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FAQs on the Piranhas Disease Related Articles: Piranhas, Serrasalmine Fishes, Characoids/Tetras & Relatives, Feeding Feeder Goldfish, Related FAQs: Piranhas 1, Piranhas 2, & FAQs on: Piranha Identification, Piranha Behavior, Piranha Compatibility, Piranha Selection, Piranha Systems, Piranha Feeding, Piranha Reproduction, & Piranhas and Relatives, Feeding "Feeder" Goldfish, Pacus, Silver Dollars, |
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Possible large burn on our
new Piranha – 03/03/09 |
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Piranha problem?
Hey what's Up! I would appreciate it if you could write back to me as soon
as possible just bought 8 piranha for my tank. They are all babies a little bit
bigger than a quarter. Anyway I went away for two days and my heater went crazy,
I came back and the water was at 90 degrees. I bought a new heater now. I did a
water change, added new water and added plenty of stress coat. My fish look like
they are back to normal! Two of my fish fins are really damaged they Dorsal
fin, it looks like they have been stripped down or eaten.
<Very likely have been chewed by the other Piranha... very common. Not the
heater; many species (there are dozens) do live in water in the mid to upper
80's seasonally.>
Could their fins be prepared?
<Yes. They can/do regrow in time. Just need to keep the whole lot fed (a few
times daily), provide enough hiding spaces (plants, driftwood...) and keep up
your water quality>
Their eyes look cloudy. If these two piranhas died could I add two new piranha
similar size to my tank.
<If the system is large enough. You need a good two hundred gallons plus for
this many of the smaller size species of Piranha. Please see here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/serrasalminae1.htm>
I have had my piranha for two weeks. I know once the tank is established you
cant added a new piranha but since they are young could I added them???? Thanks
A lot Barry
<I would definitely not add any more unless your system is as large as
stated. Bob Fenner>
Piranhas
Hi my name is Katie...I have a couple of questions thank you by the way your
website has already answered some of my questions! I have a 55 gal tank, if I
got them a 100gal to 150 gal tank will they get bigger, I have a one female
and she's big but all my males aren't very big at all I have 5 all together)
>>A bigger tank is always better. You will have a hard time with water
quality in a 55g. Do you know your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels?<<
My 2nd question is one will get eye cloud and then the rest will get it all they
are eating right now is freshwater shrimp could that be a problem?
>>Yes. You need to treat them with a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Again,
what do your nitrates measure?<<
I only have one filtration system in there could that also the problem should I
add some more I've had them for almost a year now so that would make them almost
2yrs old and it's been the same filtration system...
>>How often do you do partial water changes and clean the filter?<<
They also get really pale during the day and night for about an hour there
bellies are really red and then they get really dull. I just want to make sure
I'm doing everything o.k. love them and wouldn't want anything to happen to
them. well I appreciate it if you could reply to this when you guys have
sometime. thanks Katie:)
>>You are welcome. -Gwen<<
My Piranhas (Sung to the tune of "My Sharona!")
<Hi Katie, I'm not the one that answered your previous email, but I'll
assist you with your piranha problems.>
I do treat them with an antibiotic but it seems like every time we do that there
fine and then it comes back even worse and then it starts with two and then all
of them...
<Then this is a sign that the tank itself needs work, not just the fish.>
my boyfriend checked the ammonia level the other day and it was fine we can't
seem to maintain pH..
<I don't know the size of the tank you have the piranhas in but these are
rather messy fish and need lots of tank space. Piranha have evolved from
fin-nipping species of fish. Their ancestors were small little fish that
actually survived by eating the fins of larger fish. And through evolution they
evolved into the larger voracious Piranha breeds you see today. That means that
these fish will nip at each other if not given enough room. And when fish are
left in an environment when their tankmates nip at them their health quickly
deteriorates leaving them vulnerable to many different types of parasites and
sickness. Aside from needing a large space, the major concern with any piranha
owner is that these fish need some of the best filtration that can be offered to
them. I had raised friends piranha for a while, when they were away at college
and during that time I realized that only the best filtration should be given
these fish. I doubled the filtration of the tank to help with seemingly endless
illnesses... I found that the increased water flow and cleaner water made a
great deal of difference. As for that, I would also suggest you set up a
quarantine tank if you don't already have one. When I fish becomes sick remove
it from the display tank and move it to a separate tank. This removes the
chances of the problems spreading to the other tankmates. Also a sick piranha is
more likely to be picked at by others, which isn't fair to the sick fish.>
also what does that mean when they float near the top or they float kinda
sideways not completely only a little bit and it doesn't happen all the time.
