Piranhas are monsters from horror films and scary stories, small but bloodthirsty inhabitants of the waters of the Amazon and other rivers in the territory South America(Colombia, Venezuela, Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina). What do we know about them? Probably nothing. After all, all knowledge is limited to just one species - the ordinary piranha, which has gained notoriety.
The Piranha family includes slightly more than 60 species of fish. And, oddly enough, most of them are herbivores; they practically do not eat animal food. The size of piranhas depends on the species, carnivores generally reach 30 cm, and their vegetarian relatives can gain significant weight and grow more than one meter in length. The color also depends on the species, but is mainly silver-gray, becoming darker with age. The body shape is diamond-shaped and tall, laterally compressed. The main food for predators is a variety of piranhas that can also feed on animals or even birds that they meet along the way. For herbivorous species, the Amazon and its tributaries abound in various vegetation; these fish do not disdain nuts and seeds that fall into the water.
Jaw structure
Piranhas are characterized by an amazing structure of the jaw apparatus, which perhaps has no analogues in nature. Everything is provided in it down to the finest detail. The teeth, triangular in shape and measuring 4-5 mm, are lamellar and sharp, like a razor blade, slightly curved inward. This allows them to easily cut through the flesh of the victim, tearing off pieces of meat. In addition, the upper and lower teeth fit perfectly into the sinuses when closing the jaw, creating strong pressure. This feature allows piranhas to bite through bones. When closed, the jaws close like a trap. According to the latest research by scientists, the bite force is 320 newtons and has no analogues in the animal world. When a piranha's jaws bite, it exerts about 30 times its weight in pressure.
Where do piranhas live?
These are inhabitants of freshwater bodies of water in South America. The Amazon basin contains a fifth of all fresh water; this river is full of a variety of fish. Piranhas live along the entire length of the river and are the subject of many legends and stories of local residents. occupies vast territories, most of belongs to Brazil, but also to Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia and Peru. Piranhas also feel great in other rivers; their habitat area on the South American continent is very large.
IN Lately V home care and this fish has become very popular in breeding. A piranha in an aquarium will grow smaller than its natural size and will lose some of its aggressiveness. Surprisingly, with such a threatening appearance, they become timid in confined spaces and often hide in artificial shelters.
All piranha fish are combined into one family and are divided, according to zoological classification, into three subfamilies.
Myelin subfamily
Myelins are the largest group; it unites seven genera and 32 species. These are herbivores and absolutely harmless piranhas (photo). Fish eat plant foods. The color is quite varied, depending on the species. The body shape is characteristic, laterally compressed and tall. Juveniles are steel-silver in color, with varying degrees of spotting, which darkens to a chocolate gray color as they grow. Sizes vary from 10 to 20 centimeters. Many representatives of this subfamily are bred in aquariums. They need a large volume of water and sufficient shelter space, as this is enough shy fish. Aquarium piranha from the myelin subfamily will feel good at a water temperature of 23-28 degrees, and the daily diet should include lettuce, cabbage, spinach, peas and other vegetables. Some species even feed on nuts in natural conditions, easily cracking them powerful jaw strong shell.
Black pacu is the brightest representative of myelin
The black pacu (or Amazon broadbodied) is the most famous member of the Myelina subfamily. In addition, it is also the largest: its dimensions range from 30 centimeters to one meter or more, although it is not a predator. The color of adult individuals is quite modest, brownish-brown, but the young have a silvery color with big amount spots all over the body and bright fins. Black pacu meat has good taste qualities and is used by local residents. These are commercial piranhas. Aquarium conditions They are also quite suitable, but the size of the fish will be slightly smaller than in nature, on average about 30 centimeters, life expectancy - within 10 years or a little more. Keeping this species requires a large aquarium (from 200 liters) and good care.
Subfamily Catoprionines
This fish, similar to the common piranha and being its closest relative, mainly (60%) has plant foods, and only 40% are small fish. But it still needs to be kept separately from other fish, otherwise very small ones will be eaten, and large ones risk being left with damaged fins and partially without scales. As animal food, you can use small shrimp or fish, earthworms, and plant food - spinach leaves, lettuce, nettles and other greens.
Subfamily Serrasalmina
These are the same ruthless predators; the subfamily is represented by only one genus and 25 species. They all eat animal food: fish, animals, birds. The size of piranhas of the Serrasalmina subfamily can reach up to 80 cm in size, reaching a weight of up to 1 kg. This is a real threat to animals (not to mention fish), which can be several times larger in size, but this does not stop the piranha. The appearance of small predators is truly menacing: it protrudes significantly forward and is slightly curved upward, the eyes are bulging, and the body is characterized by a rounded flat shape. In reservoirs they prefer to stay in schools, but when attacking a prey they act independently of each other, so it cannot be said that these are close-knit group fish. Piranhas react to movement in the water, this attracts their attention. When one of them finds a victim, the others immediately flock to the spot. Moreover, there is an opinion among zoologists that piranhas are capable of making sounds, thereby transmitting information to each other. A flock of piranhas can leave an animal with only bones in a few minutes.
