2007-04-04 03:05:54 · 20 answers · asked by Mahesh M 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
I have kept and bred several types of piranha over the years and can honestly say they probably aren't what you want for your tank. First, they aren't the vicious fish they are made out to be and are actually quite shy and retiring as far as fish go. They aren't naturally hunters at all, they are generally scavengers looking for an easy meal of dead or injured fish or other animals.
If you want a fish that will make a splash (no pun intended) when it hunts and eats, try looking into a pike cichlid. Some get far too large for a typical aquarium, but several types, like the two-spot pike, are quite at home on a medium sized tank. They are natural born hunters and are fun to watch when you feed them. They are also quite undemanding fish and easy to keep.
Hope that helps
MM
2007-04-04 03:28:18 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unless you plan on either a) putting your children in the tank or b) putting the piranha in the tub... They'll be fine.
You should get two or three from the same store, same tank. Often times, if you get a piranha from a different 'pack' they will not be accepted and therefore be killed and eaten...
Make sure you have a large tank they can be moved into as they get older. I suggest a 90gal tank or a 110gal for three. Get good filtration(they are messy eaters and poopers ^.^) and plenty of it. Possibly two or three filters. I had one good sized filter to each piranha when I had mine.
i suggest open feeding. Introduce the feeder fish first, then buy the piranha. That way the piranha will not just eat anything. They usually single out the fish that is sick or weak, unless in a tank environment when people only feed them once in a while. Also, you can keep several fish with them as long as the fish are healthy. They usually only eat the weak.
Research them, and go get them. I loved them, they were great... Until I wanted to get two more and they attacked eachother. They were all pretty badly injured so i gave them to a friend who's had a lot of luck healing fish... To this day, she has 3 huge piranha living in a 90gal tank lol
Good luck!
2007-04-04 03:47:20 · answer #2 · answered by Sputz 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually if you want a fish with some personality I would go with an Oscar. Pirhana are actually kind of shy, and will not "put on a show" where as Oscars actually get to know their owner (Their pet if you ask me lol) and will follow you around the room (in their tank that is), and can be taught several simple trick's.
Your kids will be safe with what ever you choose though, as long as you make sure that they (the kids) know that the fish aren't playthings and they need to keep their hands out of the tank. Even then you would have to go quite some time without feeding for the fish to attempt (literally) biting the hand that feeds them.
Good Luck.
E.
2007-04-04 05:03:33 · answer #3 · answered by > 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Piranha will be a fine pet, even with kids. However, I would keep their fingers from the tank. Those fish are not that choosy when it comes to the flesh they eat. They are very interesting fish to watch, and I think you'd really like them.
2007-04-04 03:10:07 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a piranha can be okay as a pet but if you have kids then make sure the piranha is kept in a closed tank and the kids should not be able to open the tank coz piranha's can be very moody and are highly territorial so if your kid sticks its fingers into the tank then you may not get them again!
2007-04-05 01:48:10 · answer #5 · answered by i'll solve ur probs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only a few Piranha types are meat eaters. Usually the ones that you can buy in shops (the really cool looking ones) are nut eaters. No kidding. They look as vicious but are almost completely harmless.
2007-04-04 03:14:15 · answer #6 · answered by Puppy Zwolle 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The trouble with piranha's is that only young ones can be kept in the aquarium, they simply grow too large! If you want a "vicious" fish, something of interest that your children will be safe around try African Cichilds. They are extremely aggressive, colorful, and quite attractive. They are also very hardy.
2007-04-04 03:26:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anna 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Piranha make great pets, but they are not for inexperienced fish owners...they are not "starter fish". If you've never owned or cared for tanks, they are alot of work. Do some research and know what you are getting into before embarking on this hobby. It's a great hobby, but more work than alot of people think if you want to do it right.
2007-04-04 03:15:58 · answer #8 · answered by icy_tempest 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It should be fine as long as you stress to your children how important it is that they do not stick they're fingers or any other body part in the tank. As well as making sure you have a sercure lid on the tank and make sure you can supervise as much as you can when your children are around the tank. And of course make sure you or another adult are the only ones to feed it. Otherwise, I agree, they'd make a very interesting, different, fun, and educational pet :)
2007-04-04 03:17:21 · answer #9 · answered by libertybelle 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yea, but keep the tank out of your children's reach. Don't let them stick their fingers in. Piranha's are pretty fun to watch!
2007-04-04 03:22:15 · answer #10 · answered by Jessie Ng 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