<When fish that don't normally float near the top are seen there, that
typically is a sign that their isn't enough oxygen in the water for the fish.
Oxygen levels are higher at the surface of the water where oxygen exchange
happens. This is a sign that you are not offering the right environment for
these fish. You will need to bump up the filtration on these fish, and offer
powerheads, and airstones/pumps to help with surface agitation to help increase
the oxygen exchange. I feel that the reason these fish are getting sick is that
the water quality is not up to the standards it needs to be. I suggest you check
out some of the piranha forums online and talk to the owners. You will no doubt
learn a great deal of info from them. A few places to start out with is
www.aquatiqterrors.com or www.piranhafury.com.
Both of these forums offer knowledgeable crew members specializing in
piranhas.>
thanks again
Katie:)
<Good luck with the fish, and hope they do get better. -Magnus>
Piranha Problems
I have had a 29 gallon tank with 2 red belly piranhas in it for about 2 and
a half years now. There are 2 filters, one just the regular whisper
filter and the other is a biological filter. One piranha is much bigger than the
other one and always has been because it gets to more of the food before the
smaller one. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed the smaller one looked very
malnutritioned and it would not eat.
<It does sound like he was outcompeted for food.>
My piranhas have been on a regular diet of beef heart for the most part since I
have had them.
<Beef heart is not an ideal food for any aquarium fish. The highly
saturated fats in this and other mammal and poultry meats are indigestible by
fish and will accumulate in the liver, possibly causing serious health concerns
down the road. Please consider using fish meats, like fresh salmon or
trout (preferably boneless!), cut it into manageable pieces and freeze before
feeding it to them. You could use prawns, cocktail shrimp, prepared
meaty fish foods (I like Ocean Nutrition's "Formula 1"), or prepare
your own frozen blend of such foods. Here's a link to a basic plan of
how to make your own foods (the article is reef-oriented, but will serve well to
steer you in the right direction in feeding any tank, just adjust to that tank's
needs): http://www.ozreef.org/diy/reef_food.html
.>
The small piranha was unresponsive when I would put my hand near the tank, and
that would normally make it swim away. He had no physical signs of
sickness other than looking very thin. I did around a 40% water change about 10
days ago. The water change did not help and to get straight to the
point, the small piranha died tonight.
<It could very well have been that he was outcompeted for food by the other
piranha, and simply starved, or it could have been internal parasites, reaction
to water conditions, etc. Too many variables to tell for certain.>
Now throughout this entire time, my bigger piranha has seemed very healthy and
has been eating consistently. However, when I found the small piranha
dead, I noticed that the bigger one was acting a bit lethargic.
<Ooh, not good to hear....>
I just did a 50% water change, and my water is fine,
<That's rather vague, can you tell us specific water parameters, especially
ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and pH?>
but I am very worried because my only piranha is darting back and forth, and
swimming to the top of the tank. He seems to be breathing fast too.
<Yikes, this sounds like a reaction to something in the water - did you
dechlorinate the new water? Did you match temperature and pH? Again,
water parameters will help determine what is going on.>
The only other option that I know of is to medicate the tank with Oxytetracycline. Should
I use it?
<I would not, not without knowing what you need to treat for, if anything. Again,
it sounds more like shock from something in the water from the water change. My
first guess would be chlorine poisoning, which is why I ask if you dechlorinated
- and are you sure you used the right amount, if you did? When you
refilled the tank, is it possible you used a receptacle that had held any
household cleaners? Have any possibly toxic foreign objects made
their way into the tank? Is all equipment functioning properly?>
What should I do next?