The information that they are able to sense blood at a considerable distance from the victim is true. Piranha fish live in the murky waters of the Amazon, and it is natural that they had to adapt to poor visibility conditions, as a result - well developed sense of smell. Piranhas are indeed attracted to blood, this is a signal that a prey has arrived.
In addition, they do not disdain carrion and even their sick or weakened brothers. Only a few species pose a real danger to animals and humans.
Common piranha
The most famous representative, around which conversations do not subside, is the Common Piranha. The length of individuals of this species can reach up to 30 centimeters, but they are generally the size of a human palm. Common piranhas (photo of the fish below) have a greenish-silver color with many dark spots throughout the body; the scales on the abdomen have a characteristic pinkish tint. They live in flocks of approximately one hundred individuals.
In recent years, ordinary piranhas have also been very popular in home keeping. Aquarium conditions help reduce aggressiveness. But you still need a separate aquarium.
Black piranha
This is another species from the Serrasalmina subfamily, very common in nature and popular in home breeding. Habitat - and Orinoco. The body shape is diamond-shaped, and the color is dark, black and silver. In young fish, the abdomen has a yellow tint. Black piranha - omnivorous predator, everything is suitable for the diet: fish, arthropods, birds or animals that accidentally fell into the water. Such indiscriminate eating led to their fairly high numbers in the waters of the Amazon. Although in terms of aggressiveness the species is inferior to the same ordinary piranha. An aquarium for such fish requires a large one, more than 300 liters. The difficulty of breeding lies in the aggressiveness of piranhas towards each other. Reproduction is possible if aquarium members of the family eat properly; if there is an abundance of animal food, they become obese, which can become a significant obstacle to the appearance of offspring. The photo shows a black piranha.
Myth one: piranhas attack humans
It is difficult to judge this clearly, since the data is very contradictory. Many scientists and zoologists who spent more than one year in the Amazon have never witnessed an attack; in addition, they themselves, exposing themselves to danger for the sake of experiment, swam in the muddy waters of the river, where a few minutes before they had caught piranhas, but there were no attacks followed.
For a long time, there was a story about a bus with local residents that drove into one of the tributaries of the Amazon, and all the passengers were literally eaten by piranhas. The story really took place in the 70s of the last century, 39 passengers died, but one managed to escape. According to eyewitnesses, the bodies of the victims were indeed badly damaged by piranhas. But it is not possible to judge whether this was an attack and whether it was the cause of death.
There are reliable sources of bites on the beaches of Argentina when the fish were the first to attack. But these were isolated cases. Zoologists explain this by the fact that piranhas, whose spawning just begins at the height of beach season, build nests in shallow water. Therefore, this behavior of fish is quite natural: they protected their offspring.
In addition, piranhas are most dangerous for humans and animals during drought periods, when the water level in rivers reaches its minimum, which affects their diet: there is less food. Locals They know about this and don’t go into the river at this time. The safest season is the rainy season, when the rivers overflow.
Myth two: piranhas attack in packs
There are many stories about terrible attacks by an entire flock, all this is fueled by numerous feature films. In fact, large individuals do not prowl in search of prey in the river; they stand in one place, usually in shallow water. The fish waits for its prey, and as soon as this prey appears, the piranha heads to the right place. Attracted by the noise and smell of blood, others rush there. Piranhas gather in schools not to hunt prey, but to defend themselves from the enemy - this is what many scientists believe. It would seem, who could harm them? However, even this has enemies predatory fish. Piranha, gathering in schools, defends itself from river dolphins that feed on them, and for people they are harmless and quite friendly. In addition, among natural enemies piranhas - arapaima and caimans. The first is a giant fish, which is considered almost a living fossil. Possessing amazing, super-strong scales, it poses a real threat to piranhas. Fish found alone instantly become victims of arapaima. Caimans are small representatives of the Crocodile order. Zoologists have noticed that as soon as the number of these caimans decreases, the number of piranhas in the river immediately increases.
Myth three: piranhas appear in Russian water bodies
Incidents did take place, but this was either the result of the behavior of careless amateurs aquarium fish ok, or intentional launch into a body of water. In any case, there is no need to worry. Although piranhas adapt perfectly to any conditions, the main factor for their successful existence remains the same - warm climate and water (within 24-27 degrees), which is impossible in our country.
Of course, these Piranhas are dangerous and very voracious, but still the stories about them are often overly embellished and far-fetched. The indigenous population of South America learned to coexist next to piranhas and even made them a commercial target. Nature has not created anything useless: if wolves are what they are, then piranhas perform a similar function in water bodies.
Many hobbyists want to decorate their aquarium with these exotic fish like piranhas. Piranhas (Serrasalminae) are predatory freshwater river fish from the order Cyprinidae that live in the Amazon River basin and freshwater bodies of South America. Only in the early 80s did they begin to appear in aquariums.
The most common aquarium species: common piranha(Rooseveltiella nattereri), red pacu (Colossoma bidens), lunar metynnis (Metynnis luna), common metynnis (Metynnis hypsauchen).
