This Red bellied piranha fish is one of the most popular pets among aquarists. They are easy to keep, require little space, and provide lots of entertainment. This article covers everything you need to know to start breeding your very own piranhas.
Red Belly Piranha Stats
This predatory fish grows up to 2 feet long and weighs about 10 pounds. They grow quickly and reach sexual maturity within one year.
They are active during the day and night, feeding mostly at dusk and dawn.
Their diet includes frogs, crayfish, crabs, snails, and even baby turtles.
A big male can eat up to 50% of his weight daily.
– Red Belly Piranha Appearance
The Red Bellied Piranha, scientific name Pygosceles nattereri, gets its name from its distinctive red belly, starting from the chin up to the throat and continuing down until the anal fin. Its back is shades of gray; the rest of the body, however, is covered with sparkling silverscale. Juveniles are silver with dark spots. They are very fast swimers, having large, powerful tails and sleek bodies covered with tiny scales, like those of most characins. There is one additional feature that distinguishes the Red Belly Piranhafrom other piranhas: it has a small adipose fin, located between the tail and dorsal fin. This is a characteristic of all members of the genus Pygoscelis.
– Red Belly Piranha Behaviour
The Red Belly Piranhas’ behaviour in the aquarium is quite different from the common perception.
They are timid and quiet and often hide among the decorations of your aquarium. They are also quite nervous around people getting close to the aquarium glass, or being disturbed by hobbyists during routine cleanings or maintenance tasks.
However, it is true that in their natural habitat, the Red Belly Piranhassometimes hunt in shoals of up to thirty fish, hiding until they strike. If they smell blood, however, it triggers a frenzied feeding frenzy.
– Red Belly Piranha Unusual Features
Red Piranhas are one of the most dangerous freshwater fish in the world. They live in South America, where they eat everything from frogs to birds. Their diet consists mainly of small animals like insects and crustaceans. They are predators, and they use their keen senses to hunt and eat whatever they want. But what do you know about their unusual features? Let’s take a look at some interesting facts about red piranhas.
Red Belly Piranha Care
The Red Belly Piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri), also known as the red piranha, is a species of freshwater fish native to South America. They are sometimes called “red bellies”, because of the coloration of their belly scales. This name is derived from the Spanish word peludo (“furry”), which refers to the patterning of the belly scales.
In Brazil, where it occurs naturally, the fish is considered an exotic pet. The fish is not native to North American waters, but was introduced into Lake Erie in 1868. It is now found throughout much of the Great Lakes region, including Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Ontario, and Indiana.
In captivity, the fish should be kept in a well-planted tank with plenty of cover for shelter. A water temperature range of 68°F – 78°F is ideal. The fish can tolerate temperatures as low as 50°F, but will die if exposed to freezing temperatures.
Aquarium owners who keep this fish must be careful when handling them. The fish have sharp teeth and strong jaws, and can inflict serious injury on humans.
Red Belly Fish Facts
• The Red Belly Piranhadoesn’t belong to any particular family.
• The Red Belly Pirahasimilarly colored scales on its belly, but these are actually part of its skin and not scales.
• The Red Piranha’sbelly scalesare made up of two layers of cells: outer epidermal cells and inner dermal cells.
• The Red Pirate’sbelly scalesare covered with tiny hairs called papillae. These help the fish detect prey and communicate with each other.
• The Red Pirate’sbodyskin is covered with tiny bumps called tubercles. These help the fish maintain balance while swimming.
• The Red Piratesbodiesurface is covered with tiny scales called ctenoid scales. These help the fish regulate its body temperature.
• The Red pirate’sbelly scalesare shed every few days. When the scales fall off, they leave behind a thin layer of dead tissue.
• The Red pirate’sbodyskin has pores that allow water to pass through. This helps the fish breathe.
• The Red piratesbodyskin contains mucus glands that produce a sticky substance that protects the fish against parasites.
• The Red piranhasbreathe through gills located on either side of its head.
• The Red piranhashowls when it feels threatened or excited.
• The Red bile piranhascan swim at speeds up to 5 mph.
• The Red belly piranhaslive only 2-3 years in the wild. In captivity, however, they can live up to 10 years.
– Water Parameters
Red Belly Piranhas thrive in aquariums where the water parameters are kept within certain ranges. This includes maintaining a stable water temperature between 76 -82 degrees Fahrenheit, and keeping the pH level between 6.0 and7.5. These parameters are essential to the well being of the fish. If the water is too cold, it could kill the fish. If the pH level is too high, the fish will become stressed and possibly die. In addition, the fish may suffer from respiratory problems because ammonia is produced during stress.
The fish must be housed in a large enough tank to allow them to swim freely. They prefer tanks measuring at least 2 feet long by 2 feet wide. A larger tank allows the fish to move around freely without bumping into the sides. Smaller tanks restrict movement and make it difficult for the fish to find food.
Water changes should occur at least once per month, or more often depending on how much the fish eat. Cleaning the tank walls and gravel helps keep odors down and prevents bacteria growth.
– Red Belly Piranha Tank Size
The Red Belly Piranhas are native to South American rivers, where they live in groups of up to 50 individuals. If you want to add some piranhas to your collection, it is important to choose a good quality aquarium. In particular, make sure that the tank size matches the number of fish you plan to house together. A typical aquarium holds about 10 to 15 gallons of water, which is enough room for just one adult fish. However, larger tanks hold much more space and allow you to place several red bellies in a row.
Aquariums come in many shapes and sizes. Some people prefer smaller models because they fit better into a living room or bedroom. Others like bigger aquariums because they provide a lot of space for swimming. Still others opt for something in between. Whatever type of aquarium you decide to buy, make sure that it meets the requirements of the species that you wish to keep.