<If you did not dechlorinate the water, I would do another major water
change, replace with dechlorinated water of the same temperature and pH. If
you *did* dechlorinate, then we'll be back at the drawing board, hopefully after
you let us know your water parameters. It does clearly sound like
he's irritated from something in the water.>
I could definitely use your advice because I don't want to lose my last piranha. Thank
you very much in advance. ~Jeff~
<I do hope we can help you out, Jeff. Please get back to us, and
keep us updated. Wishing you well, -Sabrina>
Piranha tail injury
I purchased 2 gold (Spilo) piranhas from a fish store.
<This is Serrasalmus spilopleura, yes? I'm used to these being
called red-bellied piranha, so I don't know if we're thinking of the same
fish>
I did a little research on them, but after I got them I did some more and
realized it was a bad idea having two in the same tank. Sure enough,
after about 3 weeks in my 55 gallon the meaner of the 2 (always charging the
tank when I came around where as the other would hide) bit my other one in half.
<Yeowch! What a way to go! I guess I need not say that
it's always better to do all your research before getting the fish....>
When I first purchased him, he was in a tank with about 30 others so fins and
stuff were bit off. I've had him for about two months now (he's about 3 inches)
all the fins grew back except for the bottom half of his tail. It looks like it
was bit off at the end of his back bone, and I wanted to know if the bone just
takes longer to heal than fins or will it never grow back?
<Well, since the damage was so extensive, and it's had ample time to heal, it
may simply be that way the rest of his life. Give it some more time,
though, and just keep an eye on it. Consider it a battle trophy, not
a flaw ;) >
Since he's now in a tank all by himself except for a Pleco he doesn't bother
with,
<Lucky plec! Though seriously, the pleco's probably perfectly
safe, as long as the piranha's fed - as you've already observed him to be.>
I want him to be 100%. Also I was wondering how large my piranha will get in my
55 gallon.
<Well, FishBase.com says S. spilopleura gets up to 21cm (about 8.5 inches),
and I daresay I've never seen this species grow larger than that, so he'll
probably be fine in the 55, if he and the plec are the only inhabitants.
Please write back. Thank you
<You're welcome. -Sabrina>
Ken R.
Piranha with gill curl
I know Arowanas get this. I have bought a rare piranha. (Pygocentrus piraya)
And it has gill curl. I know it is not from me. The fish was 2 inches in size
when I gotten him, So I did not notice the gill curl in time. It is pretty
advanced now being that 1/3rd of the hard part is affected. What surgical
procedure do you recommend? If I cut all of it off it will show a good deal of
his gills. Or do I make relief cuts in the gill toward the head? Or a little of
both?
<Actually, neither of these. I would leave this animal as is. "Gill
curling" is almost always either a manifestation of genetic disposition or
a developmental anomaly. The last due to "poor water conditions", lack
of dissolved oxygen, nutritional deficiency... Not "correctable", and
likely more dangerous to cut the existing structure in hopes that it will
regenerate "properly" than the possibility of damaging, killing the
specimen>
As him being a piranha. A feisty one at that. What tranqs are easy for a hobbyist
to obtain?
<tranqs?>
I have never done any surgery. So if you could give me a step by step
instructions that would be great.
Thank you very much.
<Bob Fenner who would "live" with the curled gill cover.>
Recurring Piranha Fungus... something/s missing in set-up, care
Good morning,
<And to you>
We have a 30 gallon tank with rocks, a filter, a heater, and a red belly piranha. We originally had two fish, but a nasty bout of fungus killed one
of them.
<Unusual... if your water is suitable at all... mid to low pH, not too hard, heated, cycled, filtered... Piranhas are by and large tough, disease-resistant>
Since then, the survivor fish (Ali) is on his third bout of fungus in two years. I keep Maracyn-Two and Maroxy at home. Two days ago, Ali's had
a patch on his eye and a tuft of fungus near his fin. The fish store once told me that adding some marine salt helps so I added one tablespoon two
days in a row. Yesterday he was really slowing down, so I medicated with Maracyn-Two, because his symptoms most resembled the description on that
box. This morning he has fin rot, which seems more like the Maroxy symptoms. Which medicine should I use?
<Ideally none>
Can I switch now that I started with the Maracyn? How can I help prevent this?
