) Also which of the 37+ species are you planning on? Not all species of Piranha are carnivorous, some are actually seed eaters. Not all species get as large as say Red Bellies or Black Rhumbus...

[kid_fishboy13]

red bellies, texas, and why in an odd numbered group? would it be better to have, say 5 than 6? is 1000gal. big enough to keep them in a group of 5-7?

[cocoa_pleco]

my lfs sells baby ones, theyre pretty shy but im sure not for long.

in that video, the bird gets pwn3d

[CAF]

It is illegal to possess, sell, transport, own, etc. any species of Piranha in Texas... Sorry.

In regards to why, Piranha are a species of schooling Tetras. In the wild they school in odd numbered groups. It keeps them happy and from killing the "odd" (even in this case) out...

[Fishguy2727]

That is not true. They do not look around, count their buddies, and take out the last one counted if the group has an odd number of fish in it. There are some fish that if in groups, a pair may form and take out the one (or four) not in the pair.

[Drumachine09]

I read you can apply for some license that says you are getting them for scientifice study, which allows you to get them. But, I dont know if thats true, or how hard they are to get.

[CAF]

That is not true. They do not look around, count their buddies, and take out the last one counted if the group has an odd number of fish in it. There are some fish that if in groups, a pair may form and take out the one (or four) not in the pair.

I manage an LFS every other weekend and we sell 7 different species of Pirahna. I have seen them kill a new fish becuase it wasn't part of the school, and I have 6 fish come in together, and the 5 kill the weakest one off because he messes up the symetry. There are species of fish that have been proven to do better in odd number groups. Pirahna are one of them. True if you have a group of 16, they will split up into smaller odd numbered groups, but they WILL hang out in odd numbered groups.

[CAF]

I read you can apply for some license that says you are getting them for scientifice study, which allows you to get them. But, I dont know if thats true, or how hard they are to get.

It's true. Difficulty depends on the state. Texas being a warm state I would think they would be pretty hard to get as normally you have to be able to explain what sort of study you are doing, why you are doing it, and what will be done with the Fish once the study has been completed. You would be subject to inspections, fees, etc. etc. etc.

I am trying to see if I can get one for noxious weeds, and it has not been fun so far...

[Lady Hobbs]

http://www.angelfire.com/biz/piranha038/state_stat_prohibit.html

This should give you an idea of where you can have them. This is a year old so there may be updates to this information.


There is information that permits can be obtained but are very hard to get. You have to be a zoo or a large faculty that has fish.

[cocoa_pleco]

yep, it all depends on the state. here in alberta we can have almost any aquatic animal (rays, pirahnas, anything), but no turtles

[squirt_12]

honestly...that movie was scary.

And well where i live...we can get ANY type of aquatic animal including turtles. We are allowed alot. lol.

[CAF]

Ok, let me disabuse everyone of the notion that piranhas are big mean scary fish. They are TETRAS!!!! This means, just like all of their non meat eating brethren that they are frightened easily. They will pick off anything that acts like food, or chew on your hand if you are hand feeding them. But I regularly put my hands into tanks with them and they swim away from the big bad predator that is trying to get them... Hollywood has hyped up the nastiness of these fish beyond all reason. Yeah, don't put a freshly cut finger in the tank and wiggle it around. Yeah, don't jump in the water and thrash around like you are wounded.... Use some common sense around them and you will be fine.

[tropfish]

Good post CAF, that puts a better perspective on things. How about getting some pacu. for a 1000 gallon tank you could have a couple, and thye get big and look very like peranahs

[Lady Hobbs]

Yeah, don't jump in the water and thrash around like you are wounded.... Use some common sense around them and you will be fine.

ROTFLMAO

[Nick89]

If you want a bad fish go with a nurse shark in a 1000g tank.

[cocoa_pleco]

pacu are good, theyre peaceful and look like pirahnas

[CAF]

I can't find any regulations pertaining to Texas and Pacus... I did see something about a $100 bounty on Pacus caught "wild" in the state though...

[Fishguy2727]

What studies have shown that piranhas and some other fish like to be in odd numbdered schools?

From my experience it has a lot more to do with the fact that one is weak, not number 6.

[Drumachine09]

Arent piranhas Chacarins (sp)? Or are the tetras AND charcarins?

[CAF]

What studies have shown that piranhas and some other fish like to be in odd numbdered schools?

From my experience it has a lot more to do with the fact that one is weak, not number 6.

Respectfully, we both know that everyone will have different expierences and observations. I found a link to an article where the writer purchased 4 pirahnas and one was eaten by the others. While observing my fish and the fish of others, most schooling fish seem to be in odd numbers, I do know there are exceptions to this rule and some school in even numbers, however I am unaware of any tetras that do so.

Here is the link to the article:
http://www.geocities.com/mftess/Piranha.html




To everyone else I ask those of you tetras of any kind, let us know, do your fish school, and if so, EVEN or ODD?


Thanks

[CAF]

Arent piranhas Chacarins (sp)? Or are the tetras AND charcarins?


Characins is the description for a whole set of geni(spelling?) that including all tetras.

[YaYgoldFish]

I use to have 6 red eye tetras and they schooled well in a 10g.

[CAF]

So we stop hijacking this thread...

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?t=9953


My apologies for the hijack.

[Fishguy2727]

Characin is the family that includes tetras, piranhas, pacus, etc.

It seems like every case I hear of, a group of piranhas kills one of its members regardless of whether it is odd or even.

If they kill off the 'odd' one, why would an even numbered group kill one, making the group 'odd'?

