New to Rhom

[Epok]

Currently in a 90g bowfront tank. Ive only had him one week. He is about 3"-4" long. He is very skittish and only eats when I am not around. From what I have read online, to get him used to me I should take out his hiding spots and starve him for 2 days so he gets used to eating and being out while I am there. So I took out the drift wood and I didnt starve him cause I think that is cruel. Any help here? I know from rbps they were skittish for a while, then all the sudden they became very interactive when I entered the room. Will it be the same?

[m_class2g]

its what you said. you had him for a week only. taking out the hiding spots are good. i owned many serr piranhas before. elongatus, rhom, gold spilo, manuelli. got them all from big als many many yrs ago. the most aggressive was the spilo. it would attack me through the glass every time im in front of the tank. even though you hear elongs are the most aggressive, it differs from each p's personality. give yours some time and hope hes an aggressive one! its a hit or miss with "aggressive" labled fish. the most aggressive p i ever had was a solitary red belly p!!! the thing was nuts! glass banger like a red devil cichlid.

[Epok]

ok thanks but what aout starving? I dont agree with it but I see it EVERYWHERE lol

[Momobobo]

Well, morally I don't exactly support it. But in the long term most hobbyist use it to switch their fish to a more nutricious (and affordable) foods. As well, alot of fish can go 2weeks to a month (from what I've heard) no problem...If I see my fish come up and beg for food I feel bad not to oblige :\

[King-eL]

Starving a fish for 2 days is nothing. Feeding it everyday in a 90g tank can also be cruel as you're polluting the water fast. 1-2 days skipping the meal can be good to a predatory fish to let it fully digest the food. Fish that eat a lot will become fat and fat fish will have a short lifespan. You only had it for a week so that's just normal as it's still getting use to the new environment. Once settle in it will swim out more and will try to attack you. To tell you the truth all fish that we keep in a glass box regardless of the size is cruel especially those that are being taken in the wild. We human are just doing it for our own enjoyment.

Ask Hugo as he knows piranhas more than anyone.

[Epok]

Starving a fish for 2 days is nothing. Feeding it everyday in a 90g tank can also be cruel as you're polluting the water fast. 1-2 days skipping the meal can be good to a predatory fish to let it fully digest the food. Fish that eat a lot will become fat and fat fish will have a short lifespan. You only had it for a week so that's just normal as it's still getting use to the new environment. Once settle in it will swim out more and will try to attack you. To tell you the truth all fish that we keep in a glass box regardless of the size is cruel especially those that are being taken in the wild. We human are just doing it for our own enjoyment.

Ask Hugo as he knows piranhas more than anyone.

Thanks man. Like I said I had rbps before and I just wanted to see what was the norm with them. I had to feed my rbps every other day otherwise they attacked the weaker fish.

I'll try to feed every 2-3 days then.

[King-eL]

Thanks man. Like I said I had rbps before and I just wanted to see what was the norm with them. I had to feed my rbps every other day otherwise they attacked the weaker fish.

I'll try to feed every 2-3 days then.

Rhoms are solitary piranhas and will attack other fish. Actually all Serrasalmus sp are solitary piranhas except the Serrasalmus geryi which can be school together. I got a 8" elongatus and it's a glass banger.

[Epok]

Elongatus was the one I was looking for :S settled for a rhom

[H .]

90 gal tank is too big for a 3"-4" rhom.