<Let's review your system... Have you read the piranha article, FAQs posted on WWM?>
The fish store suggested that feeding him live fish might be causing it
<Yes>
so we feed him defrosted silversides and try to clean up anything he doesn't eat. Is there anything you can do in a
fresh water tank kind of like adding live rock to a salt water tank? We try to change a couple of gallons of water every two weeks or so.
Thanks for your help,
Vanessa and Frank
<In this size tank... you should have redundant circulation and filtration... Do you monitor aspects of water quality? Much not stated in your mail here... Do see WWM and write back if you have further questions. Bob Fenner>
Piranha Questions
Sorry to bother you again, but you've been most helpful. . . The room that my tank is set up in unfortunately had plumbing problems in
the ceiling from the bathroom above and was exposed to mold. . . about a week later I noticed similar growth in the tank and have since lost three of my
five previously healthy baby piranha- what appeared to be a very rapid fungus growth on the fins/eyes. They died during treatment.
<Mmm, highly unlikely that this is related to the room mold problem>
The two left are about 1" and seemingly very healthy. I have since transferred them (temporarily) to a community tank w/ similar water
conditions- minus the growth. They're actually more social in this MUCH smaller tank and are accepting more types of food as well. . . although a
couple fish belonging to this tank have already fallen victim to some nasty
fin bites! At this size the piranha seem to have similar mannerisms to their tetra relatives, although their relatives are about 2x the size!
<Yes>
I'm thinking about leaving them in the community tank for a while longer to get them accepting other foods and to be sure they're healthy before
returning them to their larger tank. Is this ok if everybody seems to socialize well for now? There are tetras and some aggressive
Gouramis (male/female) in there now w/ them (a Rose Barb too, but I think he'll be
gone shortly because they've been picking on him. . .) everybody else is fine.
<Mmm, well... you'll likely lose some livestock...>
Eventually I will have to transfer them back to the proper size tank since they're growing- I've treated the room and have done my best at restoring
the tank (changed water/vacuumed/treated w/ Melafix/increased flow & aeration) is there anything else I can do?
<I would leave off with the "Fix" material. More trouble than it's potentially worth>
It's been two days so far since they've been out and I've cleaned up the tank- how long should I wait before
returning them?
<A couple weeks.>
I would also like to add another 3 fish once I know the tank and current fish are healthy, and I'm assuming this is best done while they're this
small (??)
<Yes>
I want to keep a healthy shoal of 5- I've already owned a single piranha in the past and want to see the difference. . .
THANKS,
Aja
<Much more natural behavior, interesting social interaction in a group... How big is this tank? You need at least 25 gallons per individual... Bob Fenner>
Re: Piranha Questions
Well "their" tank is 30 gallons for now. They're 1" at the moment.
<For five piranha of this size... dangerous. Do keep them well fed...>
I have a 50 gallon designated for them once they're a bit bigger and will be investing in a large enough aquarium for them when the time comes to move
from the 50 (I'm assuming that'll be sometime next year?)
<Perhaps sooner...>
I'm sure I'll lose some fish while I'm waiting for the tank to clear up and be safe. . .is there anything else I can do to be sure this won't happen
again?
<Redundant filtration, circulation...>
The water conditions were not great (hard, and low pH) but everything else Ammonia and Nitrates, etc. was at 0. What do you think would've caused
this? They were perfectly healthy for a week and rapidly deteriorated over
the course of two days. I know they're fragile at this size, but. . .
Thanks,
Aja
<Perhaps some unknown change in water quality, maybe something "got into" the system... an aerosol, cooking oil cover on the water, window cleaner... Bob Fenner>
Piranha Illness 10/2/05
Hi! I have a Red-Bellied Piranha that I have had for 5 years. He has done
well up to this point. Just recently, I've noticed that he has been swimming on
his side and upside-down. I was afraid that he might have something like gill
flukes. I'd hate to have him die if I can do something about it. Thanks!
<Mmm, not gill flukes or any pathogenic/biological cause unless you've
introduced the vector through feeding contaminated food/s. More likely
environmental... I would (very quickly) check your water quality and whatever it
shows, start large daily water changes (like 30%) with water that this fish
lives in (soft, acidic, low nutrient load, warm). Bob Fenner>
Piranha injury 12/14/05
Hi! I have a 5'' red-bellied piranha that has a swollen chin. It has large
bumps on it's chin as well. I think it is because it has been running into the
glass often,
<This often happens... Piranhas are quite "skittish" species... particularly if
housed alone (most are schooling fishes) and rub their faces, run into tanks...>
but I'm not sure. I'm wondering if there is anything that I need to do to treat
it, and if I can prevent it from happening again.
