Feeder Fish

[StIcKy~RiCe]

how big of a tank would you need for convict breeding?

not big...I got 12 convict in 55gallon. but you can get a 30-40gallon breeder tank.

 

[jredner]

Well, I went with guppies and I've got one pregnant female and today I went to look at the tank and I think I scared her a little bit and out popped a fry. It's the first time I've ever seen a fish give birth. Pretty sweet.

 

[Trevlev]

Well me and my roomates have 2 5-6" and keep 3 convicts and a goldfish in the tank at all time and they eat a goldfish every 2-4 days. We also feed them shrimp and dew worms everyday. Plus we have 5 small piranhas at around 2 inches and they eat 2 small feeder goldfish everymorning plus they have a diet that includes bloodworms, frozen shrimp, and pellets.

 

[drewmprs]

my p's will dust off 20 small goldfish in an hour no problem if i don't feed them for a few days. I have to keep goldfish and guppies in the tank because the p's will start nipping at each other if they are alone in the tank. Guppies tend to last quite a while.

 

[_Sushi_]

Goldfish aren't the best thing to feed your piranha.

"Goldfish, minnows and other members of the Cyprinid family (Carp-like fish) should be avoided, as these fish contain growth-inhibiting hormones (Thiaminase/Vitamine B1 inhibitors) that could negatively affect the fish's health and development."
COURTESY OF www.piranha-info.com​

You're better off to go with convicts or tetras, or other like fishes.

Plus, the conditions that goldfish are kept in the stores are encouraging disease, and that's the biggest reason "feeder" goldfish don't live past a few days.

However, if goldfish are what you prefer, be sure to feed a balanced diet, including veggis, since goldies are omnivorous (and appreciate a snack of peas about once or twice a month) and quarentine, the ones that don't look so good after a week, cull them (flush them, don't feed)

Feeding live is complicated, but, as I stated before, it does have it's benefits, and if I can ever get my convicts breeding, whatever my fiance doesn't keep, our piranhas get.

 

[dzb912]

jredner , "Feed live"(and enjoy) far and few between , It will not interest you for to long watching the Piranha eat .

i agree

 

[jredner]

Momma guppy gave birth to about 30 babies and 6 were DOA. All the rest are looking good and should make a nice snack in a few weeks. Since I'm trying to build up some stock, I'm going to keep all the ladies and three of the guys. In a few months there should be a continuous supply.

 

[King Edward]

My Cons OWN my RBP.......I keep cons cause i like them, they were my first fish, but what do you do with a fish that shags and shags till theres no room left and they start killing each other? Feed them to my RBP I though. Not likely, he gets to eat wht the cons leave....

 

[puz84]

As you can see many people have different food sources for their piranhas. If you indeed want to go to live fish, the most important is to keep them disease free. I personally try to mix up the diet of my piranhas because its essential for them to get all their nutrients. As one already said you can breed your own feeders which is a great idea I think. But I never got into that because I have a small fish store a few blocks from my apartment where the owner is very very reliable and experienced. So in turn, I feel confident buying feeders from him instead. It will all come down to what you think is best for your fish, and only time will tell if you made the right decisions or not. GL.

 

[JD7.62]

If fat heads are so bad then why do DieselMacks cichla look and are indeed so healthy?

My armatus eats only goldfish bought from petsmart and has grown over five inches in less then 2.5months....explain that.