The red-breasted shoaling piranha (Pygocentrus nattereri) is present throughout the Amazon River basin. It is the most common piranha species kept in aquariums. The breeding of these animals succeeds according to plan. Pairs are formed from a shoal, which spawn in bottom pits; the parents guard the spawning site, there is no brood care beyond that. Since this piranha species lives in a shoal (most of the approximately 30 species are incompatible loners), they can be raised together.
Mostly therefor are bred ones for the aquaristic demand in the trade; but occasionally also wild catches are imported and then one notices that there are locally quite clear coloration differences with the populations. Many wild-caught fishes are very intensively colored. Especially the blood red breast makes them very attractive. As juveniles of 6-15 cm length these piranhas are most beautiful. The pictures show 6-7 cm long wild catches from Colombia (Dept. Amazonas).
The final size of these fish is 25-30 cm, so you have to provide big aquariums for them.
For our customers: Wild caught have code 292404, captive bred have 292395 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