Distinctive features
The body shape of all varieties of this fish is approximately the same: a high disc-shaped body, flattened on both sides, low-set eyes and an inflated forehead. The teeth are sharp, lamellar, triangular in shape, arranged in such an order that when compressed there is no gap left between the teeth. Adult fish can reach sizes of up to 30 cm. Aquarium piranhas live, depending on the species, from 4 to 15 years.
Behavior
This type of aquarium fish is characterized by calmer behavior than in natural habitats, but do not forget that these are school predators. Therefore, it is advisable that a school of piranhas consisting of at least 8-10 individuals live in your aquarium. Lonely individuals feel uncomfortable, fearful, withdrawn and develop poorly. Aquarium piranhas also react to loud sounds, new large objects in the aquarium, bright harsh light, sometimes these factors cause the fish to panic and even bite.
Keeping fish has its own subtleties and nuances. To make the fish comfortable, you should follow temperature regime. The temperature should be approximately 25 degrees, but temperature fluctuations within the range of 24.5 - 28.5 degrees are allowed. To maintain the temperature in the aquarium, there must be a water heater and a thermometer. Fish can tolerate short-term sharp drops in temperature in necessary cases, for example, during transportation. But keeping the fish in too cold or too cold conditions for a long time warm water This can lead to illness, decreased immunity, and nerve or heart damage.
Water for your pets must be clean and oxygenated - this is one of the most important conditions for keeping them. In order to filter water in an aquarium, you need to install a filter, maybe even several for better cleaning, and a compressor to saturate the water with oxygen. It is also necessary to periodically replace some of the water, preferably 1-2 times a week.
To create optimally comfortable conditions, fish need: 8 liters of water per 2.5 cm of body adult fish. Therefore, the minimum volume of water in the aquarium should be 95-100 liters. Lack of space can affect the behavior of the fish, they can injure each other. The wounded pet should be moved to another container until all wounds are healed, because a weak fish will not be able to fend for itself when attacked by healthy individuals. Piranhas love to hide, so it is advisable that there is a lot of vegetation in the aquarium, possibly artificial, driftwood, houses, caves or other shelters.
Feeding
Piranha aquarium fish are unpretentious in food. They eat all types of animal feed with great pleasure. The basic rule is not to overfeed and remove leftover food immediately in order to keep the water clean. It is advisable to feed piranhas once a day; some experts advise limiting feeding time to 2 minutes, this is enough. If feeding time is prolonged, the water quickly becomes contaminated and can lead to disease.
Proper nutrition strengthens the immune system and contributes to the life expectancy of your pets. The diet includes shrimp, tadpoles, frozen fish fillets, and beef cut into small pieces. It is not recommended to feed fish with meat alone, because the color of the fish will fade. It is also not recommended to feed your pets freshwater fish meat, as it can cause various diseases and parasites. Small piranhas eat bloodworms and tubifex worms well. Then meat and fish should be gradually introduced into the diet. After three months, the fish is transferred to an adult diet.
It is very difficult to get offspring at home. In order for fish to spawn you need very soft and acidic environment, similar to natural conditions. Piranha fry grow quite quickly and with proper nutrition by the end of the month they will reach 2-2.5 cm. In order to raise the offspring of one pair of fish, you need a spacious aquarium with a capacity of 3-4 thousand liters.
The common piranha (lat. Pygocentrus nattereri, as well as Natterer's piranha, red-bellied piranha, red piranha) is a fish that already has its own history, because it has been kept in aquariums for more than 60 years. This is the most common type of piranha and is widely found in nature, especially in the Amazon and Orinoco.
The red-bellied piranha looks luxurious when it becomes sexually mature. Its back is steel-colored, the rest of its body is silver, and its belly, throat, and anal fin are bright red. This is one of the largest piranhas, reaching up to 33 cm, although in an aquarium it is usually smaller. In nature, they live in packs of 20 or more individuals, thus making it easier for them to hunt without becoming victims themselves. The red piranha is considered the most ferocious of all piranha species found in nature.
Although it is not picky about feeding and is quite hardy, it is recommended only for experienced aquarists to keep it. This is a truly predatory fish with very sharp teeth. Most of the bites of aquarists happened due to negligence, but still it is better not to stick your hands into the aquarium again. In addition, it is very demanding on water quality.
Piranha aquarium fish are predatory and certainly not suitable for the role in community aquarium. They can live alone in an aquarium, but it is better to keep them in a flock. However, even in a formed group, cases of aggression and cannibalism are not uncommon. As a rule, the largest and most dominant fish leads the school. She takes best places and the first one eats. Any attempts to challenge the current state of affairs end in a fight or even injury to the opponent. You can try keeping it with other large species related to it, for example, while it is a teenager.
An aquarium of 150 liters is enough for one piranha, but a larger one is needed for a flock. They eat a lot and greedily, leaving behind a lot of waste, and a powerful external filter is needed.
