Piranha

Although most people associate piranhas with vicious, biting fish from a jungle river, these animals are more complex than their infamous reputation suggests. The rivers of South America are home to a diverse group of fish known as piranhas. They are fierce predators thanks to their powerful jaws and sharp teeth, but their habitat and behavior also provide an intriguing window into the intricate world of aquatic life.

Although piranhas are often associated with being vicious feeders, their diet and personalities actually vary quite a bit. Some species don’t actively hunt; instead, they are scavengers that eat dead or dying fish. Their varied diet aids in their adaptation to various environmental factors and food sources.

In their natural habitat, piranhas play a significant role. They support the health of their aquatic environment and aid in the management of fish populations. Piranhas can be a fascinating addition to a home aquarium, but they need particular conditions and care to thrive. Maintaining their health and happiness in captivity requires an understanding of their natural needs and behaviors.

Discovering the world of piranhas can teach you a lot about the delicate balance of nature and the adaptability of aquatic life, whether you’re thinking about keeping them in your tank or you’re just interested in learning more about these fascinating fish. You can appreciate piranhas for their distinct role in the aquatic world as well as their intimidating reputation if you are prepared and have the necessary knowledge.

Piranha habitat

Habitat of piranhas

Habitat of piranhas

Habitat of piranhas

A family of freshwater fish belonging to the order Characins, piranhas are found in the rivers of the Amazon, Parana, Uruguay, Essequibo, and Orinoco basins in South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Ecuador, etc.). In floodplain lakes, piranhas are equally at ease in rivers and channels.

Appearance of piranhas – description

The appearance of piranhas

Among the most hostile freshwater fish are the piranha family. Tightly spaced on both sides of the jaw are two rows of pointed, triangular teeth. The ventral fins are short, while the anal and dorsal fins are long. The pupils are dark and the eyes are big. When biting, the razor-sharp teeth in the jaws close seamlessly, resembling teeth on a saw.

Picture of a piranha

Compared to males, female piranhas are bigger and thicker. The color of men is brighter.

Typically, piranhas are red, blue, green, brown, silver, or black in hues.

Depending on the species and conditions of confinement, piranhas can live anywhere from four to twenty-five years (larger ones live longer).

Interesting video story

Types of piranha

Redfin Miley (Myloplus rubripinnis), Müller& Troschel, 1844.

Redfin mile image

The anal fin of this kind of piranha is reddish in color and has a silvery-gray hue. There are fish with reddish-gold spots on their bodies and a reddish-belly. The male’s anal fin features a notch and a lengthy outer braid.

Mileus starry is a synonym.

Body length: 10 to 25 cm; rarely longer than 15 cm in aquariums.

Water parameters include: pH between 6.5 and 7.0, dKH<1 °, dgh up to 5 °, and t from 22 to 27 0 C.

Rivers in Guyana, Suriname, and the Amazon serve as habitat.

Red pacu (Piaractus brachypomus), Cuvier, 1818.

Red pacu image

The red pacu’s primary body color is silvery. The fins and lower abdomen are red in color. Along the caudal fin’s edge is a dark stripe.

Nuts make up the majority of the diet in nature. An aquarium with a capacity of at least 200 liters is needed to maintain a red pacu.

Colossoma bidens, two-toothed colossoma, and red-breasted pacu are synonyms.

Body length: not more than 50 cm in aquariums, but up to 80 cm.

Water parameters: pH between 6.0 and 7.2, dKH< 2 °, t from 26 to 30 0 C, and dGH up to 14 °.

Food is omnivorous but contains very little meat.

Maximum life expectancy is 28 years.

Amazon River basin is the habitat.

Brown pacu (Colossoma macropomum), Cuvier, 1816.

Brown pacu image

A species of piranha whose body is colored black, gray, or brown. This fish has an external appearance similar to that of piranhas; its body is tall and compressed at the sides, and its eyes are big. Fat makes up around 10% of the body mass. The fish’s teeth are remarkably similar to human teeth because they are square in shape. The pacu bites through the victim’s body, tearing off pieces of it, as opposed to piercing it with fangs and tearing it apart. With its jaws, the fish can easily crack nuts.

The juvenile brown pacu eats zooplankton, insects, and snails, while the adult fish mostly eat plants. Brown pacu typically live alone. Until they reach puberty, juveniles remain in the river’s dark waters. Brown Pak is widely used in aquaculture, has a strong immune system, and can withstand minimal water mineralization.

Body length: more than 100 cm, up to 70 cm.

