might be getting a piranha

**kid_fishboy13** · 09-26-2007, 10:13 PM

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** · 09-26-2007, 10:15 PM

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** · 09-26-2007, 10:20 PM

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

**CAF** · 09-26-2007, 10:22 PM

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** · 09-26-2007, 10:26 PM

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** · 09-26-2007, 10:30 PM

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

in that video, the bird gets pwn3d

**CAF** · 09-26-2007, 10:30 PM

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** · 09-26-2007, 10:44 PM

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** · 09-26-2007, 10:47 PM

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** · 09-26-2007, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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.