The common predatory piranha or Natterer's piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri formerly, Serrasalmus nattereri and Rooseveltiella nattereri) was first described in 1858 by Kner. There is a huge amount of controversy about scientific name piranha, and it is possible that it will still change, but in this moment We settled on P. nattereri.
Piranha is found throughout South America: Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador and Uruguay. Lives in the Amazon, Orinoco, Parana and countless other small rivers.
Lives in rivers, tributaries, small rivulets. Also in large lakes, ponds, flooded forests and plains. They hunt in packs of 20 to 30 individuals. They feed on everything they can eat: fish, snails, plants, invertebrates, amphibians.
Description
Piranhas grow up to 33 cm in length, but this is in nature, and in an aquarium they are much smaller. The normal lifespan of a piranha is about 10 years, but cases have been recorded when they lived for more than 20.
The piranha has a powerful, dense, laterally compressed body. They are very easy to identify by their head with a massive lower jaw. Add a powerful tail and a body covered in scales, and you have the perfect portrait of a fast, active killer.
Mature piranhas are luxurious in their coloring. Body color can vary, but is generally steel or gray, the sides are silver, and the belly, throat and anal fin are bright red. Some also have a golden tint on the sides. Juvenile piranhas are paler, with a silvery color. 
Difficulty in content
Piranha is unpretentious in food and is quite easy to keep in an aquarium. However, not recommended for inexperienced aquarists. They are predatory, they are large, even it is better to maintain the aquarium with caution; there have been cases when piranhas injured their owners, for example, during transplantation.
Feeding
In nature, piranhas eat a very varied diet, or rather not even that - what they catch. As a rule, these are fish, shellfish, invertebrates, amphibians, fruits, and seeds. But, gathering in flocks of more than a hundred, they can also attack large animals, such as a heron or capybara. Despite their scary reputation, in nature piranhas are more likely to be scavengers and insect hunters. They show aggression during times of hunger, drought and large flocks, which are collected not for hunting, but for protection from predators. Only weakened and sick animals become prey for piranhas.
Aquarium piranhas eat protein foods - fish, fish fillets, frozen shrimp, squid meat, heart, earthworms and crawlers, sometimes even live mice. But it is not recommended to feed piranhas with mammalian meat, as it is poorly digested by fish and leads to obesity. Please note that there will be a lot of food leftovers after them, and when they rot, they can seriously poison the water.
Compatibility
The question of whether piranha can live with other species of fish is perhaps the most controversial. Some say that this is impossible, others successfully keep piranhas with very small fish. Most likely, it all depends on many factors: how big the aquarium is, how many plants, the number of piranhas, their nature, how densely they feed, and others. The easiest way to keep piranhas is with large species:,. The last two get along well with them, as they live in the lower layers and are protected by bone plates.
You can try other fish, but it depends on your luck. Some piranhas do not touch anyone for years, others...
Maintenance and care in the aquarium
The aquarium fish piranha lives in all layers of water. An aquarium with a volume of 150 liters can contain no more than one fish. Considering that it is recommended to keep piranhas in schools of 4 or more individuals, the volume for such a school is needed from 300 liters or more. Oddly enough, piranhas are quite shy, and in order for them to feel more comfortable, the aquarium needs places where they can hide. In this case, it is better to use driftwood or other decorative items, since piranha plants can be damaged.
The most important thing in keeping piranhas is always pure water. Check ammonia and nitrate levels weekly using tests, and change the water weekly as well.
It is important that the aquarium has a powerful external filter and regular water changes. This is all due to the fact that they are extremely wasteful while eating, and eat protein foods that quickly rot. The filter needs to be washed regularly, and this should be done more often than in other aquariums. The best way to understand when the time has come - these are, again, tests. Don't forget that when washing filter materials, you need to use water from the aquarium!
The most important (and fun!) thing about keeping piranhas is to observe. Watch your pets, study, understand, and after a while you will no longer need to be afraid for them. You will see all problems at the inception stage.
Sex differences
It is extremely difficult to distinguish females from males in piranhas. Visually, this can only be done through long-term observations of behavior, especially before spawning. Males at this time are most colored bright colors, and the female’s abdomen becomes rounder from the eggs.
Reproduction
First of all, the aquarium must be in quiet place where no one will disturb the fish. Further, the fish must be compatible (a long-established school, with a developed hierarchy). For successful spawning, you need very clean water - a minimum of ammonia and nitrates, pH 6.5-7.5, temperature 28 C, and a large aquarium in which the couple can distinguish their own territory.
A pair ready for spawning chooses a spawning site, which it aggressively guards. The piranhas' coloration darkens and they begin to build a nest on the bottom, uprooting plants and moving rocks. Here the female will mark the eggs, which the male will quickly fertilize. After spawning, the male will guard the eggs and attack anyone who approaches it.
The eggs are orange in color and will hatch in 2-3 days. The larva will feed from the yolk sac for another couple of days, after which it will swim. From this moment the fry is placed in a nursery aquarium. Be careful, the male can even attack an object while protecting the fry.