Water parameters: pH between 6.0 and 7.2, dkh < 2 °, dgh to 14 °, and t from 26 to 30 0 s.

You can expect to live for 20 to 25 years.

Habitat: Basin of the Amazon and Orinoko rivers.

Flag piranha (Catoprion Mento), Cuvier, 1819.

Its body is an oblong shape, compressed silver on the sides, and green in color at the back. Near the flag piranha’s gill covers, there is a tiny red patch. The fins exhibit transparency. the anal fin’s first rays, forming an elongated shape. There is a tiny black dot at the base of the tail. Among the characteristics, a notably large lower jaw stands out as being present in practically all pirania species.

Banner Because piranhas are predatory fish, you shouldn’t keep one in a public aquarium because larger species will probably lose their scales and fins and smaller fish will be eaten.

Similar terms include Mylesinus macropterus, Wimpel Piranha, Pennant Piranha, and Serrasalmus mento.

Maximum length of body: 15 cm.

Water parameters: pH between 5.5 and 7.5, dKH< 1°, dGH up to 15°, and t from 22 to 25 0 C.

The average lifespan is ten to twelve years.

Habitat: the river basins of the Amazon, Orinoko, Essect, and Supreme Paraguay.

Moon metynnis (Metynnis luna), Cope, 1878.

Image of Lunar Metinnis

This species’ representatives are extremely tall, silvery, and have a reddish patch behind the gill cover. Male anal fins are shaped like a veil, while female anal fins are reddish. At one and a half years old, they mature. Fish known as metinnis are herbivorous and capable of severely harming or destroying plants. They enjoy eating lettuce and cabbage leaves.

Maximum length of body: 25 cm.

Water parameters: pH between 5.0 and 6.8, dKH< 1°, dGH up to 15°, and t between 26 and 28 0 C.

Amazon River basin is the habitat.

Slender piranha (Serrasalmus elongates), Kner, 1858.

Skinny piranha picture

The narrow piranha has a silvery-gray body with small pockmarks and a broad black border around the base of its tail. Very aggressive species. Young fish can start injuring each other when they reach sizes of 1.5 to 2 cm.

The body of the fish is elongated, which is how it got its name. It can eat the fins of slow-moving fish in community aquariums, which is why large, active fish are kept with them, and ideally in a school in a species aquarium.

Serrasalmus elongatus is a synonym.

Maximum length of body: 30 cm.

Water parameters: pH between 6.2 and 7.2, dKH< 2°, dGH up to 14°, and t from 26 to 28 0 C.

Habitat: River basins of the Amazon and Orinoco.

Nutterer"s piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), Kner, 1858.

The piranha photo by Nutterer

Also known as "saicanga". This species of Piranha received its name in honor of the Austrian scientist Johann Natterer. The juveniles of this species have a very bright bluish body color. Chest and paired fins are red, caudal fin is black with a wide blue vertical stripe. Back is dark. After 8 months, the fish changes color and becomes gray-silver, the sides turn pink, the spots fade or disappear altogether, but small golden sparkles appear. The anal fin becomes lighter, and with the onset of spawning it becomes completely red. During this period, the length of the Piranha should exceed 8 cm. The upper row of teeth is smaller than the lower row. Females of Natterer"s Piranha are slightly larger and thicker than males. The keel of the abdomen of the male looks like the Latin letter V from the front, and like a U in females. The shape of the anal fin of the male is pointed, and that of the female is rounded.

Similar words: Common Piranha.

Maximum length of body: 60 cm; average length: 35 cm.

Water parameters: pH between 6.2 and 7.2, dKH < 2 °, dGH up to 14 °, and t between 26 and 28 0 C.

Rivers in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Paraguay, and Guyana serve as habitat.

Metynnis argenteus, Ahl, 1923.

A silvery photo of Metinnis

A range of tiny Piranha. Its body is colored silvery-gray, and its dark warts are haphazardly dispersed. The female has a straight, reddish anal fin, while the male has a voyage-shaped anal fin.

Silver fish-dollar is a synonym.

Length of body: 10 to 14 cm.

Water parameters: pH between 6.5 and 7.0, dkh < 1 °, dgh up to 5 °, and t between 22 and 27 0 s.

Habitat: the Amazon and Orinoco rivers for bass.

Although they have a reputation for being fierce and having sharp teeth, piranhas are fascinating fish that are much more than just their striking appearance. This post will examine the true characteristics of piranhas, including their varied species, natural behaviors, and safe and effective home aquarium maintenance. Knowing piranhas can tell you a lot about how to properly care for them in captivity as well as about their role in their natural habitat, whether you’re intrigued by their enigmatic allure or considering adding them to your tank.

