The scientific name for black piranhas is serrasalmus rhombeus. Black piranhas grow up to 43cm long in captivity, and have been known to live up to 28 years – a pet for life!
Black piranhas do not have the red-orange belly of red belly piranhas, but do have a distinctive red ring around their eyes. They are less aggressive than red belly piranhas, but are still predominantly carnivores. Some experts recommend keeping black piranhas as solitary fish in home aquariums, where other recommend keeping several specimens.
This species is quite difficult to breed in captivity. One problem is the size of the fish – such a large tank is needed to prevent other tank members, or indeed the parents, from eating the eggs that it is considered non-pragmatic. These fish can also be quite aggressive with each other – no lovey-dovey mother and father type activity with this piranha species. Black piranhas have been bred in captivity in the Duisberg Zoo aquarium in Germany, and also in a zoo park in Florida. In both instances there was an enormous volume of water available for the fish.
The size record for a black piranha kept in captivity is just over 7 pounds – the fish are well over 16 inches at this weight.
Black Piranha
The scientific name for black piranhas is serrasalmus rhombeus. Black piranhas grow up to 43cm long in captivity, and have been known to live up to 28 years – a pet for life!
Black piranhas do not have the red-orange belly of red belly piranhas, but do have a distinctive red ring around their eyes. They are less aggressive than red belly piranhas, but are still predominantly carnivores. Some experts recommend keeping black piranhas as solitary fish in home aquariums, where other recommend keeping several specimens.
This species is quite difficult to breed in captivity. One problem is the size of the fish – such a large tank is needed to prevent other tank members, or indeed the parents, from eating the eggs that it is considered non-pragmatic. These fish can also be quite aggressive with each other – no lovey-dovey mother and father type activity with this piranha species. Black piranhas have been bred in captivity in the Duisberg Zoo aquarium in Germany, and also in a zoo park in Florida. In both instances there was an enormous volume of water available for the fish.
The size record for a black piranha kept in captivity is just over 7 pounds – the fish are well over 16 inches at this weight.