Already as a fry, piranhas are very greedy for food. You need to feed them with Artemia naupilia for the first days, and then add flakes, bloodworms, daphnia, etc. The fry should be fed frequently, two to three times a day. The juveniles grow very quickly, reaching a centimeter within a month.
May 29, 2014 admin
Piranha (Pygocentrus) Muller & Troschel, 1844
Piranha means "evil fish" in the Guarani language.
Order: Characiformes.
Family: Characinaceae (Characidae).
Subfamily: Piranhas (Serrasalminae).
Genus: Piranha (Pygocentrus).
Species: Includes four species of true Piranhas.
Preface
Known as a voracious predator, capable of quickly tearing flesh from bone and dangerous to any animal that enters its waters, the Red-bellied Piranha is one of the most famous freshwater fish in the world. As a result, displays of this "bloodthirsty" creature occur in most public aquariums, creepy Hollywood films have been produced and the species has become popular in the aquarium trade.
According to Herbert Axelrod (1976), the myth began when American President Theodore Roosevelt visited the Brazilian Amazon in 1913. He was accompanied by numerous journalists, and the Brazilians staged a series of deceptions, one of which was that the president allegedly "discovered and discovered" a new river, which was then named after him. One of the tributaries of the Aripuanan River was chosen and is still referred to today as the Rio Roosevelt or Rio Teodoro.
When Roosevelt arrived at the river, the Brazilians prepared a surprise - an area of several hundred yards was blocked off, and for several weeks, fishermen released hundreds of adult piranhas there and isolated them there. They informed the President that he and his men should refrain from entering the water, as they would be eaten alive by the terribly vicious fish. Naturally, this news was met with skepticism, and then a cow was driven there. This caused a spectacular, frantic fight for the right to get "their piece" among the trapped, hungry piranhas. After this event, the newspapers were filled with stories about terrible, carnivorous fish, but there was not a single record of the killing of a person by wild piranhas.
According to information from a number of websites and forums currently devoted to this topic, captive keeping of piranhas and their relatives has undergone a relative boom over last decades. A lot of various types are now available, but most of them are caught in wildlife, are expensive and beyond the means of most fans. Natterer's piranhas, by contrast, are commercially bred, with coin-sized juveniles selling quite cheaply for a fish that requires specialized and ultimately expensive care and maintenance. For enthusiasts this is an excellent aquarium inhabitant, but serious thought and study is required. important before the purchase.
Natterer's piranha has proven difficult to identify for a number of reasons. For example, Pygocentrus piraya and Pygocentrus cariba are endemic to certain river basins (San Francisco in Brazil and Orinoco in Venezuela/Colombia, respectively) and have distinct morphological characters. Pygocentrus nattereri, has an incredibly wide distribution, and color can vary significantly even between individuals of the same population. The color of the fish also varies depending on the type of habitat; fish living in blackwater conditions tend to be darker, with less red-orange color, than those living in clear or white water.
The morphology and structure of adult fish may differ in the head and body shape, the presence or absence of dark spots or a reticulate pattern on the sides and fins.
Piranha (Pygocentrus) - all species have similar conditions of housing, feeding and reproduction.
Natterer's Piranha / Common Piranha / Red-bellied Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) Kner, 1858
nattereri: named after the Austrian naturalist Johann Natterer (1787-1843).
Range and Habitat
Currently found throughout much of the Amazon Basin (Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Colombia), as well as the Essequibo River (Guyana and Venezuela) in the northeast, and further south in the Paraná Rivers (Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina) and Uruguay (Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina).Habitats include big rivers, small tributaries, oxbow lakes, floodplain lakes and ponds.
Description
All representatives of the genus Piranha (Pygocentrus) are distinguished by a convex forehead and a massive lower jaw, a small mouth and a very sharp teeth on both jaws.
A wide, laterally compressed body, small pectoral and ventral fins, an elongated anal fin, a powerful forked tail and small scales make these fish incredibly fast. The belly is all jagged, like a grater. There is also an adipose fin between the dorsal and caudal fins - a characteristic feature of the Kharacins.
Adults are brightly colored. There are various options, but most often the top is gray with a metallic tint, the lower body is silver with golden splashes, the throat, abdomen and anal fin are red-orange. There are dark spots on the sides and many shiny spots on the scales.
Size
Maximum standard length 250 - 350 mm.Behavior and Compatibility
It is best kept alone in a species aquarium, although adult Piranhas do not tend to prey on smaller fish. Wild P. nattereri are often said to hunt in voracious schools, but usually only the juveniles form aggregations. Older individuals exist in loose groups and form dominance hierarchies, so it is recommended to purchase either one specimen or a group of 5+, with the latter being preferable.
Aquarium
Suitable for large aquariums only.
Some aquarists keep this species without substrate on the bottom for ease of maintenance, but regular aquarium gravel or sand are suitable substrates. Choosing a different decor mostly comes down to personal preference, but live plants can be eaten, especially if the fish decide to spawn. Lighting is not critical and can be from weak to strong, as is preferable.
