Amazed? You ought to be. Piranhas are fish with some of the lowest PR in the world. These guys are always shown on Television and in films as being insatiable man eaters. Ever turn on the Animal Planet and watched them engulf some unfortunate animal, and you'd know very well what I mean. As opposed to the massive tyrant of the sea - the Shark, Piranhas are small fish that strike in large numbers and go on a tremendous feeding binge. They pretty much eat anything that gets in their way. They're close members of the Tetra family and are comparable in appearance to their cousins - the Pacu fish. In university, I had buddy who had a large Piranha aquarium and I have been fascinated by them ever since. Sadly, these fish are prohibited in several places and for good cause. They ought to only be kept by skilled and responsible enthusiasts.
Piranhas come in lots of different varieties, the most popular of which are the Pygocentrus Nattereri or the red bellied Piranha. If you are contemplating keeping these fish, it is advisable to supply them with at the very least a 50 gallon aquarium in which to thrive. Do not forget that they are warm water fish. You will need some type of temperature control mechanism as part of your aquarium. They require the water temperature to be between 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also consider providing them with a biowheel and 1.5-2 inches of aquarium gravel.
You should feed your Piranha daily. If you reside in an area where they're officially permitted, it is possible to almost certainly obtain their food at a nearby pet store. But do not forget - Piranha can eat almost anything Be careful that the foodstuff does not contain anything that may taint your water. So do not give them cooked food which could contain salt and other spices. Give them pieces of Beef or Fish and you could even feed them fresh vegetables of fruits. Even freeze dried vegetables can be utilized as a food source. Once they have fed (which should take a few minutes), get rid of any extra food from the aquarium as this could rot and dirty the aquarium. Piranhas eat in a frenzy and watching them is fascinating.
A lot of newcomers may think about attempting to feed their Piranha some Goldfish. They may even think it humorous to see what happens. This isn't recommended. Goldfish have been out of the wild for a many years and carry diseases that aren't witnessed in the wild. These illnesses can kill your Piranha, thus Goldfish are definitely not a very good food source.
Piranhas have been known to develop to a foot and half long and can be alive for quite a lot of years. Piranha can certainly make for fascinating pets but they are carnivores and require special care. A lot of people have been known to mess around and put their fingers in Piranha tanks only to get their fingers bitten off. One must always understand that these are wild animals and are banned in plenty of areas for good reason. Young Piranhas tend to school together where as older Piranhas are more solitary. They love to hide under ornaments and decoration so it is best to ensure that your aquarium decorations don't have jagged edges. All in all Piranhas make wonderful pets for knowledgeable aquarium buffs and I would highly recommend them for any exotic fish lover.
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