From my experience I see no relation in odd and even I see groups killing a weak member, as is the case in many species of fish.

They school in whatever number of them I put in the tank.

[CAF]

Characin is the family that includes tetras, piranhas, pacus, etc.

It seems like every case I hear of, a group of piranhas kills one of its members regardless of whether it is odd or even.

If they kill off the 'odd' one, why would an even numbered group kill one, making the group 'odd'?

From my experience I see no relation in odd and even I see groups killing a weak member, as is the case in many species of fish.

They school in whatever number of them I put in the tank.

It may be you are correct and I have bad information. If so I will gladly apologize and be happy that I learned something new. I started a poll here so we can determine what we as a community have observed with the behaviour of all tetras. I do appreciate the calm and thoughtful manner in which you have approached this, and if I can find something to back or refute my claim from a reputable source I will let you know.

[Fishguy2727]

I can't doubt your observations, but what I can doubt is the reasoning for them. What seems like always ending up with an odd number I think is no more than coincidence.

[CAF]

I can't doubt your observations, but what I can doubt is the reasoning for them. What seems like always ending up with an odd number I think is no more than coincidence.
Fishguy, please view the thread here:

http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/aquariumforum/showthread.php?p=110943#post110943

Thanks!

[kid_fishboy13]

looks like im getting pacus. too bad i cant keep jeffy, van, and carl though. i really was fond of them. maybe i can move north sometime and get me some new piranhas.

[Dave66]

KF, Pacus get truely massive, around four feet. They are huge when adult, so you'd need tanks in the thousands of gallons to keep a school of them.

Dave

[gm72]

Absolutely true. IMO they should never be sold in fish shops.

[Dave66]

LoL don't get me started, GM, on what shouldn't be sold in pet shops.

Dave

[gm72]

I'd be right there with you, too!

[Fishguy2727]

About 30-36" for pacus.

[Drumachine09]

Just to add, Pacus are notorious for breaking tanks and glass heaters by ramming them. Not a good Idea at all.


Are you looking for a schooling predatory fish?

[Dave66]

About 30-36" for pacus.

Depends on what species of Colossoma they get. C. macropodum gets the length you published. C. brachypomum, much more commonly sold, does indeed reach four feet.

Dave

[Fishguy2727]

fishbase.org lists the common pacu (c. brachypomum) at 88cm. I have not seen one in person above about 30-36". Do you have any pics or resources supporting 4'?

[gm72]

I have read that they can indeed reach 4 feet, but in the wild, more like the 2-3 feet we are talking about in an aquarium. The 4 feet in the wild however, is based on just a few short readings online.

[kid_fishboy13]

Just to add, Pacus are notorious for breaking tanks and glass heaters by ramming them. Not a good Idea at all.


Are you looking for a schooling predatory fish?
no just a fish legal in texas that looks like a piranha and can be housed in 1000 gal.

[Nick89]

Dude you should get like a shovelnose cat in that 1000 g lol. Not sure if it could work but those fish could probably eat them piranahs.

[kid_fishboy13]

my back up plan is a pleco and a TON of glowing tetras. neons, black neons, cardinals, bleeding hearts, glowlights, etc.

[Fishguy2727]

My ideas if I had a 1000 gallon tank, these would not all go together, and some will depend on the dimensions, but just to get ideas out there: silvers dollars, discus, bichirs, arowanas, freshwater rays, freshwater eels, big cichlids (oscars, red devils, doviis, peacock bass, etc.), massive rift lake cichlid tank, community, goldfish, koi, native, and big catfish, That is all I can come up with right now.

[CAF]

My ideas if I had a 1000 gallon tank, these would not all go together, and some will depend on the dimensions, but just to get ideas out there: silvers dollars, discus, bichirs, arowanas, freshwater rays, freshwater eels, big cichlids (oscars, red devils, doviis, peacock bass, etc.), massive rift lake cichlid tank, community, goldfish, koi, native, and big catfish, That is all I can come up with right now.
You forgot Reef

[cocoa_pleco]

You forgot Reef

lol, for a high light 1000g you would need 10,000 watts lighting! it would be sweet though

[gm72]

Drooling...just...drooling...

[cocoa_pleco]

Drooling...just...drooling...


i would go INSANE for a 1000g reef. 10,000W lighting, 200 powerheads, 1500lbs LR, 40 yellow tangs, 1 lionfish, 20 clownfish, 200 cleaner shrimp, and 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 corals

[CAF]

i would go INSANE for a 1000g reef. 10,000W lighting, 200 powerheads, 1500lbs LR, 40 yellow tangs, 1 lionfish, 20 clownfish, 200 cleaner shrimp, and 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 corals
And a google of copepods

[cocoa_pleco]

And a google of copepods


lol, 2 google! and 5000 hermits

[gm72]

...still drooling...

[squirt_12]

i would go INSANE for a 1000g reef. 10,000W lighting, 200 powerheads, 1500lbs LR, 40 yellow tangs, 1 lionfish, 20 clownfish, 200 cleaner shrimp, and 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 corals
5000000000000000000000000000000000000 million dollars...lol

YEah it would be AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fishguy2727]

I didn't go into any saltwater or brackish. That is a separate list.

[kid_fishboy13]

turns out i dont get the tank. one of my cousins had aparently taken it yesterday. what a waste of a plane ticket

[squirt_12]

turns out i dont get the tank. one of my cousins had aparently taken it yesterday. what a waste of a plane ticket
well that sucks...