Red-bellied piranha
Pygocentrus nattereri
FishFreshwater
- Care level
- Moderate
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Recommended tank
- 500 L
- Maximum size
- 30 cm
- Temperature
- 24–28 °C
- pH
- 5.5–7.5
- Group size
- ≥ 5
- Diet
- Carnivore
Care at a glance
The red-bellied piranha from the Amazon has a fiercer reputation than its behaviour deserves: in the aquarium it is a nervous, easily startled shoaling fish that would rather hide. In too small a group or a bare tank it becomes restless and is more likely to bite its own kind.
It needs a large, quiet tank with plenty of cover, a dark background and strong filtration. Feed fish, shrimp and frozen foods rather than live feeder fish, and mind your hands during maintenance; in some countries there are also rules about keeping piranhas.
Good to know
Best not combined with
Related species
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Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.