Tank size and amount of Piranha

[Killabeas]

I have heard a few different things about how big of a tank is need for a certain amount of Piranha's. I am new to keeping pirahnas and would like to hear what some of the more experience hobbyists have to say. So, what is the recomended gallons per fish? Any help would be appreciated, thank you in advance.

 

[jp80911]

it depends on what type of piranha you are going to keep. the footprint of the tank is more important than the volume of the water.
I would assume you'll want to go with a pygo, typically a red belly to start with. if you are going solo then I'd say a 40g breeder as minimum, if a shoal of 3-5 then a 75g would minimum (some will say 75g is too small for 5 and I agree it'll be a little tight but should be ok for a while before you really need to upgrade). try to avoid any tank with 12" width only, like 55g. if possible get 18" or wider.
typically is 20-25g per fish when you have a large enough tank (like 75g and up, but 90 won't do much since it's the same footprint as 75g only taller, not too useful). but if you are talking about piraya then you'll need a much bigger tank then reds and caribes. I'd say 40-60 gallon per fish and would recommend a 120g as minimum (due to the 2ft width) if you want to keep one solo for life, or better yet a 180g. since they get up to 24", you may have to end up with something wider but that takes a very long time.

if you are looking into serra. then you can get by most of them with 75g unless you get a very large specimen as they grow very slowly. some keeps them in 125g, some keeps them in 180g.

if you have the space and money, it is always the bigger the better.
and make sure you max out the filtration too.

 

[EsoxAngler]

1 in a 30, 3 in a 75, 5 in a 125.

 

[Armand]

it depends on what type of piranha you are going to keep. the footprint of the tank is more important than the volume of the water.
I would assume you'll want to go with a pygo, typically a red belly to start with. if you are going solo then I'd say a 40g breeder as minimum, if a shoal of 3-5 then a 75g would minimum (some will say 75g is too small for 5 and I agree it'll be a little tight but should be ok for a while before you really need to upgrade). try to avoid any tank with 12" width only, like 55g. if possible get 18" or wider.
typically is 20-25g per fish when you have a large enough tank (like 75g and up, but 90 won't do much since it's the same footprint as 75g only taller, not too useful). but if you are talking about piraya then you'll need a much bigger tank then reds and caribes. I'd say 40-60 gallon per fish and would recommend a 120g as minimum (due to the 2ft width) if you want to keep one solo for life, or better yet a 180g. since they get up to 24", you may have to end up with something wider but that takes a very long time.

if you are looking into serra. then you can get by most of them with 75g unless you get a very large specimen as they grow very slowly. some keeps them in 125g, some keeps them in 180g.

if you have the space and money, it is always the bigger the better.
and make sure you max out the filtration too.

well, Jp has pretty much covered the whole thing....

 

[Diogenes]

well, Jp has pretty much covered the whole thing....

 

[Zander_The_RBP]

well, Jp has pretty much covered the whole thing....

yep preety much covered.

also you can generaly keep more piranhas in a large tank if you have overkill filtration so bascialy normaly you could put 6 RBP's in a 125 with adaquate filtration but if you go way overkill you may be able to squeeze in 8

this only works for 100+ gallon tanks because in smaller tanks size of the tank is the limiting factor to shoal size while in larger tanks there is generaly enough space for each piranha, its generaly the filtration (and water changes!) thats the limiting factor

forgot to mention this is for pygo's only

 

[paopanlilio]

hehehe

whoever gets to read the post first covers it all

 

[The Real 118]

its not realy the gallons it the layout they need long wide tanks when adults but when babys they can be in a 55 for a short while but will need bigger. i would recomend a shoal of at least 6 cuz it is nice looking and help them pick the domanit ones in smaller shoals u could get some death over fights. so a 120 or 125 with 6 piranhas (red bellied piranhas)