Metinnis ordinary (Metynis Hypsauchen) Müller Troschel.

Tiny piranha kind. possesses transparent fins, a white abdomen, and a silver body color. Meinnyson ordinary can have a brown or green tint on the back in addition to a grayish-blue tint. The color of scales can be blue, yellow, or greenish. the red tip of the anal fin. The fish’s body is round and tall, with strong sides-to-side flattening. Spots and transverse black stripes may run down the sides.

The piranha family’s genera and species are listed alphabetically:

Eugenian Acnodon (1803) includes the following species: Acnodon normani (Gosline, 1951), Acnodon oligacanthus (Müller & Troschel, 1844), and Acnodon Senai (Jégu & Santos, 1990).

Colossoma (Eigenmann et Kennedy, 1903), Catoprion Mento (Cuvier, 1819), and Colossoma Macropomum (Cuvier, 1816) are the species that make up Catoprion (Müller et Troschel, 1844).

METYNNIS (Cope, 1878): METYNNIS Altidorsalis (AHL, 1923), Metynnis Argenteus (AHL, 1923), METYNNIS CUIIABA (Pavanelli, OTA & Petry, 2009), metynnis fasciatus (AHL, 1931), metynnis guaporensis (Eigenmann, 1915), Metynnis Hypsauchen (Müller & Troschel, 1844), METYNNIS Lippincottianus (Cope, 1870), Metynnis Longipinnis (Zarske & Géry, 2008), Metynis Luna (Cope, 1878), Metynis Maculatus (Kner, 1858), Metynnis Mola (Eigenmann & KENNEDY, 1903), METYNNIS Orinocensis (Steindachner, 1908), METYNNIS OTUQUENSIS (AHL, 1923), METYNNIS POLYSTICTUS (ZARSKE & Géry, 2008).

Picture of a piranha

Mylesinus paraschomburgkii (Jégu, Santos & Ferreira, 1989), Mylesinus Paucisquamatus (Jégu & Santos, 1988), and Mylesinus schomburgkii (Valenciennes, 1850) are the three species of Mylesinus (Cuvier et Valenciennes, 1849).

The following species of Myleus are included in Müller et Troschel’s 1844 list: Myleus setiger (Müller & Troschel, 1844), Myleus micans (Lütken, 1875), Myleus micans (Jardine, 1841), and Myleus altipinnis (Valenciennes, 1850).

Myloplus (Gill, 1896): Myloplus arnoldi (Ahl, 1936), Myloplus asterias (Müller & Troschel, 1844), Myloplus laevis (Eigenmann & McAtee, 1907), Myloplus lobatus (Valenciennes, 1850), Myloplus lucienae (Andrade, Ota, Bastos& Jégu, 2016), Myloplus Planquettei (Jégu, Keith & Le Bail, 2003), Myloplus Rhomboidalis (Cuvier, 1818), Myloplus Rubripinnis (Müller & Troschel, 1844), Myloplus Schomburgkii (Jardine, 1841), Myloplus Ternetzi (Norman, 1929), Myloplus Tiete (Eigenmann & Norris, 1900), Myloplus torquatus (Kner, 1858), Myloplus zorroi (Andrade, Jégu& Giarrizzo, 2016).

Picture of a piranha

Eigenmann et Kennedy, 1903) named three species of Mylossoma: Mylossoma duriventre (Cuvier, 1818), Mylossoma aureum (Spix & Agassiz, 1829), and Mylossoma Acanthogaster (Valenciennes, 1850).

Jégu (1992) identified Ossubtus as Ossubtus xinguense.

Piaractus (Eigenmann, 1903) includes Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) and Piaractus brachypomus (Cuvier, 1818).

Pristobrycon aureus (Spix & Agassiz, 1829), Pristobrycon calmoni (Steindachner, 1908), Pristobrycon careospinus (Fink & Machado-Allison, 1992), Pristobrycon maculipinnis (Fink & Machado-Allison, 1992), and Pristobrycon striolatus (Steindachner, 1908) are the species of Pristobrycon (Eigenmann, 1915).

Photo of a piranha’s teeth and mouth

According to Müller and Troschel (1844), Pygocentrus comprises the following species: Pygocentrus Cariba (Humboldt, 1821), Pygocentrus Natteri (Kner), PygoCentrus Palometa (Valenciennes, 1850), and PygocoCentrus A (Cuvier, 1819).

Pygopristis denticulata (Cuvier, 1819): Pygopristis (J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844).