All varieties of true Piranhas tend to produce a lot of waste, so the use of one or more small external filters is essential. If possible, purchase filters with a built-in/flow-through heater, or at least one that is unbreakable, since adult fish, as is known, can damage underwater equipment. The settling tank/SAMP system works well in this regard.
Water parameters:
Temperature: 24 - 28 ° C;pH: 5.5 - 7.5;
Hardness: 2 - 12 dHG.
Try to change 30-50% of the tank's volume every week, and be especially careful when doing maintenance or fishing, be careful for any reason.
Nutrition
Pygocentrus species are not exclusively carnivores, but are more accurately described as opportunistic generalists.The natural diet consists of live fish plus aquatic invertebrates, insects, nuts, seeds and fruits. Each jaw has a single row of sharp, triangular teeth that are used like blades to pierce, tear, grind and crush.
They sometimes attack sick or dying fish and eat remains from skeletons large species, but attacks on live animals falling into water are very rare and mainly concern accidental bites or cases in which a large number of These fish remained in small bodies of water during dry periods.
In the aquarium, juveniles can be offered bloodworms, small earthworms, crushed shrimp, and the like, while adults will accept pieces of fish flesh, whole shrimp, mussels, large earthworms, etc.
This species should not be fed mammalian or poultry meat, as some of the lipids contained in them cannot be properly absorbed by the fish and can cause excess fat deposits and even organ degeneration. Additionally, there is no benefit in feeding fish such as viviparous fish or small goldfish, which carry a risk of disease and generally do not have a high nutritional value.
Sexual Dimorphism
Females tend to reach larger sizes in mature age and have a more rounded body shape than males.Breeding
Wild populations undergo two annual breeding periods, the first during the rise in water levels at the beginning of the rainy season, and the second during the low water period in November and December, when there is a sudden temporary rise in water levels. Flooded coastal vegetation and flooded meadows of floodplain lakes are preferred spawning sites.
Natterer's piranhas are relatively easy to breed in an aquarium. Sexual maturity occurs at approximately one year of age, with a body length of 100-150 mm. If you cannot find a pair of spawners, then perhaps it is best to start with a group of fish 6+, which allows you to form pairs naturally. In some documented cases, spawning was initiated by large replacements cold water, while in others it happened without intervention.
When males are ready to breed, they become territorial, using their mouth and caudal fin to create a depression in the ground in the center of the selected area. aquatic plants can also be "mown down" and the resulting "nest" is protected from other males.
Females ready for spawning show interest in what is happening, at this moment both the male and female become darker in color. The eggs are laid in several portions and are guarded by the male, sometimes the female helps in this. In very large aquariums, several pairs can spawn at the same time.
The larvae hatch within 2-3 days and begin free swimming on the fifth day. At the moment, it is considered the best for transplanting fry into smaller, nursery aquariums. Artemia nauplii, microworms or equivalent are suitable as the initial food, and a water change of about 10% of the aquarium volume will be required daily.
Due to the difference in growth rate, the fry become cannibals, when this begins to happen they should be moved to larger aquariums in batches of equal size individuals.
Think carefully before you start breeding, you could end up raising over 1000 fry that will have nowhere to go later.
Common Pygocentrus / San Francisco River Piranha / Cuvier's Piranha (Pygocentrus Piraya) Cuvier, 1819
A distinctive feature of this piranha is the orange-red color that rises along the entire length of the fish’s body, reaching the lateral line, sometimes higher.
Restricted to the San Francisco River basin in eastern Brazil, including major tributaries such as the Velhas and Grande rivers.Inhabits large river canals, small tributaries, floodplain lakes and large artificial reservoirs formed by dams.
Size
300 - 350 mm.Aquarium
Suitable for public display aquariums or the largest private aquariums only.
Water parameters:
Temperature: 20 - 28 ° C;pH: 6.0 - 8.0.
Breeding
Not recorded, but probably uses a similar reproductive strategy as their relatives P. nattereri.Black Piranha / Black-spotted Piranha / Carib Piranha (Pygocentrus cariba) Humboldt, 1821
A distinctive feature of this piranha is a black spot on the body, just behind the gill cover.
Distribution and natural habitat
Restricted in the Orinoco River basin in Colombia and Venezuela, including major tributaries, such as the rivers Inirida, Guaviare, Meta, Tomo, Casanare, Apure and Guarico.
It lives in large river canals, smaller tributaries and floodplain lakes, many of which contain acidic, low-mineralized “Black Water,” although it is also found in clean water.
Many of its habitats are located within Venezuela and Colombia, seasonally flooded plains and forests, the total area of which is almost 600 thousand square kilometers.
There are clearly defined weather with distinct wet and dry seasons and all year round high temperatures.
Size
250 - 350 mm.Aquarium
Suitable only for public display aquariums or the largest private aquariums, measuring from 240 * 90 * 60 cm or equivalent, these are the minimum requirements for a group of fish.
Water parameters:
Temperature: 20 - 28 ° C;pH: 4.0 - 7.0.