<Most treatments I'd avoid... more risk than they're worth in this case>
I was thinking about putting more plants in the aquarium to help it feel more
secure so it won't bump into the glass all the time, but am still not sure that
it isn't some kind of disease. Thanks for your help!
<The plants are a very good idea (do watch your hands if/when in this tank...
Bob Fenner>
Piranha cloudy eyes 2/6/06
Hi,
<Hello>
I just setup a Piranha tank with three to start off. The tank has been setup
for months with other fish, witched
<"The house began to twitch...">
I removed to another tank. after acclimating to the new tank I noticed that two
of them had cloudy eyes. They seem to be acting fine and all three are eating
prawn. Could this be from
the transporting them from the pet store to my home and the stress of it all?
<Yes>
any suggestions on what I can or should do, looks like they have a cataracts or
something. The tank size is a 29 gal high, temp is 75 degrees
with plenty if plants. I do have hood lights but I am using a top floating plant
to defuse some of the light.
Best regards.
William
<Mmm, what is the water quality here? I suspect this is where you're off. Simply
fixing pH, alkalinity, raising temp. will likely "do it" here. See WWM re
serrasalmines. Bob Fenner>
Senior Piranha 1/8/07
Hello Mr. Fenner,
<Sorry Denise, not Bob--just Pufferpunk here--hope I'll do...>
I was reading over your FAQ's page. I have had "Fred" my red bellied piranha
for approximately 16 years. As of recent, I noticed him getting a spurt of
swimming energy and then all the sudden falling over on his side. It is almost
like he can not keep his balance. He will lay up against the side of the tank
for hours. He breaths "heavy and fast". Not sure if this is common in
piranhas. I want to help him, if there is something I can do. I do frequent
water changes, keep close eye on the temp, and make sure the filters are cleaned
at least once to twice a week. Is there something more I can do? It is not
like I can put him on a leash and take him to the vet? Any suggestions?
<I'd have to guess old age with this fella. Quite a feat, keeping a fish that
long! Just keep doing what you're doing & keep him as comfortable as
possible. Might want to back off feedings a bit, as his metabolism is slowing
down. ~PP>
Denise in PA
Piranha With Gill Cover Deformity
Hello its Tara here. I contacted you before about the set up of my new tank and
like you suggested we let the tank cycle for longer and now have our red
bellies. When we got them they didn't have any color but now have red bottom
fins They are about 4 cm long now so should they have a red belly by now We
have been giving them a varied diet. Also one of them has a slight stuck out
gill, we asked the pet store if this was an illness but they said it is
probably a slight deformity( I don't think they have a clue) so is there
something I should look up and check?
< I happen to agree with the store. Deformed gill covers are not that unusual in
captive bred fish. Most of the time they are culled out before they are
shipped.>
Other than that they are fine and I have no other worries. While they are small
we have put in a Pleco to help with the cleaning of the tank. He is massive I
was just wondering if they will eventually end up eating him?
< They love fins and if they think he is a food item then they will continue to
pick at him. He may go into hiding and only come out at night when the red
bellies are asleep.>
Lastly, one more silly question when do they start getting their teeth or are
they just to small to see at the moment?
< The teeth are in, they are just small.-Chuck>
Thanks again. Tara
Old piranha – 07/18/07
Hello!
<Hi.>
My husband and I have a piranha that we believe to be about 10 years old. He's
kept in a 55 gallon tank and is the only fish in there. He has always been in
good health, but about three weeks ago he started swimming facing down. Then a
little over a week ago he started to lay on the bottom of his tank and not swim
at all. His coloring is still good, but he barely moves during the day. We
noticed that at night he tends to swim around a lot more. Could it be possible
that the water in his tank is too hot? We have AC in our house, so his tank is
usually as warm as 82-84 degrees.