Pictures of piranhas

Serrasalmus (Lacepède, 1803): Serrasalmus altispinis (Merckx, Jégu& Santos, 2000), Serrasalmus altuvei (Ramírez, 1965), Serrasalmus auriventris (Burmeister, 1861), Serrasalmus brandtii (Lütken, 1875), Serrasalmus compressus (Jégu, Leão& Santos, 1991), Serrasalmus eigenmanni (Norman, 1929), Serrasalmus Elongatus (Kner, 1858), Serrasalmus Emarginatus (Jardine, 1841), Serrasalmus Geryi (Jégu & Santos, 1988), Serrasalmus Gibbus (Castelnaau, 1855), Serrasalmus Gouldingi (Fink & Machado-allison, 1992), Serrasalmus hastatus (Fink & Machado-allison, 2001), SERRASALMUS HOLLANDI (Eigenmann, 1915), SERSALMUS HUMERALIS (Valenciennes, 1850), Serrasalmus Irritans (Peters, 1877), SERRASALMUS MACALATUS (KNER, 1858), SERRASALMUS Anueli (Fernández-Yépez & Ramírez, 1967), Serrasalmus marginatus (Valenciennes, 1837), Serrasalmus medinai (Ramírez, 1965), Serrasalmus nalseni (Fernández-Yépez, 1969), Serrasalmus neveriensis (Machado-Allison, Fink, López Rojas& Rodenas, 1993), Serrasalmus nigricans (Spix & AGASSIZ, 1829), Serrasalmus nigricauda (Burmeister, 1861), Serrasalmus Odyssei (Hubert & Renno, 2010), Serrasalmus rhombeus (Linnaeus, 1766), Serrasalmus sanchezi (Géry, 1964), Serrasalmus scotopterus (Jardine, 1841), Serrasalmus serrulatus (Valenciennes, 1850), Serrasalmus spilopleura (Kner, 1858), Serrasalmus stagnatilis (Jardine, 1841), Serrasalmus undulatus (Jardine, 1841).

Cuvier and Valenciennes (1849) named Tometes, and Andrade, Jégu, and Giarrizzo (2016) named Tometes ancylorhynchus. Tometes lebaili (Jégu, Keith& Belmont-Jégu, 2002), Tometes makue (Jégu, Santos& Belmont-Jégu, 2002), Tometes camunani (Andrade, Giarrizzo& Jégu, 2013), Tometes kranponhah (Andrade, Jégu& Giarrizzo, 2016), and Tometes trilobatus (Valenciennes, 1850).

(Miranda Ribeiro, 1937): Utiaritichthys sennaebragai (Miranda Ribeiro, 1937), Utiaritichthys longidorsalis (Jégu, Tito de Morais & Santos, 1992), and Utiaritichthys esguiceroi (Pereira & Castro, 2014).

The ideal water parameters for raising piranhas are 22–27 C, pH 6.5–7.0, dKH<1, and dGH up to 5.

Large schooling fish, piranhas have a body length of 10 cm. Because of this, you will require an aquarium with the following computation in order to comfortably maintain a school: 8 liters for every 2.5 cm of mature fish. As a result, you will need to buy an aquarium with a capacity of 120 liters (ideally, 250–500 liters). Since piranhas are schooling fish, they should be housed in groups of four or more.

Piranhas that are housed in tiny aquariums develop anxiety and aggression toward one another.

The Piranha

A comfortable range of 24.5 to 28.4 degrees Celsius. Lower temperatures cause illness and even death in fish, while higher temperatures can cause breathing difficulties. Some aquarists use two heaters to prevent malfunctions and eliminate temperature drops in order to avoid such situations.

Maintaining piranhas at high temperatures causes the water’s oxygen content to drop, which can erode the fish’s immunity and cause cardiac ailments. And many diseases are brought on by weakened immunity. That’s why having aeration in your aquarium is essential.

Because wild specimens must be kept in soft water, which is inconvenient, aquarists prefer captive-bred specimens because they are more resilient and thrive in water with a pH of 7.5+.

Picture of a piranha

The most crucial factor is that there aren’t any overly high amounts of phosphates or nitrogen compounds in the aquarium. The primary issue with fish that novices overlook is this one. Pet illnesses and fatalities are primarily caused by ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphates. Drop tests are something that every responsible aquarist should always have on hand, if only for phosphate and nitrate. Thankfully, they are now reasonably priced, and there are no issues with their acquisition or variety. You can get cheap Vladox tests offline, in the stores in your city.