Piranha Palometa (Pygocentrus palometa) Valenciennes, 1850
The species was described by Valenciennes, but no evidence has been found to date. Spreading
Orinoco River Basin, Venezuela.The existence of this species has not been reliably established/confirmed.
The only source for the discovery of this species is the surviving records on paper.
General notes
The Piranha family (Serrasalmidae) contains 16 genera including piranhas, pacu and relatives.Their characteristics include a compressed body shape, long dorsal with 16 or more rays, and a variable number of sharp serrations formed by modified ventral scales.
They are found in numerous habitats, from lowland floodplains and flooded forests to upstream headwaters, and are also found in all major river systems South America east of the Andes. Some species have unique ecological functions, such as dispersing seeds or supporting inland fisheries.
Representatives display three main feeding habits: carnivores (carnivores), frugivores (feeding on fruits and seeds), and lepidophages (eating the scales and fins of other fish). Carnivorous species typically have one row of triangular teeth on each jaw, frugivores typically have two rows of incisors or molar-shaped teeth (pressing and chewing) on the prejaw, while lepidophagous teeth are tuberculate and located along the outer edge of the prejaw.
The evolutionary history of Piranhas (Serrasalmidae) has been studied by various authors, including the most recent studies (Thompson et al., 2014), supporting the existence of three major genera in the family. The genus Pacu contains the species Colossoma, Mylossoma and Piaractus, the Piranha includes Metynnis, Pygopristis, Pygocentrus, Pristobrycon, Catoprion and Serrasalmus and the genus Mileus includes the species Myleus schomburgkii.
Aquarium piranhas are popular due to the numerous rumors and myths that float around them. They became famous as bloodthirsty and cruel predators. Introduced in the middle of the last century from the Amazon and Orinoco. There are many less popular species, including herbivores.
In nature, pygocentrus nattereri grows up to 35 cm, in an aquarium up to 25 cm, and lives in large lakes, rivers, small ponds and flooded forests. It lives in flocks of 20–30 individuals; in nature, this tactic simplifies hunting. A group of piranhas can tear their prey to pieces. They attack more often in case of danger. There are species whose average size does not exceed 15 cm.
Appearance
The body is long, laterally flattened. The jaw is convex, there are sharp large teeth. The tail is powerful. The body color is predominantly silver-gray with shimmering dots, and the belly is red. Juveniles are different from adults.
Difficult character
Piranha is dangerous to many other tankmates. Can severely bite an inattentive owner. When kept alone or in pairs in an aquarium, piranhas are timid and react to sudden movements and loud sounds. They feel more confident in a flock of 10 individuals. The group develops a hierarchy, with the dominant individual getting the best pieces of food. There are cases of cannibalism, when a weak and sick individual is eaten.
Lifespan
At home, piranhas live 10–15 years. A record number of 28 years was recorded for the red pacu.
Kinds
The most popular species are the common piranha and the red-bellied piranha. The piranha family has 16 genera and almost 100 species.
Redfin mile
The color of myloplus rubripinnis is silver, the anal fin is bright red, and the tail is translucent. There are varieties with a reddish belly and red-gold spots on the body. In an aquarium it grows up to 15 cm, in nature - up to 25 cm.
Brown pacu
The average size of a pacu is 70 cm, the body is colored in dark, gray and brown tones. The teeth are square, reminiscent of human teeth. Schooling in this species is less pronounced. Suitable for single living.
Red pacu
This is a herbivorous species, also known as the red-bellied and red-breasted pacu, the two-toothed colossoma, and the vegetarian piranha. In aquarium the average size 60 cm. Peaceful and shy fish. It is possible to keep them with many species of comparable size or alone.
Flag
The silvery body is laterally compressed, with a greenish tint on the back. The gill covers have a red spot, the first rays of the fins are elongated and transparent. The tail is forked. The lower jaw is massive. Predatory view.
Slender
The body of the fish is elongated. The color of the scales is silver with a black border on the tail and red on the sides.
Natterer's piranha is named after an Australian scientist, known as "saikanga", and the Latin name is Pygocentrus nattereri, a synonym is Serrasalmus nattereri. The body is disc-shaped, reaches 35 cm in length. The color is bright, bluish, the abdomen and fins are bright red, and there is a wide blue stripe on the dark tail.
Lunar Metinnis
These piranhas have a tall body and a light silver color, with a red spot on the gill covers. Herbivorous species. Grows up to 25 cm.
Metinnis silver
The piranha is known as the silver dollar because of its resemblance to a coin. Latin name metynnis argenteus ahl. The size of the silver metinnis is small - 10–15 cm. Males have a veil anal fin, females have a straight one.
Metinnis vulgaris
The abdomen of Metinnis is silvery-white with blue and greenish tints, the fins are transparent. The body is round, strongly flattened laterally. Grows up to 15 cm. Known as mirror fish.
Piranha is an expensive fish; most species require high-quality live food, expensive equipment and a huge aquarium. Not recommended for beginners.
Aquarium
Each individual accounts for at least 120 liters. Place a small group of 4 individuals in a 500-liter aquarium. A school of fish will require a gigantic aquarium with a volume of thousands of liters.