<Temperature is ok, 86 F is the upper limit for piranhas, 79 F the lower limit.>
Is this what is causing him to act so sick or do you suppose he has some other
illness or is simply getting old?
<Likely the latter, while they can live for more than 20 years, 10 years is not
a small age for a captive specimen. Also check your nitrates and pH to exclude
those two environmental factors. You may want to introduce some floating plants
to make him feel more comfortable during day. Usually they live in small groups,
but I would not add further specimens to your old fish. Have a look at:
http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/piranhafaqs1.htm.>
Thank you!
<You are welcome. Good luck with your piranha. Marco.>
Red belly piranha, hlth., beh.
~ 01/12/09
Hello I was wondering if you could help me with a worry
of mine.
I have four red bellies about 5 in in length and they have been
doing fine up until about 4 days ago. They are acting normally but they lose
their vibrant red bellies at night I never noticed it before maybe it's been
that way at night but I never noticed it. Their water temp Is maintained at 82 F
and their water ammonia and nitrate levels are normal. I did however take out a
piece of driftwood that sit in the middle of the tank but they were too big to
swim into it so they never used it. Any ideas?
Joel
<Joel, it is perfectly
normal for Pygocentrus nattereri to change colour at night. They also change
colours as they mature. It is quite possible that they've always had different
colours at night, but they're getting to an age now where these differences are
become more pronounced. You're keeping your fish a little on the warm side for
this species, though piranhas from
the rather warm Rio Xingu do indeed like
things a bit hotter than otherwise. If you turn down the thermostat a notch, not
only will there be more oxygen in the water, but your fish will also live longer
and be less aggressive towards one another! The 23-25 C, 73-77 F is just fine
for them.
If in doubt, visit Fishbase to check the temperature preferences
of your fish; for some reason I cannot fathom, a crazy proportion of aquarists
keep their fish far too hot, wasting money and compromising health. For what
it's worth rather than worrying about bogwood, use plants to provide shade for
these light-phobic fish. Tall plants, such as giant Vallisneria and big
Java
ferns are ideal, and floating plants with long roots like Amazon Frogbit work
very well too. Piranhas are primarily dusk/dawn fish, and they despise bright
light. Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Red belly piranha ~
01/12/09
Thanks Neale I appreciate the help! A lot of websites for
piranhas suggest 80+degrees but I see the logic in your explanation. This might
be a silly question but is it at all possible for a red devil cichlid to cohabit
a large enough tank? And if so what size is needed for such a thing?
Joel
<Hi Joel. There are very few Piranha web sites I trust. Too many people keep
these wonderful fish badly. Like Rottweilers and pit-bull terriers, they have
this image of brutality and so brutal people end up keeping them.
But just
like those dogs, kept properly, Piranhas are fascinating and rewarding pets (as
well as very beautiful, in their way). Anyway, one of the best sites is the
Oregon Piranha Exotic Fish Exhibit site, a semi-academic site with a ton of good
information. Here's their Pygocentrus nattereri page. They report wild fish
tolerating remarkably cool conditions, for short periods at least, but do
recommend low 20s C (low to mid 70s F) as the optimal temperature, and this
meshes with what Fishbase reports too. By the way, don't change the temperature
all at once, but just knock it down a degree every couple of weeks, and watch
how your fish react.
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/piranha038/nattereri.html
Now, as for tankmates. I have seen Piranhas cohabit with Convict cichlids, but
what we see in these situations tends to be a dominant cichlid that terrifies a
small group of Piranhas. Because Piranhas are nervous at the best of times, I
just don't see any mileage in that, and would recommend keeping the Piranhas on
their own. Sometimes Suckermouth catfish like Plecs coexist, but that usually
depends on the Plec being their first, so the baby Piranhas grow up with it,
accepting it as part of the furniture (rather than food!). Adding a catfish to
an established tank is just too risky, and I don't need to tell you that
Piranhas have a lot of firepower at their disposal should they decide to turn on
a tankmate. When all is said and done, my advice is to keep 'em alone. A nicely
decorated Piranha tank is a thing of beauty, just as it is. Cheers, Neale.>
Re: Red belly piranha
Thanks for all the help Neale you've helped a ton
Joel
<Happy to help.
Cheers, Neale.>