[Hannibal]

I have been experimenting with dithers/feeders for my tank. I threw 8 guppies in the tank today and the Spilo jumped on them as soon as they hit the water. Grabbed them right by the tail and started shaking. Like my old Reds used to do. But whenever he struck he didnt miss, like I Reds would chase a lot and finally catch after a while, my spilo just sat there and kinda wited for them to come to him and he just darted and ate the whole tail. leaving them pointed straight up with their face in the gravel. SO yeah there is the typical Spilo behaviour.

Is this how its always gonna be? Will he ever eat the whole fish?

When should I expect to see some color. I am feeding cichlid gold with blood worms and brine shrimp. He is just silver with black spots. Its an obvious Serr though.

there is also something really peculiar I have never noticed in a piranha before. His belly isn't rounded on the bottom. its kinda like he can eat alot and his belly expands. But right at the bottom of the belly there is like a thin rim on the bottom. Kinda looks like this.:

oooo
ooo
I

Does this make sense to anyone?? SOrry I dont have a digital camera

 

[piranha 13]

How big is he?

 

[Hannibal]

1.5 maybe 2 inches

 

[Grosse Gurke]

My little spilo eats the entire feeder, but he is a little bigger than yours. You also dont need to put that many in at once, if you only put in one or 2, there is a better chance he will eat it all and not just kill it.
Also, they start to get color when they are about 2.5 to 3 inches.
And lastly, I have no idea what your are talking about with the belly thing.

 

[Hannibal]

YEah I could throw a few guppies in at a time but I can get 8 for a buck or pay 19cents for each. I just end up taking the bodies out. and its cool for him to get some exercise

 

[Grosse Gurke]

I have a 10 gallon feeder tank that comes in very handy, if you want to feed live, you may want to look into it.

 

[Hannibal]

Does anyone know what I am talking about with that little rim ar the piranhas belly? I;ve never seen it before.

 

[bobme]

at lest he is eating them

 

[Sir Nathan XXI]

use as small of feeders as possible then he will have no choice but to swallow whole

 

[Judazzz]

there is also something really peculiar I have never noticed in a piranha before. His belly isn't rounded on the bottom. its kinda like he can eat alot and his belly expands. But right at the bottom of the belly there is like a thin rim on the bottom. Kinda looks like this.:

oooo
ooo
I

Lol, I'm not sure wheter I can make anything out of this... :

:

Is this a frontal view, with the "I"-thingy being the bottom of his belly? And does it run along his belly-line?

It's very clearly visible in this picture (source unknow: note my mad Photoshop skillz

...):

If so, it's (probably) his abdominal serrae, which (almost?) all species have, some more, and some less prominentand and which gives the family its name": Serrasalmidae = Serrated Salmon family.

 

[Hannibal]

thank you, that is exactly what it looks like. Mine is a little more prominent though. But that pic helps a lot.. seeing the fish head on would be even better but that pic helps a lot thanks man