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If you plan to have a piranha as a pet you should pay close attention to this article by Animal Expert. It is an exotic and special fish that requires certain feeding care.
It is a flashy fish and popular for its appearance on the big screen, especially in horror movies. In any case, you shouldn't be guided by the fame you have, because not all piranhas are aggressive and ferocious as you think.
Discover in this article the care of piranha as a pet and check if it's really this animal you want to adopt.
A suitable aquarium for the piranha
Contrary to the rumors that appear on the Internet, the piranhas don't attack humans. Only on very few occasions could the red and black piranha do so in the presence of blood in the water or excessive movement in the water.
When preparing an aquarium for the piranha, we must know that this is a cold-blooded fish that needs at least a constant temperature of around 22ºC to 28ºC.
These fish need quality fresh water and due to their size we can't have any fish if we don't have one. large aquarium, that is, with a minimum of 120 liters, this is because a piranha can reach more than 30 centimeters.
Inside the aquarium you should have hiding places and some natural aquatic plants, without going overboard so you can move around naturally. Hit a dim lighting so the piranha feels comfortable.
There are many types of piranha and most are not compatible with other fish and even with specimens of your species. You should be properly informed about the species you intend to adopt.
Piranha feeding
This is a fundamental part that we must take into account before adopting a piranha. The piranha feeding consists of meat from other fish that inhabit their environment, a delicacy that makes them bite and chew, thus keeping their teeth healthy. You can also offer crustaceans, freshwater invertebrates, insects and even pieces of raw meat without salt or additives.
Still, and as recorded in the wild, piranhas can feed on plants. For this reason, it may offer you, from time to time, lettuce or fruit, always in small doses.
You should take into account that your diet should be based on the administration of live fish so that you never stop exercising your natural instinct and for this reason, and although there are specific rations, it is not recommended to give this food already prepared. .
Must have a piranha?
In the Animal Expert we do not recommend adopting a piranha as a pet. and in case you want to do so, we recommend that you resort to refuges where they have specimens that other people have abandoned, whether due to their size, lack of knowledge, inaptitude, etc.
Remember that a piranha grows to a considerable size and needs specific care that it cannot fail to comply with. You must be responsible and anticipate what might happen in the future, including veterinary costs, transportation, etc.
red piranha
THE red piranha or pygocentrus nattereri is a type of piranha that can cause serious injuries due to its powerful dentures. They are prone to do so especially in warm waters and attacks on bathers have been reported in cities like Rosario (Argentina).
black piranha
As in the previous case, the black piranha or Serrasalmus rhombeus is another type of territorial and predatory piranha and is famous for its aggressiveness and speed. Their coexistence with other species is complicated although they can accept other members in your aquarium if they are well fed.
