| Piranha: |
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Serrasalmus sp. |
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6.0-8.0 |
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78-82 deg. F. |
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Dependent on species, see chart below |
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Do not place in tanks smaller than 60 gallons per pair. |
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Egg-layers |
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Live Feeder Fish, Beef Heart, other Meats. |
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There are too many individual species of Piranha to list here, I will work on individual pages in the future. The most common species found in stores today is the Red Piranha ( Serrasalmus Nattereri ) and the Black Piranha ( Serrasalmus rhombeus ). Look under the photos below to see a little bit of individual information. |
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Dim as possible, avoid using tank lights and do not have the tank subjected to any direct sunlight. |
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Aggressive, will bite the hand that feeds them. If you have children, avoid keeping this species. Not a community tank member. |
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Make sure you have a strong hood, as you do not want these fish escaping. Also all tank materials that you use in regular tank maintenance should have extension handles on them, you do NOT want to place any part of your body near or in the water. Mechanical fingers/claws are best for working in Piranha tanks. |
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Piranha's are illegal in some countries and in some areas within the United States. For a listing of U.S. States where piranha keeping either legal or illegal Click here. |
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| The Serrasalmus Nattereri or the red piranha is the piranha that is in most peoples minds when they think of piranhas. This piranha is also the one that is most often found in pet stores. The red piranha is grayish-brown in color with a red-orange color on its under belly and the dorsal area and dark dots on its side. This is one of the smaller of the piranhas , growing to about 10 1/2 inches (27 cm.) in length. This fish needs special care and is not a good fish for beginners. | |
The Serrasalmus rhombeus or black piranha ( S. niger no longer exists ) is one of the most aggressive of the piranhas and is rarely found in pet stores. The black piranha is yellow-brown to black in color with golden reflections on the scales. The black piranha also has the characteristic blunt facial profile, it also has a slight concavity in the profile above the eyes. This piranha grows to 14 inches or more, since there is very little information on the black piranha its maximum length varies. The Serrasalmus rhombeus is not normally found in pet stores but some will order the black piranha if asked. This is not a good fish for beginners. |
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Caution, They do get large! |