Fish Species

Red Bellied Piranha

Red Bellied Piranha - Description

The Red Bellied Piranha has razor sharp teeth and is one of the most ferocious freshwater fish in the world!

They have sensors on the side of their bodies which they use to sense and locate prey.

Piranhas usually feed on dead or dying crustaceans, fish and worms but they can attack healthy fish and animals and strip their flesh with their razor sharp teeth.

Over the years, the movies Piranha, Piranha II, Piranha 3D and the more recent Piranha 3DD portray the piranha as a fish that attacks humans but the red bellied piranha is more likely to attack injured or dying fish.

Profile of the Red Bellied Piranha

 This Profile contains interesting facts and information about the Red Bellied Piranha species.

  • Size:  Up to 33cm in length

  • Fish Tank conditions: PH 5.5 - 7, large tank required

  • Temperament: Best kept in schools of five or less to minimise aggression

  • Diet / Feeding: Tend to feed at dusk and dawn on dying or injured worms, crustaceans and fish but have can also attack healthy animals!

  • Habitat: Freshwater rivers in South America

  • Behaviour: Can be timid in an aquarium setting!

  • Range: Amazon river basin and coastal rivers in north eastern Brazil

Scientific Classification of the Red Bellied Piranha

 Definition: Scientific classification, or biological classification, is how biologists group and categorize species of organisms with shared physical characteristics. Scientific classification belongs to the science of taxonomy.

  • Species: Pygocentrus nattereri

  • Popular Names:  Red Bellied Piranha

  • Kingdom: Animalia

  • Phylum: Chordata

  • Class: Actinopterygii

  • Order: Characiformes

  • Family: Characidae

Piranha Fish Index

Facts about Fish Species - Red Bellied Piranha

The colours, shapes and sizes of individual fishes varies enormously - you really need excellent quality pictures or photographs to assist in the identification process.

A combination of the number of fins and their characteristics, color, scale counts, general features, maximum length and distribution are used during a species identification process.

 

The species detailed on this website are Tropical, Saltwater, Aquarium , Marine , Pet , Pond, Clown, Koi, Beta (Betta), Gold Fish (Goldfish), Star, Angel, Puffer, Discus, Piranha, Rainbow, Parrot, Crustaceans, Sea Anemones and Coral.

For more information and pictures of the Red Bellied Piranha visit the
Full Fish Species Website

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