Using Tetra EasyBalance wouldn’t be unnecessary because big fish generate phosphates and nitrogenous waste, which is good for their health. Everything we do is based on high-quality water and preparations that eliminate excess nitrogen and phosphorus.

The reputable FF online retailer Aqua Logo Shop sells the aforementioned supplies, gear, and other helpful items for an aquarist. We advise against it!

Being photosensitive fish, piranhas may feel uncomfortable in bright light because their big pupils cannot constrict to block out light. As a result, you must either filter light with floating or long-stemmed plants, or use dim lighting. It’s also worthwhile to stop cultivating plants that require light.

The aquarium needs to have a sufficient number of shelters in addition to plants.

Fish get more territorial and aggressive as they age.

Because piranhas eat a lot, they also generate a lot of waste. Because of this, it’s critical to purchase a high-quality filtration system and change the aquarium’s water by 15 to 20 percent every week. Piranhas are "cute" fish that can easily bite off a large piece of flesh with one bite, so you need to be extra careful when cleaning an aquarium with them in it.

Pictures of piranhas

Make sure the filter you choose can adequately filter a large aquarium before making your purchase. In order to keep piranha aquariums clean, some aquarists use multiple small filters; the fish are not harmed by this practice when regular filter cleaning occurs.

Compatibility of piranhas

A school of piranhas should ideally be kept in a species aquarium. It is known that these fish can be kept with a variety of large species, most notably American cichlids.

Feeding pirania in the aquarium

A Piranha in an Aquarium Being Fed

These fish are omnivores, despite their reputation as ruthless killers. A calm relationship in an aquarium is largely dependent on a varied and balanced diet. Thus, a variety of premium fish products, which are currently widely available in fish markets, should be a piranha’s primary food source. The majority of piranhas in the wild eat plant matter in addition to the fins and scales of larger fish. One may include a tiny quantity of raw, fresh vegetables (raw potatoes, spinach, and zucchini) in their diet. Chopped beef is one example of a frozen food that is utilized as irregular food.

Pictures of piranhas

The fish should consume the added food in two minutes, with the exception of fresh vegetables, which can be kept for a few hours. Food left in the aquarium after this period has passed may cause the water’s quality to decline.

Feeding piranhas should only occur once daily. The fish produce more waste when they are fed more intensively, which raises the possibility of overfeeding. Your piranhas’ immune system is strengthened and their lifespan is extended when you feed them a healthy diet.

We advise providing piranhas with food that has been shown to be of high quality, such as Tetra Cichlid XL Sticks, instead of branded dishes.

It should be mentioned that when purchasing any dry food, you should be mindful of the manufacture and expiration dates, avoid purchasing food in large quantities, and store it in a closed environment to prevent the growth of harmful flora.

Feature	Description
Scientific Name	Pygocentrus nattereri
Origin	Amazon Basin in South America
Size	Typically 6-10 inches long
Diet	Omnivorous, mainly meat-based
Tank Requirements	Large tank with strong filtration
Behavior	Aggressive, best kept in groups
Water Conditions	Warm, slightly acidic to neutral
Special Care	Requires plenty of space and hiding spots

To sum up, for individuals who are up for the challenges, maintaining piranhas in an aquarium can be an exciting experience. With their powerful jaws and pointed teeth, these intriguing fish need special attention to survive in a tank. For them to remain healthy and happy, they require space, clean water, and a balanced diet. To guarantee that they live comfortably in captivity, it is essential to comprehend their behaviors and provide an appropriate habitat.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that not every aquarium setup is appropriate for piranhas. They need plenty of space to swim and mark their territory, and because of their aggressive nature, it is best to keep them in species-only tanks or with other piranhas. Additionally, prospective owners need to be ready for the difficulties that may arise in caring for and maintaining their surroundings.

Maintaining piranhas can be an enjoyable undertaking if done properly and with the appropriate information. They are a distinctive addition to any aquarium due to their unusual behavior and appearance. You may create an environment where these amazing fish can thrive and become an exciting part of your aquatic world by adhering to the care guidelines and honoring their needs.

Video on the topic

Pike vs. piranha

FEED THE PIRANHAS WHAT YOU WANT (Piranha Feeding)

FEEDING THE PIRANHAS (Piranha Feeding)

This is what will happen if you throw a live crucian carp to wild piranhas

Yunost-1 2025 – Piranhas 2025 | 2.09.2025 | Children"s League

Piranhas are aggressive river monsters! The most toothy and gluttonous fish!

Piranha / Piranha 1978 Watch the movie online in good quality! Not for the faint of heart ! 12+