When house in groups a large aquarium is required. It is important to keep Pygocentrus piranhas alone or in groups of four or more, not in pairs, since aggression among them is common, not allowing the weaker fish to survive, and is distributed more widely when kept in larger groups. Piranhas can be bought fully grown or as young, often no larger than a thumbnail. Another very popular species of Piranha are the black piranha also known as the Serrasalmus rhombeus the Red eye Piranha. The most common aquarium piranha is Pygocentrus nattereri, the red-bellied piranha. It is illegal to import piranhas into the Philippines and violators could face six months to four years in jail. Piranhas can be bought as pets in some states, but they are illegal in many parts of the United States as well. These fish are often dried and preserved and sold as souvenirs. Piranhas are also popular as food, although if an individual piranha is caught on a hook and line, it may be attacked by others.
Piranha teeth are most often used to make tools and weapons by the indigenous population. Piranhas were also spotted in the Lijiang River in China. Some rogue exotic fish traders are thought to have released them in the lake to avoid being caught by anti-poaching forces. Research is being carried out to establish how piranhas have moved to such distant corners of the world from their original habitat. Piranhas have also been discovered in the Kaptai Lake in southeast Bangladesh India. In many cases, however, reported captures of piranhas are misidentifications of pacu (e.g., red-bellied pacu Piaractus brachypomus is frequently misidentified as red-bellied piranha Pygocentrus nattereri). Piranhas are indigenous to the Amazon basin, in the Orinoco, in rivers of the Guianas, in the Paraguay-Paranã, and the São Francisco River systems of Brazil.Īquarium piranhas have been unsuccessfully introduced into parts of the United States mainly by aquarists releasing them into waterways. There is an exception with Pygopristis, which has pentacuspid teeth and a middle cusp usually only slightly larger than the other cusps. The variation in the number of cusps is minor in most species, the teeth are tricuspid with a larger middle cusp which makes the individual teeth appear markedly triangular. Individual teeth are typically broadly triangular, pointed, and blade-like (flat in profile). All piranha fish have a single row of sharp teeth in both jaws the teeth are tightly packed and interlocking (via small cusps) and are used for rapid puncture and shearing. The Piranha genera Serrasalmus, Pristobrycon, Pygocentrus, and Pygopristis are most easily recognized by their unique dentition.
Piranhas are normally about 14 to 26 cm long (5.5 to over 10.5 in), although some specimens have been reported to be up to 43 cm (17.0 in) in length. Piranhas are known for their sharp teeth, powerful jaws, and voracious appetite for meat.
Piranha fish are members of the family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. We stock products for keeping piranhas too. Shop and Save with Direct Shipping to Your Door. Order live piranha species imported from South America, Amazon River Basin of Brazil.
0 kommentar(er)
