Piranha Feeding

[Rabid538]

Hey guys, I just have a quick question.
Is it alright to keep a piranha on a diet consisting mostly of raw, ground buffalo meat? The meat is very lean and I give it as a treat but I'm not sure if this can be given regularly.
Thank you.

 

[Mack&Cass]

Fish typically have a hard time with red meat fats, so maybe as an extremely occasional treat it would be okay, but not on a regular basis. There tends to be not enough nutrients in meat. They should be fed a fish diet, you can get frozen whole fish (smelts or sardines) at your local supermarket for cheap.

Mackenzie

 

[mitchrobot]

Fish typically have a hard time with red meat fats, so maybe as an extremely occasional treat it would be okay, but not on a regular basis. There tends to be not enough nutrients in meat. They should be fed a fish diet, you can get frozen whole fish (smelts or sardines) at your local supermarket for cheap.

Mackenzie

great response :clap:

i could write a book on predatory fish diet, was big on it back in my fish keeping days. as said whole fish would be the best as far as frozen/fresh foods. that way your fish get the skin, bones, guts etc etc. also i would recommend getting em on a staple of high quality pellet foot, Omega 1 IMO is the best hands down, my RBPs ate it with no issues.

frozen whole shrimp, crayfish, earthworms and other inverts is also good. RBs arent picky at all, and will eat just about anything meaty with gusto, no reason to stick with teh heavier meats when theres so many other healthier things they can eat (not to mention red meats stink up water right quick)

 

[Toirtis]

I will third this...as mitchrobot said, whole aquatic animals and a good pellet is what you want to stick with...a little more expensive, but only a little, and far, far better for your fish.

 

[Rabid538]

Thank you for all of your responses! I was looking to get something different than the frozen brine shrimp cubes since they are so expensive. So now I know to avoid red meats and to pick up some white meat fish next time I go grocery shopping.

great response :clap:

i could write a book on predatory fish diet, was big on it back in my fish keeping days. as said whole fish would be the best as far as frozen/fresh foods. that way your fish get the skin, bones, guts etc etc. also i would recommend getting em on a staple of high quality pellet foot, Omega 1 IMO is the best hands down, my RBPs ate it with no issues.

frozen whole shrimp, crayfish, earthworms and other inverts is also good. RBs arent picky at all, and will eat just about anything meaty with gusto, no reason to stick with teh heavier meats when theres so many other healthier things they can eat (not to mention red meats stink up water right quick)

I have some shrimp pellets that I feed occasionally, it doesn't have Omega 1 though so I'll look for one that does. Do I get the earthworms from a fish and game store or can I get them from outside? I know with T's you would never feed them something that was found outside due to pesticides and diseases, but does this apply to fish as well? If I soak the worms in water with a garlic clove would this be enough to kill any parasites?

 

[Toirtis]

Do I get the earthworms from a fish and game store or can I get them from outside? I know with T's you would never feed them something that was found outside due to pesticides and diseases, but does this apply to fish as well?

Outside works just fine, so long as you can be certain that where you are harvesting from has been pesticide-free for at least 2-3 years....otherwise, baitshop worms work just fine.

If I soak the worms in water with a garlic clove would this be enough to kill any parasites?

Not necessary...I feed several pounds of WC nightcrawlers each year to my fish, and know hundreds of other aquarists that do the same, and none of us 'deparasitise' and none have had any issues.

As far as a good pellet to feed your Ps, go with New Life Spectrum...best food on the market...I know guys with WC black Ps that take it readily.

 

[Rabid538]

Okay, that makes it a lot easier if I can just get some from outside. We have never used pesticides so it should be fine.
I will check out New Life Spectrum, thank you for your help. ^_^