Water parameters
Needs to be supported comfortable temperature in the aquarium and monitor the cleanliness of the water. The liquid should not be cold or too warm. The feeding method of predators implies rapid water pollution. Some aquarists change 30–50% of the liquid weekly, others change 10–15% of the total water volume.
Plants
Under natural conditions, the piranha biotope is full of dense vegetation. Fish in an aquarium can damage plants. Place greens that don't require a lot of light:
- Java moss;
- ferns;
- Anubias;
- blue.
Shelters
Provide plenty of hiding places to make timid predators feel comfortable. Leave room for free swimming. Piranhas love shelter in the form of:
- plants;
- caves;
- grottos;
- driftwood
Priming
Place sand or fine gravel at the bottom.
Siphon the soil at least once a week, thoroughly cleaning the entire bottom.
Equipment
Equip your aquarium:
- Filter. Large capacity will require multiple devices. Give preference to an external filter.
- Compressor. The device will provide oxygen saturation of the water.
- Thermometer and heater. Monitor the temperature in the aquarium and maintain it at a level that is comfortable for your pets. In hot weather, a cooler or ice containers placed in water will help cool the water.
Lighting
Choose moderate lighting that suits plants and fish. Too bright light causes stress for piranhas. To prevent the appearance of algae, select light in the blue and red spectrum, excluding yellow. Don't let it hit sunlight on the walls of the aquarium. Place the tank at least 1.5 meters from the window. Make sure that the lamp does not overheat the liquid.
What to feed
Feed the animals once a day. A portion of food should be eaten within a couple of minutes, then the piranha will not overeat, and the water will not be contaminated with uneaten food. Provide food commensurate with the jaws of the fish; the piranha ignores food that is too small. Piranhas differ greatly in the type of food they eat. However, occasionally predators need plant nutrition, just as vegetarians sometimes need variety in the form of live food.
Predatory
Feed carnivorous piranha species:
- small aquarium fish;
- squid;
- shrimp;
- beef heart;
- baby frogs;
- little mice.
View this post on Instagram
Once a week, give predators a fasting day. Make sure that all the inhabitants of the aquarium are well-fed, because in case of malnutrition, mutual oppression or eating of other species will begin. Serve mammalian meat as a supplement to the diet, do not abuse it.
Herbivores
Unlike carnivorous species, herbivores accept dry food. The basis of the diet are:
- zucchini;
- lettuce leaves;
- aquarium plants;
- spinach;
- nettle;
- cucumbers
Feed with tubifex and bloodworms. Animal feed should not exceed 20% of the diet.
Compatibility
Keep the big ones predatory piranhas in a species aquarium. Despite the aggressive nature, it is possible to live with large catfish such as plecostomus and pterygoplichthys. Small fish will become prey for piranhas. Mix herbivorous peaceful piranhas with comparable species, for example, representatives of the characin family, giant gouramis or shark barbs. Make sure that the water parameters are suitable for different fish.
Reproduction
Piranhas can be bred in an aquarium, but creating the necessary conditions is difficult. The volume of the spawning aquarium starts from 200 liters. During the spawning period, it is necessary to monitor the purity of the water and the stability of parameters. Feed the future parents a high protein animal feed to prepare for spawning.
Sex differences
Sexual maturity occurs at 1.5 years. It is difficult to determine the sex of the fish. Closer to spawning, the males acquire an intense color, and the female’s abdomen becomes rounded from the eggs.
Spawning
Piranhas take care of their young. The fish choose a place to lay eggs and carefully guard the eggs. Depending on the type and individual characteristics Females have 500–15,000 eggs in their clutch. Incubation period lasts 2–15 days. At this time, the male piranha may attack the female, so remove the female.
Fry
Hatched fry grow unevenly, sort the young by size and place larger and smaller piranhas. Starter food - Artemia nauplii, later feed:
Diseases
Piranhas are hardy and rarely get sick. In poor conditions they are susceptible to:
- poisoning;
- oodiniumosis;
- ichthyophthyriasis;
- “cotton wool disease”;
- tuberculosis.
Against most diseases effective drugs can be purchased at a pet store. Before treating fish, read the instructions and determine the causes of the disease. Adjust the conditions of detention: check the water for nitrates and other dangerous compounds, provide the piranhas with a balanced diet and make sure that the water parameters are correct. home aquarium suitable for fish.
Precautionary measures
- Don't put your hand into an aquarium with hungry fish. Try to interfere less in the lives of your pets.
- Do not place the aquarium too low if there are children in the house.
- Do not chase fish or provoke them into aggression. Remember that aggression peaks during the breeding season.
Purchase
When purchasing fish, make sure the predators are healthy. Pisces must be active, without injuries or impaired coordination of movements. Give preference to specialized stores and trusted breeders. Purchase and check all equipment in advance, start the aquarium before settling the piranhas. For the first hours after relocation, do not feed the fish, do not turn on the lights or equipment, and allow the pets to get used to their new home.
Loading...
